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.

Garrett Schindler

Denomination: PC(USA) Presbytery of Care: Ohio Valley Garrett grew up in New Washington, a rural town in southern Indiana, and attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute, where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics. He has always been an active member of the church, which he credits with many rich and diverse experiences, including ministry in Appalachia, the inner city of Terre Haute, Hammond, IN, and Hartford, CT. He has served as a youth minister, preached at revivals, and worked in community centers and campus ministries. During his time at LPTS, he has been a chapel minister all three years, his final year serving as the Student Worship Coordinator. Garrett volunteers in his community with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Garrett adds "I am passionate about living a life of integrity, caring and listening to others, creating meaningful liturgies, preaching, cross cultural ministries, youth ministries, congregational revitalization, spiritual development, and educational ministries."

Michael Beckman

Denomination: PC(USA) Presbytery of Care: Lake Michigan Michael spent most of his youth in Texas and Oklahoma before graduating high school in Delaware. He attended the University of Delaware in Newark, where he earned a BA in Psychology. He has experience working multiple jobs in the human services field and has served as a youth group leader for churches in Delaware and Michigan. Michael is an avid sports fan and has special interests in preaching and teaching, working with individuals of all ages and helping people stay on track with their Christian walks.

Ryan Althaus

Denomination: PC(USA) Presbytery of Care: Baltimore Ryan grew up on the water and will someday get back to it. He spent his early years as a sailing instructor and realized that teaching sailing is really a fun way of teaching faith, thus seminary came into view. During his youth, he says he "stumbled upon a Young Life team and life has never been the same." Ryan is now heading up a new Christian Community called Team Sweaty Sheep, which seeks to enliven the PC(USA) through the understanding that Christians can worship through play; the Team motto being "re-creation through Recreation." Ryan is interested in the outdoors, mainly running, cycling, sailing, yoga, and, as fore-mentioned, playing. He seeks a future where he helps others enjoy the same through a position in campus ministry, recreational ministry, Retreat Ministry, tent-making, or associate pastoral work.

Sonja Williams

Denomination: United Church of Christ Sonja grew up in metro Louisville and attended Berea College outside Lexington, Kentucky, where she earned a BA in Communications, while serving as a campus Chaplain. She has experience working for both corporate and nonprofit organizations. Recently she helped create a 5013c for community empowering and served as minister of evangelism and outreach St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Louisville, Kentucky. Sonja is interested in preaching, campus ministry, and spiritual and social liberation. Her experience in cross cultural and multi- cultural ministry enhances and welcomes spiritual development in pursuit of revitalizing lives and congregations.