INTERNSHIPS AT SOMA Soma Church Internship Guide Spring 2016

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1 INTERNSHIPS AT SOMA

2 INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW Soma Church exists to the see the gospel transform Indianapolis. Our church began in 2012 on the north side of Indy, and has quickly grown to become a family of neighborhood churches with two congregations (Midtown & Downtown) and more than 600 people in weekly attendance. As we look to the future, we are convinced that holistic leadership development is a key component to vital, long-term city renewal. Therefore, one of our core priorities as a church is to release a movement of self-aware servants for the church and city. One important stream of leadership development is our Internship Program, which serves to expose, equip, and assess aspiring leaders within the context of the local church. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY The primary tenet of Soma s philosophy of leadership development is self-awareness. We believe that the most important thing we bring in our leadership is not our competencies, but our transformed and transforming presence. Our ability to be fully present to those we serve is directly tied to our level of self-awareness. Self-awareness is the ability to own who you are (and who you are not) before God and others. Self-awareness also involves learning to integrate the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, physical, and social aspects of our humanity into a unified whole. Drawing on a variety of historic and contemporary tools, models, practices, and relationships, interns will learn to respond to God s invitations to own and integrate their unique story, gifting, calling, weaknesses, and personality into their relationships with God, self, and others. EXPECTATIONS Our fervent desire is for those completing an internship at Soma to not just become better ministers, but to become more fruitful disciples and human beings who work for the common good of our city and world. To that end, we offer the following expectations: Formation: Interns should expect to be formed into the image of Christ. We want them to encounter the power and presence of God as they holistically grow and develop with their heads (knowing), hands (doing), and hearts (being). Each participant will create and manage a Personal Development Plan in conjunction with their supervisor that will help guide this process. Experience: Interns should expect a wide array of ministry experiences. We want to expose them to the realities of ministry in an urban context, which includes things like staff meetings, hospital visits, mercy ministry, prayer walking, conferences, counseling sessions, retreats, discipleship meetings, diversity discussion groups, and hands-on leadership roles. Relationships: Interns should expect to be embedded in an authentic community of flawed people who are looking to Jesus as our only hope. We want them to learn the value of collaboration and community as a key part of growing in self-awareness. Page 1

3 INTERNSHIP TRACKS We see three different tracks to meet the diverse needs and opportunities within Soma Church: Key Volunteers, Ministry Interns, and Church Planting Residents. All available internship positions are listed on the application. Key Volunteers -- Semester-long commitments: Fall or Spring, 5-15 hours per week -- Work alongside a ministry leader to provide administrative, operational, and ministry support -- Applicants are those who are in school, recent graduates, empty nesters, or those who have the time and desire to serve alongside a Soma ministry leader -- Unpaid position Summer Ministry Intern -- May 29 - July 28, hours per week -- Applicants are college students or recent graduates interested in gaining ministry experience in the local church. Housing may be arranged for those coming from outside the Indy metro area. -- Mentored by Soma ministry leader -- Encouraged to raise support Residents to 2-year commitment, hours per week -- Applicants are proven leaders who have the level of character, skill, and theological foundation such that they could lead a ministry within Soma or start the elder process -- Required to raise support ASSESSMENT Applicants are encouraged to be prayerful in consideration of the opportunity to participate in an internship. It may be helpful to get away from current responsibilities for a day or two to prayerfully ask, Is this internship right for me right now? Page 2

4 APPLICATION The application process for the internship is crucial for the pastors and staff of Soma as well as for the applicant. The process allows the staff to assess six crucial areas of the applicant: Character: Is the applicant a man/woman of godly character who can say, Follow me as I follow Christ? Conviction: Is the applicant in agreement with Soma s Gospel DNA and essential beliefs about the Christian faith? Competency: Does the applicant display the ability to sacrifice and work diligently with the necessary skills needed to complete the work ahead of him/her? Calling: Is the applicant s desire to serve in a Midwestern urban context? Capacity: Will the applicant s current season of life and past experiences help or hinder his/er ability to carry out the internship? Chemistry: Is the applicant going to promote healthy relationships within the staff community, and does he/she understand the unique culture in which we exist? Cross-Cultural Awareness: Is the applicant aware of and able to effectively relate to people of different cultures than their own (particularly minority cultures)? NEXT STEPS 1. Please read through the internship manual before applying. 2. Applications for the summer internship are due May 1. Year-long internships and residency are received throughout the year based on availability. 3. After you have finished the application, please have 1-2 ministry references complete the recommendation form found online. If you currently attend Soma, the reference must come from a Soma member or leader. 4. Upon receiving your application and ministry references, you will be contacted by a Soma ministry leader in order to set up an interview for your internship. Accepted applicants will meet with their internship mentor to discuss the intern s goals as well as Soma s expectations for interns. Accepted interns are encouraged to prepare specific goals and priorities for their internship and discuss the support-raising process. Once a ministry schedule has been set and support-raising is complete, the internship will begin. Page 3

5 RAISING SUPPORT All intern positions at Soma are unpaid. Depending on the track they pursue, interns will be encouraged or expected to raise support to cover living expenses during their internship. Additionally, year-long interns may work another job, provided it does not interfere with their schedule at Soma. If you are raising support, your supervisor will work with the Director of Operations to help you determine your support goal. The amount of support is determined collaboratively between the intern and Soma, and is determined on a case-by-case basis. There are a number of factors that affect the support total, including cost of living, need, wages, taxes, operations allowances, required resources, conferences, etc. The leadership at Soma is willing and equipped to provide coaching and resources for you to raise support. We can help you write your support letters, determine who to send your letters to, and recommend best followup practices. You will also be provided with a monthly report to help you keep track of your support raising process. To consider when raising support: -- Create a budget to determine your living expenses -- Make a list of potential supporters -- Don t seek financial support from people at Soma (unless they are family members) -- Communicate with supporters not to withdraw their giving to their local church Page 4

6 THE GOSPEL CHANGES EVERYTHING Soma Church 2815 East 62nd Street Indianapolis, IN United States