wfn.org | Horizon Internships Give Seminarians Learning Experiences

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 5, 1999

HORIZON INTERNSHIPS GIVE SEMINARIANS LEARNING EXPERIENCES
99-196-LS*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- More than 35 students at seminaries of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will spend their third
year of seminary education on internships in rural, urban and
multicultural settings with the help of the Horizon Internship program,
said the Rev. Gregory J. Villalon, director for ethnic leadership
development, ELCA Division for Ministry.
     All candidates for master of divinity degrees at the eight ELCA
seminaries must complete an internship in a congregation. Each intern
earns a stipend and may require a housing allowance.
      The Horizon Internship program provides funds to help
congregations which cannot afford the full cost of supporting an intern.
Smaller congregations are often prime candidates for the Horizon
program.
     "Although they are excellent model sites, small congregations
cannot afford to pay an intern," Villalon said.
     The Horizon Internship program is a "partnership" between the ELCA
churchwide offices, synods and congregations, he said. Each pays 
one-third of the funding for an intern to spend one year in a
congregation,Villalon said.
     This year mission congregations have been added as learning sites,
Villalon said.
     Congregations and seminarians must apply for the Horizon
Internship program. Applications are screened to match the gifts of
individuals with the needs of congregations.
     Congregations must reapply to be a Horizon Internship site every
other year.
     The Horizon Internship program extends overseas for seminarians
who desire an international internship. Overseas programs are completely
funded by the ELCA Division for Global Mission,  said Tanya Rosland, the
division's coordinator for deployment and orientation of international
personnel. Division staff interview seminarians and match them with
international churches requesting interns.
     Six seminarians will serve international parishes this fall, said
Rosland. Internship sites this year include churches in Germany (2
interns), Argentina, Slovakia, China (Hong Kong) and Chile, she said.

[*Lisa Smith is a senior at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.  This
summer,  she is an intern with ELCA News and Information.]

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