PRTFE?
The Presbyterian/Reformed Theological Field Educators Caucus (PRTFE) is an affinity group within the Association for Theological Field Education. Each of us identifies with the Reformed tradition either by conviction or by virtue of serving one of the many theological schools that serves the Reformed tradition. We are also a fellowship that serves one another, and when possible, we attempt to offer something constructive to all of our ATFE colleagues.
Field Educators throughout the country have long struggled with training and supporting supervisor-mentors when they are removed by some distance from the seminary or divinity school. This has been true in many summer field education experiences when the winds of opportunity carry our students throughout the nation and world. It becomes increasingly so with the advent of a variety of distance-learning offerings. The classroom can be virtual, field education cannot. Field Education provides an embodied experience in which formational integration for ministry may take place. As Craig Dykstra puts it, “Deep engagement in pastoral ministry itself…has a powerfully formative effect (“Pastoral and Ecclesial Imagination” in For Life Abundant, p. 47).
To that end we offer this site as a complement to the excellent training and support for supervisor-mentors that field educators provide on campus. In addition, we would like to acknowledge two granting agencies that empowered the group’s work. First, we would like to thank the Committee on Theological Education of the Presbyterian Church USA for grant aid and the encouraging oversight we received throughout the project from the Rev. Rose Niles. Secondly, we wish to extend heartfelt thanks to our ATFE colleagues for entrusting us with a grant from the Research and Publications Committee. We hope that you and your programs of field education are enriched by the investment in our effort.
Design Team Members
Stephanie Croom–Western Theological Seminary, Holland MI
Matthew Floding–Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC
Susan Fox–Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
Joanne Lindstrom–McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL
Sue Setzer–Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte, NC
Dorothee Tripodi–Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
Design Team, July 2012
PRTFE Members (during the construction of this site)
Nannette Banks—McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL
Barbara Blodgett—Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, KY
Lee Carroll (retired)—Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA
Kimberly Clayton—Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA
Stephanie Croom—Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI
Deborah Davis—Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
Matthew Floding—Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC
Susan Fox –Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
David Johnson—Austin Theological Seminary, Austin, TX
Carolyn Jones—Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA
Charlene Jin Lee—San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Francisco, CA
Joanne Lindstrom—McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL
Hal Murry—Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA
Lori Neff—Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
Chester Polk—Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
Dianne Reistroffer—Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, Louisville, KY
Jennie Rodriguez—Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
Sue Setzer (retired)—Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
Stephanie Sauve—Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, NY
Glenn Swier—Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI
Dorothee Tripodi—Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
Leslie Veen—San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Francisco, CA
Supervisor Training 