FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–A Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor has been elected to head a nationwide field education organization and was honored by a Texas association for his support of bivocational ministries.
Paul W. Stevens, associate dean for the doctor of ministry degree and the director of field education at Southwestern, was elected president of the In-Service Guidance Association at its meeting held in August at Oklahoma Baptist University.
The association, which was formed in 1969 and includes 75 to 100 members, brings together Baptist field education directors of colleges and seminaries from across the country who are responsible for providing students with practical hands-on ministry education.
The association meets once a year holding workshops to develop an emphasis for the various field education programs. As president, Stevens will be responsible for planning next year’s meeting at Ouachita Baptist University. The emphasis for the coming meeting will be “training servant leaders,” he said.
Stevens said the association brings together directors from college, university and seminary programs “so that students get a balanced approach to practical ministry.” The membership includes campus ministers of state universities and colleges under the Barnabas program. “Barnabas” is an effort on state university campuses with Baptist student unions to provide field education programs similar to those of Baptist institutions. The student union minister on campus oversees that campus program.
Field education is required of all Southwestern students.
Stevens said that while most of the members of the group come from Baptist colleges, membership is not limited to Baptist colleges or seminaries.
Earlier this summer, Stevens received the 1998 Exemplary Educator and Supporter of Bivocational Ministers Award from the Texas Baptist Bivocational Ministers’ and Spouses’ Association. The group provides information to help bivocational ministers in their work and has a network to connect ministers to ministry opportunities.
