Academic Programs > Spiritual Formation & Placement in Ministry

Spiritual Formation Placement in Ministry Using Placement Profiles Placement Profiles

Through a variety of formative practices, Louisville Seminary seeks to nurture spiritual and vocational development of its students.

Worship: Three days a week the community gathers for worship. A variety of types of worship are offered including contemporary, morning prayer, multicultural, Taize, feminist, and gospel liturgies. On Friday faculty preach and the Lord's Supper is celebrated. In consultation with the Chapel Coordinator, the student assistant, and the Chapel Ministers group, our chapel services are designed and led by students, faculty, administrators, and staff with equal opportunity to preach and lead the liturgies.

Spiritual Directors: The Seminary enlists several spiritual directors who will work with students, individually or in groups settings, as they grow in faith.

Retreats and Small Group: These experiences provide opportunities for students to learn practices of the faith, to share faith and growth with others, and to integrate academic learnings with personal faith and ministry in the world.

As students discern their call to ministry, the directors of Field Education and Placement provide assistance in linking graduates with congregations and other ministry opportunities. Following are some of the aids provided to seniors:

Discernment Groups: Students work together to discern where God is leading them in ministry. This is especially valuable for students who are actively seeking a call and trying to determine where God is leading.

Ordination Examination Preparation: A variety of workshops are held to help students prepare for the ordination examinations of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Placement Seminars: Seniors are invited to participate in workshops, often led by denominational leaders, that include:

Writing the Personal Information Form (PIF)
Reading the Church Information Form (CIF)
Interviewing and negotiating a call
Clergy tax law
Fiscal Fitness workshop with the Board of Pensions
Keeping alive spiritually in ministry
Designing an ordination service
Other topics of concern to seniors

Profiles: Seniors seeking a call are encouraged to create a profile on the seminary website. Placement Profiles introduce the student and his or her background and vision for ministry to persons seeking to call a pastor or other church professional. The profiles often lead to valuable contacts between students and congregations.

Using Placement Profiles

Profiles are designed to introduce Louisville Seminary graduating seniors and recent graduates who are actively seeking a call. The profile provides the student an opportunity to introduce him or herself and describe experiences and hopes for continuing the ministry of Jesus Christ in the world.

As students receive a call, the profile is removed from the site. This means that there are frequent additions and subtractions of profiles. Check the website often for new profiles.

Placement Profiles | select student's name to read full profile.

Adam Clark

Denomination: Interdenominational Adam Clark is currently a member of Jeff Street Baptist Community at Liberty in Louisville. He received his BA from Wheaton College, magna cum laude (Theology and Philosophy integrated with ancient Greek). Before seminary, Adam worked as a house-parent in an orphanage. During seminary he has had internships at Kentucky Refugee Ministries as well as Jeff Street Baptist Community at Liberty in its Hospitality Program. Adam is particularly interested in working in community ministries, whether parachurch or secular non-profit organizations, as well as teaching theology and/or Greek. Date available: May 10th, 2010

Katrina Paxson

Denomination: United Methodist Katrina grew up in Auburn, Alabama, attending Auburn United Methodist Church. She earned her B.A. in Religion with a Concentration in Congregational Studies and a Music Minor from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in 2007. During her time at LPTS she has done a summer of Clinical Pastoral Education at Norton and Kosair Children's Hospital, worked as the student intern for the Children's Minsitry at Christ Church United Methodist, and served as the Campus Kids Coordinator. She will graduate LPTS with an MDiv and a Concentration in Christian Education. She is working towards ordination as a deacon in the United Methodist Church through the Alabama-West Florida Conference. Katrina is married. Katrina is looking for a job as a Children's Minister, in Christian Education, or working with Children in a non-Church setting. Available for a call beginning: May 24, 2010

Christine Coy Fohr

Denomination: PC(USA), under care of Western Kentucky Presbytery Christine is a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Anthropology and Sociology, and where she picked up a passion for seeing how religious communities can impact social change. Before seminary, Christine served as a Presbyterian Church (USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she was a community worker with at-risk youth. While at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Christine has served as Student Body President and has worked at South Louisville Community Ministries and Central Presbyterian Church. She will graduate in May 2010 and is eagerly discerning her next step. Christine feels called to pursue ministry in both social service and congregational placements. She has a deep passion for work dealing with hospitality, social justice, education, and worship. Christine is married to Rob Fohr, who works in the Office of Theological Education for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Available for a call beginning: May 23, 2010

Andrew Clark

Denomination: PC(USA), under care of Miami Valley Presbytery Andrew received a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University. Before seminary, he worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at Community Hospital in Springfield, Ohio. Andrew has served as an ordained deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Along with his wife, Maureen, Andrew has enjoyed teaching and nurturing children and youth in various ministries over the years, including providing leadership on several Mexico mission trips. Andrew’s heart sings in pastoral care, Christian education, preaching, and worship. He is open to a variety of call possibilities. Andrew will complete his first year of candidacy September 2010 and hopes to be certified to seek an ordained call as a minister of the Word and Sacrament by the end of 2010.