Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry

Editorial Policy

Good practice relies on constant reflection. The capacity for critical self-reflection is an essential dimension of any habitus for ministry and religious leadership. Pastoral supervision is itself a practice that occurs in relationships that encourage such critical reflection in ministry.  When formation is added to supervision, the practices are expanded to include the many ways by which people are prepared for and sustained in religious leadership. This journal, Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry, seeks to provide a framework for reflection on supervision and formation for a range of ministries, in a variety of contexts, and from different faith traditions. The mission statement of this journal supports that goal:

            Reflective Practice: Formation and

Supervision in Ministry is a journal that seeks to understand, expand, and promote theory, learning, and reflection in the practice of supervision and formation in various ministries from diverse ethnic and religious perspectives.

 This journal is a continuation of the Journal of Supervision and Training in Ministry that was founded in 1977 to foster critical reflection and writing on supervision for ministry.  Over the years, JSTM expanded beyond its original contexts of clinical pastoral education and pastoral counseling to include supervised field education and formation for spiritual direction.  Each time another context or discipline has been added to the conversation about supervision, the task of holding together the increasingly rich diversity of theoretical perspectives and ministry practices becomes more complicated.       

Although the Journal has changed its name and its editorial location, supervision remains the central practice for reflection.  Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry is the new name and the San Francisco Bay Area is its new editorial home. The various educational centers provide a richly diverse religious, theological, and clinical context in which to explore the future of formation and supervision.           

          As an Editorial Board, we are committed to that diverse dialogue.  We are determined to enhance the richness of reflective practice through soliciting articles from a variety of religious and ethnic/cultural perspectives. We hope that readers will learn from reflecting on the practice of supervision and formation in disciplines and contexts quite different than their own.  We invite you to send your comments about this Journal and its focus.

Go to the Contact Us page to communicate with us.  And of course we hope you will submit for publication your reflections on the practice of supervision and formation in  ministry. 

The Editorial Board

Fall, 2011

Book Review Guidelines

1.      If the book does not merit a review in your estimation, say so and keep the book.

2.      Place the bibliographic entry at the top of the first page exactly in this form: 

             Now is the Time By L. Tiempo, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995. xxix and 418 pages.

                           Cloth.  $54.00

3.      Type double-spaced, with one inch margins all around.  Reviews are of three types: 

                    1) a brief mention: up to 100 words;

                    2) a longer review of up to 300 words;

                    3) review articles of an outstanding or significant volume.  Unless expressly asked

                         to do type 3, write a type 2 review; however, if after examination the book only

                         merits a brief mention, supply that (type 1).

4.      If possible, please send both a printed copy of the review and an electronic copy.

5.      Write with spiritual directors, pastoral counselors, theological field educators and CPE

 supervisors, the primary readership of Reflective Practice, in mind.  Your review should do

the following:

           a.       Include a statement of the book’s thesis and an outline of its contents.  Indicate

                      its significance and/or how it might be useful to pastors, teachers, or lay people in

                      their ministries.

           b.      Enter into dialogue with the author to expose strengths and/or weaknesses.

           c.       Use your creativity to match the review to your own style and/or the book.

6.      Put your name and some form of identification at the end of the review on the right

                     margin.  Examples:

                       Heilege Moses                                       Frank Lee

                      World University                                   Truth Theological School

                      Chicago, IL 60615                                 Eureka, MO 63105

7.      The journal will publish your review in its annual printing.

8.      The Book Review Editor reserves the right to edit and/or shorten all reviews.

9.      When finished with the review, archive a back-up copy, keep the book for your own

          use, and send the review to:

Rev. Scott Sullender, Book Review Editor

ssullender@sfts.edu