PLTS Internship Site Information

Thank you for agreeing to serve as an internship site for a geographically restricted PLTS student! We greatly appreciate your partnership and look forward to working with you and your ministry.

We recommend that you review this form, and gather needed information and resources, before starting. You will not be able to save and come back to this form - it must be completed in one session.

Ministry Information

Ministry Name

Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

Threads

Other Social Media

Supervisor Information

Supervisor Name

Supervisor Pronouns

Supervisor Phone

Supervisor Email

Supervisor Public Social Media Accounts

Years of ordained ministry:

Years at current ministry site:

Days off

Date of most recent boundaries training

Date of most recent anti-racism training

PLTS Statement of Inclusion

PLTS is an inclusive community and offers hospitality to all who participate in our programs of study. As disciples of Christ committed to public leadership among God's people in diverse and challenging cultural contexts, we eagerly learn from and welcome one another's diversity, including, but not limited to, theological perspective, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, relationship status, age, physical ability, social and economic status, and sexual orientation.

We require that all Contextual Education sites agree with this welcome. Please indicate whether or not your community agrees with this statement and if you are practicing such hospitality. If you are, please share examples of how you are living out this hospitality in your community in the first text box below. If not, please indicate in what ways you are unable to meet these expectations in the second text box.

We agree with this statement and are currently practicing such hospitality in ways described below.

We agree with this statement but are not currently practicing such hospitality for the reasons listed below.

We do not agree with this statement.

We are exhibiting hospitality as outlined in the PLTS Statement of Inclusion in the following ways:

We are unable to meet these expectations for these reasons:

While being Reconciling in Christ is not required, it is helpful information for the student and the seminary to know.

We are a Reconciling in Christ congregation

We are not a Reconciling in Christ congregation

We are not yet a Reconciling in Christ congregation, but are on the road toward becoming RIC

Information Regarding the Congregation

Average Weekly Worship Attendance

Faith Formation Enrollment (Education classes)

Number Baptized

Number Confirmed

Staffing: Please indicate whether each position listed below is full time, part time, or not applicable.

Solo Pastor

Lead Pastor / Sr. Pastor / Head of Staff

Associate/Asst. Pastor

Deacon

Administrative Staff

Musicians

Youth Director

Property Staff/ Custodian

Explain above as needed and describe other staff positions, if needed

Total Budget (for current FY)

Mission Support to Synod/ELCA:

Other Benevolence:

Ethnic/Cultural Composition of Congregation(specify relative percentage of each)

African American/Black:

Asian/Pacific Islander:

Latine/Latinx:

Multi-racial:

Native American/Alaska Native:

White:

Part II: Financial Support of the Internship Program and Student Intern

A. Required Financial Support to the Seminary in Support of Internship Process

A one-time fee of $1500

B. Required Financial Support of the Student (Requirements of Vocation and Education/Candidacy)

Stipend: The congregation will provide a monthly, undesignated cash stipend of $2000.00 (current amount for 2024-25 academic year; subject to change for future years). This may be negotiable with a geographically restricted intern. Please speak with Director of Contextual Education.
FICA: The congregation will pay the employer's share of FICA based on the total value of the stipend plus housing provided. If the housing is paid in cash (rather than the congregation renting the apartment or offering a parsonage), that amount is also considered income. With this in mind, the congregation pays the employer's portion of FICA and withholds the employee's portion for the intern. These are paid to the government.
Medical Insurance: ELCA seminaries do not offer student health insurance coverage, nor does PLTS require that internship sites provide health insurance for interns. Individual health insurance coverage is expected to be maintained by the student throughout attendance at PLTS, including internship. That being said, congregations, if desired and able, can assist interns with this expense.
Work Expenses: The congregation will reimburse the intern for approved expenses incurred in their work.
Travel Reimbursement: The congregation will pay automobile expenses incurred in the performance of assigned duties at the rate specified by the IRS as an allowable deduction.
Day Off/Vacation: The congregation will grant the intern a minimum of one day off per week. Additionally, a 12-month internship will include a 2-week vacation with stipend. A 9-month internship will include a 10-day vacation with stipend. A 6-month internship will include a 1-week vacation with stipend.

The congregation will pay the intern the full monthly stipend

Yes

Agreed-Upon Monthly Stipend Amount

C. Student Support (Optional Items)

The congregation will assist in paying the intern's share of FICA based on the total value of the stipend

Yes

Other Financial Support

Student Learning Opportunities

It is understood that the student will be offered a full and varied experience of service and learning opportunities, including those specifically listed below. Please check those that are available within your setting and are your intention to provide as experience and skill development:

A. The Congregation at Worship

Preaching (Once a month is considered minimum)

Leading in Worship

Worship Planning

Participating in pastoral acts (observing and/or assisting with wedding rehearsals, weddings, baptisms, and visitation)

Participating in worship learning opportunities (e.g., courses, seminars, text study groups)

Other (please specify below)

Please list worship learning opportunities already in place:

B. Pastoral Care

Visiting with active members (including youth, aged, shut-ins, etc.)

Visiting with inactive members

Visiting with unchurched people

Grief Ministry

Participating in existing visitation ministry

Other

Other: please specify

C. Lay Ministry

Participating in programs related to lay vocations (Stephen Ministry, Ministry in Daily Life, Befrienders, Shepherding programs, etc.)

