The Director of Contextual Education position gives focused attention to the wholistic formation of
students as church leaders in mutual collaboration with congregations, synods, and agencies where
students are engaged in contextual teaching and learning. To accomplish this work, the Director of
Contextual Education will work together with faculty and staff to develop clear criteria and high
standards in the recruitment of sites and to oversee a robust process for training supervisors and
mentors, who serve as key partners of the Wartburg Seminary teaching and learning community.
Reporting to the Vice President for Leadership Formation, the Director of Contextual Education will
be responsible for three major areas of work related to Contextual Education: Stewardship of
collaborative partner relationships for all rostered programs delivered completely in context
(MDIV/MADM CL, Classic TEEM, and Journey Together); Oversight of the Internship components of all
rostered masters and certificate programs; and Coordination of Clinical Pastoral Education and the
Clinical Program of Wartburg.
Specific responsibilities are named below, all contributing to the overall purpose of wholistic
formation in partnership with others.
Major Responsibilities/Activities:
Stewardship of collaborative partner relationships for all rostered programs delivered completely
in context (MDIV/MADM CL, Classic TEEM, and Journey Together):
Work with the Admissions staff to coordinate admissions work and placement of students
in sites.
• Identify and cultivate sites for the programs, including the process of vetting congregations’
participation in Wartburg programs with their synods and matching the student.
• Work with the student, congregation, synod, and seminary to develop a learning and financial
covenant for each student and site.
• Plan and lead regularly scheduled trainings for supervisors and mentors.
• Oversee the ongoing support and evaluation of the student and the site in partnership with the
student’s academic advisor and the Director of Community Life and Candidacy.
• Accompany student, academic advisor, congregation, and synod through a student’s transition
from staff to formalized internship.
• Work with the Department of Vocation and Formation staff and the faculty to facilitate student
services, advising, and technology support.
• Provide information and support to the Development Office in their work with donors.
• Collaborate with the Academic Dean, Faculty, and the Vice President for Leadership Formation
to implement comprehensive assessment of Wartburg’s contextual programs in accordance with the
seminary’s mission.
• Convene regular gatherings of the Contextual Education Committee to provide support for all
student contextual learning placements.
Oversight of the Internship components of all rostered masters (MDIV/MADM) and certificate
programs (Classic TEEM/Journey Together):
• Provide orientation to deacon internship for new students each fall semester.
• Work with the Vice President for Leadership Formation and Academic Dean to oversee the
internship year.
• Help to plan and lead training events for internship supervisors on Wartburg’s campus and via
Zoom.
• Provide ongoing orientation and maintain regular contact providing support to supervisors,
mentors, and interns.
• Maintain annual contact with internship sites by visits, interactive video communication, or
phone conference.
• Work with internship cluster gatherings of students and supervisors who meet periodically
during the year—planning, administering, and leading those retreats in conjunction with the other
seminaries of the ELCA.
• Read all internship reports, consulting with the faculty advisor and, as appropriate, with the
Vice President for Leadership Formation about particular issues that arise in those reports.
• Submit recommended grades for internship to the Academic Dean.
• Compile a list of strengths and growth areas for each intern based on the final internship
evaluations throughout the year to be used by the faculty in the approval process.
• Maintain communication with the Contextual Education Committee about the quality and ongoing
status of internship sites.
• Facilitate the internship matching process with the Contextual Education Committee.
• As needed, actively recruit internship sites for interns with geographical restrictions or
other special requirements. Work with deacon candidates to identify internship sites appropriate to
their specialization.
• In working with interns, supervisors, and internship committees, wherever conflict or other
serious issues need deliberation, these concerns shall be communicated to the Vice President for
Leadership Formation, who provides consultation in adjudicating the disposition of the internship.
Clinical Pastoral Education and the Clinical Program of Wartburg:
• Provide annual orientation to students who are applying to CPE or CPW.
• Communicate opportunities for completing CPE as they become known and organizing opportunities
for CPW.
• Receive and review final CPE and CPW reports, consulting with the academic advisor, as
necessary. Submit recommended grades for CPE/CPW to the Academic Dean.
Member of the Department of Vocation and Formation:
• Represent Wartburg Seminary at meetings involving the collaboration of ELCA seminaries in the
work of Contextual Education.
• Participate in regular department meetings and projects as the contextual education
representative.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
The Director of Contextual Education supervises the support staff for Contextual Education.
Qualifications:
Education & Experience Required:
• A theologically educated, rostered leader in the Evangelical Lutheran Church is required.
• Additional education, particularly in fields related to spiritual formation, leadership
development, and mentoring, is preferred.