Lee University’s Pastoral Ministry I course is working with the Cleveland Police Department to broaden its students’ view of ministry opportunities. From left, Dr. Jerald Daffe, Sergeant Evie West, Officer Jennifer Samples, and senior pastoral major Christopher Yarber.
photo by James Mears
This fall Lee University’s senior level course, Pastoral Ministry I, is working with the Cleveland Police Department to broaden its students’ view of ministry opportunities.
The class is taught by Dr. Jerald Daffe, professor of pastoral studies, and consists of 14 students in different majors within Lee’s School of Religion. The goal of Pastoral Ministry I is to expand students’ knowledge of service and career opportunities by not only using traditional assignments and lecture, but also with hands-on experiences.
“We’re trying to equip our students with not only theoretical knowledge, but also with practical opportunities,” said Dr. Daffe. “Pastoral ministry isn’t only located within the four walls of the Church.”
As a new component of Pastoral Ministry I, the CPD is working with the class to teach the students the ministry of police chaplaincy.
Sergeant Evie West, public relations officer of the CPD and a Lee alumna, presented a lecture to the class on careers of benevolence in law enforcement. The students also took a tour of the local police station and listened to CPD Officer Jennifer Samples and other local officers tell stories of their experiences, challenges, and rewards from serving through the CPD.
“We are glad to be of service to our community, collaborating with Lee University, in this practical opportunity,” said Chief Mark Gibson. “Police chaplains are vital in the law enforcement profession, and any way we can partner to facilitate programs or encourage individuals to pursue service-oriented positions, we do so.”
The class’s assignment also provides students with the option of participating in a ride-along with a CPD officer. Each student will ride in a police vehicle for five hours to see, from an inside perspective, the duties of a local officer. They will then write a paper reflecting on Officer Sample’s and Sergeant West’s lectures, the CPD tour, and the ride-along experience.
“This opportunity is exciting because it allows us an inside look at possibly one of the most important job fields in our country,” said senior pastoral major Zachary Bernauer. “It is a new connection that I am honored to be a part of, and I know it will carry with me throughout ministry.”
For more information about this course and other pastoral ministry courses, contact Lee’s Christian Ministries Department at 303-5080.