Immersions

Common Questions About
IMMERSIONS:

• What are IMMERSIONS?
• For who are IMMERSIONS intended?
• Who designs IMMERSIONS?
• What are the important characteristics of an IMMERSION?
• What kinds of experiences are included in IMMERSIONS?
• What is included in an IMMERSION stipend?
• How and when to apply for IMMERSIONS

What are IMMERSIONS?

Immersions provide for theological exploration in the midst of deep congregational engagement which will combine to deepen discernment and test a call to pastoral ministry.

To apply for participation in an Immersion, you should be a young adult who is considering ministry as a career (although it isn’t necessary to have fully decided). It is required that you have completed at least one academic year of full time study at an accredited college or university and under the age of 30 by May 31 of the year for which you are applying. The successful applicant will demonstrate openness to growth in faith, passion, integrity, vision, self-awareness and motivation for a lifetime of service as pastors and in other forms of public ministry.

Immersions are designed by the young adult and pastor of the congregation in consultation with the congregation council. Details of the Immersion will be delineated in a letter signed by the young adult, the pastor, and a representative of the congregation council.

The arena for an Immersion is the congregation, preferably not the student’s home congregation. Please contact Don Johnson, director of Project Connect, if you need guidance in locating a congregation.

• The pastor of the congregation will serve as a mentor and be willing to share his or her own call stories and experiences in ministry.
• Immersions take place either full-time (40 hours per week for 10 weeks) in the summer / or part-time (12 hours per week for eight months) during the academic year.
• Congregations will typically provide housing, make provisions for travel, and offer support and encouragement.
• Recipients of Immersions will agree to abide by the ELCA’s Vision and Expectations statement for Associates in Ministry (see the LEADERS tab of the Project Connect website)

Congregations and their pastors are expected to provide exposure to various aspects of pastoral ministry such as:

• Visitation of sick and homebound members.
• Administration, including council and committee meetings.
• Study and preparation for worship leadership and preaching.
• Experience with a broad range of age-specific ministries.
• Exposure to social ministry organizations and community groups.
• Exposure to synods, including face-to –face conversations with key leaders.
• Exposure to and involvement with cross-cultural communities.
• Spiritual formation.

Stipends of up to $2,500 will be awarded for each of 15 Immersion experiences during each of the years 2007-2009.

In addition, the student and pastor will be expected to attend a gathering with other Immersion students and pastors, prior to the beginning of the Immersion, providing orientation, peer interaction, and team-building. Project Connect will cover the costs of room, board, and program during the event as well as travel expenses. The 2007 gathering is scheduled for May 23-25, at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.

Applications are available from the Project Connect office.

Project Connect
665 Eaton Road
Freedom, NH 03836

Or Online:

Immersion Application Guidelines (PDF)
Immersion Application (PDF)
Waiver Form for the Academic Letter of Reference (PDF)
Waiver Form for the Ministry Letter of Reference (PDF)

 

Application Deadline: February 10, 2007

Applicants will be informed of the status of their applications in letters postmarked no later than March 5.  

Applications for Immersions will include:

• Application Form
• Resume
• Three-page personal essay
• Academic Letter of Reference with signed waiver
• Ministry Letter of Reference with signed waiver
• Description of project, signed by applicant, pastor, and congregation council

Second Application Deadline: April 15, 2007

If Immersion grants are still available after the February 10 deadline, applications received by April 15 will be considered. Applicants considered at this time will be notified of the status of their applications in letters postmarked by May 5.