CPE: Horizon International Internship candidates must have completed their CPE before interviewing for a Horizon international site. Candidates who have completed CPE typically interview more strongly than candidates who have not completed CPE. This requirement is for the benefit of the candidates. Over the past few years we have found the references and comments from CPE supervisors to be very helpful in assessing candidates, therefore this year we would like each candidate to provide a copy of their final CPE supervisor’s evaluation with their application.

Candidacy committees: Candidates for international internships should advise their candidacy committees of this application process and have the committee’s support before the interview. To ensure that this conversation has taken place, this year we are requiring a reference from the synod candidacy committee.

Recruitment: The first part of the Horizon International Internship process is the recruitment process. Seminaries have the responsibility to identify and encourage appropriate candidates. Candidates that are best suited to serve in an international internship are ones who are mature, flexible, patient, articulate, have a good self understanding and good understanding of their own theology. In addition foreign language skills, cross-cultural experience, ecumenical and interfaith experience are all great assets for candidates.

Application: Candidates need to have the required information to the ELCA GM office by Monday, October 16, 2006. Materials required include:

• Application (a copy is enclosed)
• Copy of the final CPE supervisor’s evaluation sent by the candidate.
  • The candidate also can provide their final self-evaluation.
• Three assessments per candidate:
  • One from a seminary professor
  • One from the synod candidacy committee
  • One from either the CPE supervisor or the Teaching Parish/Field Placement supervisor
    Completed assessment forms need to be sent directly to ELCA GM from those providing the reference. (copies are enclosed)

Applicant Processing: All written candidate applications and candidate assessments are reviewed by a committee at the ELCA churchwide office. During this time, directors of contextual education and other references may be contacted for more information. The committee will determine which candidates will be invited to interview. Normally, two or three more candidates than the number of available sites will be interviewed. This maximizes the opportunity for making matches between interns and sites. Approximately two weeks are needed to review the written applications.

Interviews: When interview candidates have been selected, they are contacted and interviews are arranged. Airline tickets need to be purchased two weeks in advance to obtain the most reasonable rates. Interviews will be conducted by an interview committee of ELCA Global Mission and ELCA Vocation and Education staff in the ELCA churchwide office in Chicago during November 2006.

Psychological evaluation: In keeping with ELCA GM’s evaluation process, we request a copy of the candidate’s psychological evaluation that was done during the candidacy process. Candidates who are interviewed will be asked to give permission for the selection committee to obtain their psychological evaluation from the synod candidacy committee.

Placement Process: Upon completion of the interviews, the committee meets to match candidates with potential sites. When candidates are equally qualified for sites, other criteria are considered in the placement process. Among these other criteria are: placing people of color; maintaining a balance among men and women; and maintaining a balance among seminaries. When the committee has matched candidates to sites, their recommendation is given to the directors of contextual education for their approval. Upon completion of the placement process, the new Horizon international interns are officially notified of their placements.

Orientation: Horizon international interns must attend the mission personnel orientation in Chicago for three weeks during the month of July 2007.

Other considerations:

Tuition: Neither ELCA GM nor the international internship site pay the seminary tuition for a Horizon international intern. Therefore, the seminary will need to adjust its budget accordingly.

Stipend: ELCA GM provides a monthly allowance of US$675, adjusted by a Goods and Services Differential applicable in the country of service. While this amount is lower than what domestic interns receive, it is the amount that the ELCA Global Mission Two-Year mission personnel receive.

Medical insurance: ELCA GM provides insurance for the intern through the seminary program.

Transportation: ELCA GM provides direct economy round-trip transportation to and from the international internship site. Local transportation, as needed for work, is arranged through the internship site.

Housing: Housing is arranged and provided by the internship site.

Married candidates: Support provisions for all sites are limited to the intern alone. Some sites have accommodation possibilities that may be suitable for a couple. ELCA GM will provide direct economy round-trip transportation for a spouse and frequently we provide insurance for the spouse. All other costs related to the spouse are the couple’s responsibility. The possibility of employment for a spouse cannot be assumed; in most locations, it is not possible due to work permit restrictions.

Children and Pets: Because none of the housing for international interns can accommodate children or pets, we are unable to work with candidates who have children or who want to bring their pets.