The TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) program has several components including Seminary coursework, ongoing work in your ministry context, an internship and a basic unit in Clinical Pastoral education (CPE). Over a three year period, you are exposed to a wide range of academic and “hands-on” experience.
The course I recently took at Pacific Lutheran Theologica Seminary (PLTS) in Berkeley, CA was “The Pauline Letters” led by Dr. Ev Kalin. In studying the 13 letters, I was struck by the clarity of Paul’s mission and the corresponding power expressed in his life. As the ”apostle (missionary) to the Gentiles”, he set about a movement of action & theological reflection that still impacts the Church today. With this mission-grounding, Paul made sense of the challenges that arose, whether they be religious, physical, emotional or social. Indeed, each challenge spurred him on to deeply engage in the next chapter of his life. In Romans, arguably his last letter, he talks of his future plans to bring the ministry to “the ends of the earth” in Spain. No trailing off into his sunset years! 
I want to “write” these upcoming chapters of my life with such clarity and forcefulness. May God bless each of us with a mission so clear that the passion of Christ-centered lives be spread throughout the world.
