Experience

Spiritual formation has gained increasing attention with theological schools as a significant element of the theological education process. Repeated Association of Theological Schools studies have revealed a broad interpretation of what is meant by spiritual formation and how it is achieved within the theological education framework. Theological schools look to what happens in the field education courses as the most significant source of spiritual formation.

Experience: Spiritual Formation in Theological Field Education provides effective resources that field educators may employ to foster spiritual formation. In the first section of the book twenty-five practices are introduced that are employed currently by field educators with strong favorable student feedback. In a second section ministerial leaders in a variety of settings share spiritual practices that they have found life-giving and foster deeper connection with God and God’s world.

Experience equips field educators for the significant task of fostering the spiritual growth of their students. Students in turn will have a treasure trove of spiritual formation exercises/practices that they can adapt as ministerial leaders in congregations, chaplaincy settings and in faith-based non-profit organizations.

Matthew Floding is general editor of the Explorations in Theological Field Education series and co-editor of the journal Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry. The Research and Publication Committee of ATFE has awarded Floding four research grants that have resulted in a dozen publications. He most recently served as Duke Divinity School’s director of ministerial formation.
Rev. Dawn Davis, DMin, overseesfield education for students for ordained ministry and teaching at Huron University in Ontario, Canada. She is also the creator of Revive: Equipping Lay Leaders to be Spiritual Leaders, a video-based program that seeks to transform lay leaders in the church into confident lay spiritual leaders. Previously she was Faith Formation Coordinator for the Diocese of Niagara.