Participating in marriage enrichment programs, parenting programs, singles ministry, etc.

Encouraging lay persons to identify and use their talents in church and in daily life

Educating, training, and supervising volunteers working in various congregational or agency programs

Engaging in dialogue with members on the interaction of vocation and faith

Other

Other: please specify

D. Education

Teaching adult education

Teaching teen education

Teaching children's education

Teaching confirmation

Modeling and teaching appropriate use of inclusive and expansive language

Participating in the review of curricular materials

Using a variety of educational resources (the arts, media, technology, etc.)

Participating in the training of teachers and providing feedback on their work

Other

Other: please specify

E. Evangelism

Sharing one's faith in an explicit way with others

Working with the evangelism committee to involve members in evangelism and outreach

Participating in the global mission of the church, including becoming involved in and encouraging members to participate with persons overseas, in study seminars, in Global Mission events, etc.

Other

Other: please specify

F. Social Ministry

Participating in social ministry programs of the congregation

Studying the social statements of the ELCA

Becoming familiar with agencies dealing with alcoholism, drug dependency, child or spouse abuse, etc.

Leading the congregation or agency into active mission and service beyond its boundaries

Studying the social, economic and political realities of the local congregation and community

Participating in advocacy with elected officials

Other

Other: please specify

G. Stewardship

Working with the congregation to enhance a holistic understanding of biblical stewardship

Experiencing opportunities to articulate the connections among faith, financial stewardship and the mission of the church

Participating in the stewardship program of the congregation, including development of its budget, administration, time/talent surveys and spiritual gifts inventory

Supporting church and community organizations beyond congregational boundaries

Participating with the congregation in programs of caring for the earth and environment

Other

Other: please specify

H. Ecumenism/Interfaith

Engaging in dialogue with people of other Christian congregations

Engaging in dialogue with people of other faiths & religions

Engaging in acts of service with other Christians and those of other faiths

Becoming familiar with church-wide policy on ecumenical and inter-religious relationships

Studying the multicultural and global context within which the Christian church makes its witness

Other

Other: please specify

I. Administration

Working with the congregation treasurer and/or financial secretary to understand the process of recording and reporting financial contributions as well as the disbursement by the church treasurer of these contributions

Familiarizing with procedures for administrating the church office

Assisting in preparation of annual congregation reports

Other

Other: please specify

J. Leadership

Helping groups and committees define and communicate their goals

Analyzing the dynamics of the congregation's decision-making processes

Leading in inclusive ministry

Ministry with LGBTQIA2S+ persons

Ministry with persons of diverse racial, class and economic situations

Helping the congregation bring about constructive change and deal creatively with conflict

Participating collegially with leaders of other congregations in the community and synod

Being in contact with representatives of synods/church-wide agencies, and increasing understanding of their work

Exercising appropriate leadership authority

Other

Other: please specify

Internship Project

Each intern will complete a project in one of the areas listed below. The supervisor and internship committee will be asked to approve such a project in advance and evaluate it when it is completed. The intern will be responsible for all the conceptualization, initiative, administration, and reporting related to it. This will permit the intern to exercise and grow in their ability to function as a leader who mobilizes people in ministry.

In terms of opportunity and appropriateness for such a project, prioritize the following areas using a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the most appropriate:

Advocacy in the Public Sphere

Creation Care

Ecumenism/Interfaith

Evangelism

Multiculturalism

Social Justice Ministry

Stewardship

Support for the Internship Program as a Learning Process

1. The supervisor will attend training events on internship supervision as well as meetings of the internship cluster.

2. The supervisor will arrange at least one hour per week for supervision with the intern concerning diaconal/pastoral identity and ministry, including theological reflection. This time should be kept free of external interruptions and routine calendar planning, focusing on the development of the intern as pastor or deacon.

3. An internship committee, consisting of the intern and about five members of the congregation, will be a special resource to the intern. The internship committee is expected to meet with the intern at least once a month.

Has the internship committee already been designated?

Yes

The Internship Committee is an essential component of welcoming and orienting the intern. We encourage you to have a committee established prior to the intern's arrival.

4. The supervisor and internship committee will assist the intern in the formulation of a Learning-Service Agreement (LSA) (Word & Sacrament students) or a Learning Covenant (LC) (Word & Service students) to provide the intern regular opportunities for sharing observations and evaluations. The LSA or the LC should be drafted and submitted to the Office of Contextual Education within the first month of internship, and then reviewed and/or revised periodically.

5. The "Criteria and Standards for Setting" section of the Candidacy Manual stipulates that "congregations are expected to have a written policy for sexual ethics." Please check the appropriate box below. If you currently have a policy, you will be prompted to upload (or copy & paste) it after you choose.

Our congregation has a written policy against sexual misconduct and harassment. We have included a clause regarding internship.

Our congregation has a written policy against sexual misconduct and harassment. We will include a clause regarding internship before the beginning of the internship.

Our congregation will develop a policy against sexual misconduct and harassment. We will send it to the seminary prior to the beginning of the internship.

Sexual Harassment Policy

Or, type or copy-and-paste your document here:

Review and Signature

Applicant's Signature
through this electronic signature I state that the above information is correct, to the best of my knowledge

If not the supervisor listed above, title of signatory

If not the supervisor listed above, signatory's email address & phone number