Mutual Enrichment in Ministry
Master of Theological Studies student Thawng Tha is both excited and nervous to begin work in a church community that is very different from his own place of worship, Chin Christian Church. Thawng began a Supervised Experience in Ministry (SEM) at Bloomingdale Mennonite Church this term, under the supervision of Pastor Zac Klassen (MTS 2015), also an MTS graduate. In this internship, Thawng is looking forward to learning about pastoral leadership, including preaching, pastoral care, administration, and working with church leaders, while he gains experience with Mennonite theology and traditions through congregational life. “I will be participating in and communicating with new people who have different languages, cultures, perspectives, and experiences, which will give me new insights and experiences,” he said. Both Bloomingdale Mennonite Church and Chin Christian Church are members of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. This placement is a way to strengthen connections between churches that might not know each other well.
A Supervised Experience in Ministry is a core aspect of the Applied Studies stream in Grebel’s MTS program. For one or two terms, ten hours a week, students participate in practical internships that can include pastoral roles in congregations, chaplaincy in hospitals, prisons, or elder care facilities, or social service in a variety of settings. Partnerships are crucial to these placements, as students work closely with a mentor.
“I see value in this type of partnership between a church and the MTS program because it allows both the local church and the MTS program to be mutually enriched and informed by each other,” explained Zac. He has seen how through the SEM, students gain concrete experience in a local congregation that can “complement and contextualize their classroom learning,” while churches have the opportunity to learn alongside students. “Furthermore, churches receive the benefit of being reminded that discerning a calling to ministry is a function of the Body of Christ as it seeks to be faithful.”
Beyond the logistics of pastoral ministry, Thawng also hopes to understand more about how Mennonite theology and traditions inform a congregation's worship, leadership, relationships, and community engagement. He wants “to learn to see these differences not as a barrier but as an opportunity to grow in humility, understanding, and openness to different ways of following Christ.” As Bloomingdale explores intercultural ministry, Thawng, a new Canadian, is also looking to experience a different Mennonite context and develop a deeper understanding of the tradition in Canada. “I hope to finish the SEM with greater spiritual maturity, a better understanding of my calling, and practical skills that will shape my future ministry,” he added.
“I hope that Thawng will first and foremost experience the hospitality of the body of Christ as he tests his calling to ministry,” said Zac. He described Bloomingdale as a tight-knit congregation that values taking risks, trying new things, and giving space for everyone to serve as God has gifted them to serve. “I believe this environment will offer Thawng a gracious space to lean into God's calling for him. On the other hand, I hope that Bloomingdale will learn from Thawng and from the Spirit's work in his life and ministry.”
Thawng also sees the relationship as reciprocal. “Students can offer the church new ideas for ministry and experiences from their theological education and cultural backgrounds,” he said. “Both the student and the church can grow in their understanding and practice of Christian ministry.”
“I am humbled to serve in a supervisory role for this SEM and see my MTS as being an important milestone in my own calling to pastoral ministry,” reflected Zac. While he did not complete a Supervised Experience in Ministry while working on his MTS degree, his own pastoral internship set the trajectory for his future ministry. “I think it is essential that the MTS offers the SEM as an option for students that are interested in discerning their calling,” he said.
Thawng also sees the relationship as reciprocal. “Students can offer the church new ideas for ministry and experiences from their theological education and cultural backgrounds,” he said. “Both the student and the church can grow in their understanding and practice of Christian ministry.”
“I am humbled to serve in a supervisory role for this SEM and see my MTS as being an important milestone in my own calling to pastoral ministry,” reflected Zac. While he did not complete a Supervised Experience in Ministry while working on his MTS degree, his own pastoral internship set the trajectory for his future ministry. “I think it is essential that the MTS offers the SEM as an option for students that are interested in discerning their calling,” he said.