Ministry Opportunities and Placement Information
Local Ministry and Internship Opportunities
Covenant Seminary students will find ample opportunities for ministry involvement, internships, field education, and employment during their time with us. Alumni will discover great resources for finding a place of service after graduation.
The Seminary is fortunate to be part of a large metropolitan area that is home to many churches, including more than 20 PCA churches. These churches provide many avenues for students and alumni to be involved in ministry and serve God's people. A number of these churches regularly contact the Seminary for names of those interested in opportunities to preach and teach in their congregations.
Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, The Covenant Presbyterian Church, Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church, Chesterfield Presbyterian Church, and New City Fellowship are some of the many PCA churches that provide multiple internship opportunities for our students and alumni. In these and many other area churches of various denominations, students gain valuable ministry experience in activities ranging from supervising adult education classes to coordinating new outreach programs and overseeing youth or children's ministries.
Some Master of Divinity (MDiv) students have gained ministry experience while fulfilling their field education requirement by leaving Covenant Seminary for a year to work with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), the nationwide college ministry of the PCA.
In addition, Student Services maintains a large resource of local job information for students and spouses who are looking for work during their time at seminary. The Employment Opportunities Bulletin Board in Edwards Hall includes information on full- and part-time employment of all kinds. Prospective students may learn about job opportunities through the Admissions Office.
Ministry Placement Assistance
In addition to such local ministry opportunities, students are able to locate appropriate ministry positions upon graduation with the assistance of our ministry placement service. Our Student Services office has an outstanding record of assisting in the ministry placement of our graduating Master of Divinity (MDiv) students.
Since 1987, 97 percent of our MDiv graduates seeking full-time ministry positions and having Seminary recommendation have been placed. These alumni serve as pastors, assistant pastors, missionaries, youth and campus ministers, and ministers of Christian education both in the PCA and in other denominations, or in other ministry roles such as counselors or parachurch ministry leaders. Since 1995 (the first graduating class for our MAC program), 97 percent of our Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) graduates have also been placed.
The Alumni & Placement Office offers training and assistance in developing a resume, making the necessary contacts, and finding a position. Because we are the Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), we have a wide variety of resources and extensive contacts within our denomination. The master list of church openings is updated regularly. In addition, churches frequently call the Seminary with information on future openings not publicized elsewhere. Students and alumni may also access information about available ministry opportunities through the Portal.
The Alumni & Placement Office also offers placement assistance to non-PCA students. However, because most of the openings of which the Seminary will be aware will be with the PCA, students from other denominations are encouraged to develop their own placement contacts as well. Covenant Seminary also seeks to help women students find appropriate vocational placement.
For more information, contact the Alumni & Placement Office by phone (314.434.4044) or e-mail. If you desire to list an open position for your church or organization with the placement desk at Covenant Seminary, please complete the placement contact form.
View the PCA's list of vacant pulpits.
