Denver Seminary

140 TRAINING AND MENTORING Denver Seminary is committed to equipping leaders for Kingdom service who are theologically minded, godly in character and highly competent in their work as they respond to the needs of the world. This requires intentional and purposeful partnerships between each student, the Seminary and other contexts of learning (church, parachurch, non-faith-based organizations). Denver Seminary's training and mentoring courses require collaboration between a student, a mentoring professor, and an external mentor. The student is required to meet in person and one-on-one with their mentor beginning in TM 501. Distance mentoring does not satisfy this requirement. Each TM course builds upon another as students create integrative and theologically informed learning experiences for their growth in Christian character and professional skill. The educational objective is that, upon completion of the entire TM course sequence, the student will have developed a greater capacity for self- directed and life-long learning. For the purposes of the training and mentoring experience, it is not permitted for a mentor to be another current Denver Seminary student, a spouse, or a relative. TM 500 Introduction to Mentored Formation This course provides theological and educational frameworks for Christian formation, which prepare students for the pursuit of character and professional skill development through mentored learning. Students discern, develop, manage, and reflect upon their own unique learning experience in various contexts of their life with God. The tools provided equip students to integrate and pursue intentional, whole-life growth and to influence others to do the same. Students prepare for TM 501 and beyond by honing their ability to select and engage mentors, write customized learning plans, and engage in theological reflection. One hour. TM 501 Mentored Formation In this semester of mentored formation, students learn how to discern, develop, manage, and reflect on a personalized learning experience, writing a learning plan curriculum which is focused on the formation of the whole person. Students utilize cognitive, experiential, and relational learning practices, some of which are familiar and others that uniquely challenge their learning style. These practices include ten hours of engagement with a self-procured mentor, in person and one-on-one, within the bounds of the semester. It is required that the student procure the mentor before the start of the semester. The intended outcome of the semester is to strengthen a student's capacity for life-long learning so that whole-life, relational formation continues post-seminary. Prerequisite: TM 500 Introduction to Mentored Formation. One hour. TM 601 Mentored Formation Building on their experience of the prior semester, students further develop the ability to discern, develop, manage, and reflect on a personalized learning plan. Relational, cognitive, and experiential practices will include ten hours of engagement with a self-procured mentor, in person and one-on-one, within the bounds of the semester. It is required that the student procure the mentor before the start of the semester. The intended outcome of the semester is to strengthen a student's capacity for theological reflection in life-long learning so that whole-life, relational formation continues post-seminary. Certain degree programs require that some students will complete a professional skill learning plan which is engaged in a student-selected professional field context. Prerequisites: TM 500 Introduction to Mentored Formation; TM 501 Mentored Formation (and approval by the TM department for summer registration). One hour.

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