Finding a Supervised Ministry Internship

Meet with the Director of Supervised Ministries.

Attend the Supervised Ministry Information Session, focus: CPE.

Begin thinking about the type of internship and site that you could learn the most from.  Refer to the Chart of Supervised Ministries Options and the Tips on Choosing a Supervised Ministry Site to consider your options.

Explore your interests by talking with current students, viewing former site lists (see below), and visiting churches or other sites.  As you explore sites, keep in mind that they may be unfamiliar with Supervised Ministry.  If you think you might be interested in doing an internship at a specific site, introduce yourself and ask them if they would consider having a student intern.  Descriptions of the program can be downloaded from our web site. Be aware that there are certain requirements for sites and supervisors, especially that the supervisor is serving in a long-term position and has been there at least one year.  The process of selecting and committing to an internship will take place in the Spring and requires the approval of the Director of Supervised Ministry.  Thus, please be in touch with the Director of Supervised Ministries when you begin to identify a site.

These conditions will be discouraged or denied:  previous relationship with site or supervisor; more than one intern at a site; work similar to previous experience; work similar to coursework; supervisor with lack of qualifications; on-site presence less than twice each week; work starting before fall or ending after spring semesters; one-semester internships.

Attend Supervised Ministry Internship Orientation

This is a required session.  Any exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Research potential sites by talking with current students, visiting churches or other sites, meeting with the OSM Director, and the internet.  

You may also view where YDS students have interned in past years by seeing the attached lists below.

Reaffirm interest in hosting YDS intern before March 1.

• March 31 By this date, students should have contacted all sites they are interested in interning with, and arranged interview meetings.  Once a site supervisor has offered a position, the student must notify the director (Jenny Davis for church/chaplaincy sites and Alison Cunningham for non-profit/justice sites). At this point, the director will ask for the application (here) and send the supervisor agreement to the proposed supervisor.  Once these two documents have been returned, the site is secured.

• Advises students on potential sites based on their interest
• Vets and approves requested sites

• Contact your selected sites and arrange interviews.  Be mindful that Easter is April 4, 2021.  Clergy might be on vacation the week after Easter. 
• Once interviews have completed, notify Program Directors (alison.cunningham@yale.edu for non-profit placements, jennifer.s.davis@yale.edu for parish/chaplaincy placements) ranked preferences.

Work with students to arrange and conduct interviews. Notify Program Directors ((alison.cunningham@yale.edu for non-profit placements, jennifer.s.davis@yale.edu for parish/chaplaincy placements) intern preferences by April 17.

Determine your preference, and contact student directly to offer postion. Once the student accepts the internship, contact director to confirm and turn in supervisor agreement form.  All matches should be completed by April 24. At this point, if not earlier, the director will ask for the application and send the supervisor agreement to the proposed supervisor.  Once these two documents have been returned, the site is secured.
Sign and return “Supervisor Agreement” form. (available here.)

Meet to discuss the reading, What Are the Ingredients of a Healthy Internship? and to discuss the Learning Covenant.   Together, review the Learning Covenant Guidelines and begin thinking about how you will be working together come fall. The Learning Covenant final draft will be due on Sept 30.