Pacific School of Religion

Number of Encounters

Master of Divinity students are required to participate in one (1) encounter per academic year for a total of three (3) certified encounters for graduation. There will be three events per semester designated as Certified Contextual Learning Encounters. The six annual Certified Encounters will be posted by the Office of Contextual Learning at the beginning of the fall semester.

Registration for an encounter will be required and each encounter will be limited to no more than 25 registered students.  Only the first 25 M.Div. students to register will be allowed to use their attendance at that event to meet their Certified Contextual Learning Encounter requirement.

Required Consultation with Faculty Advisor

Students will schedule appointments with their faculty advisors early in their first semester to discuss their educational/vocational goals and the life experiences that will contribute to their leadership formation. The goals and past experiences of the students revealed in this interview should inform the student’s selection of the certified encounters. It is important to ask yourself: (1) What is the context of this encounter? (2) How is this context different from my own? (3) How will this experience challenge me? Students are encouraged to choose encounters that are challenging and that will put the student in a context significantly different from their own. 

Expectations of Encounters

Each encounter will be several hours in length and will include some engagement by the student. Offered encounters will include travel to explore other community settings and discussion of different theological, social, gendered, cultural, economic, environmental, and historical contexts.

Participation in group reflection after the encounter is strongly recommended.  Within a week of the encounter students will have an opportunity to reflect on the experience as a group with a faculty member or a representative from the sponsor of the event. If a student is not able to participate in the group reflection, a 2-3 page paper may be substituted. This reflection paper must be submitted to the Director of Contextual Learning within 10 days of participating in the encounter. Content should include:
• Personal cultural identity/social location - what lens do I bring to experiencing this encounter?
• Theological reflection - what are one or two theological issues that are raised for me and how do I think about them?
• Integration with course work - what have I learned in my classes that help me to think about this encounter?
• Implication for future vocation and spiritual growth - how might I use what I have learned in my ministry and in my spiritual development?

 Summary of Student Responsibilities

1. Choose one encounter for the year and sign up for that encounter on the sign-up sheets outside of the Contextual Learning office.
2. Attend the Encounter and sign the attendance sheet.
3. Within a week of the encounter, students will have the opportunity to reflect on the experience as a group with a faculty member and a representative from the sponsoring center.
4. Within ten (10) days of the encounter, students will write a 2-3 page reflection paper according to the guidelines, attach the “Documentation of Attendance” form, and submit both to the Director of Contextual Learning. If a reflection paper is not received within 10 days of the registered encounter, the encounter will not count as the student’s annual encounter.
5. The paper will be read by a designated reader and returned to the student with comments. The student may be requested to revise and resubmit the paper if the guidelines for reflection are not met.