Field education at Duke Divinity School places students directly into ministry settings where they can apply classroom learning to real-world pastoral work. For Andrew Ingram, M.Div. ‘27, that hands-on experience is happening 150 miles from campus at Pembroke First United Methodist Church in rural North Carolina.
As a Thriving Rural Communities fellow at Duke Divinity, Ingram shadows Rev. Mattheue Locklear at the small church that serves the Lumbee Indian community. It's a placement that's affirming his calling to rural ministry.
“My role here is to really get a sense of rural church ministry from a pastoral perspective,” Ingram said. “I’ll be going into rural ministry after graduation. I really love small, tight-knit communities and relationship building.”
That relational focus is especially important in rural ministry. “One of the really unique things about a rural church is that it is very connected,” Ingram said. “The survivability of a rural church where the population is not huge relies on relationships and connection of the community and the congregation. It would be hard for any of this ministry to happen without people coming together.”
That community-centered approach is evident in the church's two major ministries. Sacred Pathways, located just down the street, serves daily lunches to people experiencing homelessness. The church also hosts a summer literacy program funded by The Duke Endowment for 24 rising first and second graders.
The contrast between rural and urban ministry has been striking for Ingram, who notes that in urban settings, congregants often drive 20 to 30 minutes to attend church and the congregation may have limited involvement in the local community.
"Here I am, just immersed in the community, and it's something I really love," he said.
Ingram's field education experience is providing skills that complement his rigorous academic coursework at Duke. He credits Dr. Stephen Chapman's Old Testament class with giving him the exegetical tools he now uses for sermon preparation, helping him overcome writer's block and develop a fuller understanding of scripture.
But it's the practical ministry skills that field education uniquely provides.
Locklear, a Duke Divinity alumnus who serves as Ingram's supervisor, has been instrumental in teaching him to adjust his expectations and pace. “What he has taught me the most is that, when going from a fast-paced environment to a rural church, it is okay to slow down,” Ingram said.
With two decades of ministry and nine stints as a field education supervisor, Locklear approaches mentorship with intentionality and care.
“My method of supervision starts with orientation and deep listening. I want to understand each student’s strengths, but also the areas where they hope to grow,” he explains. “We structure the internship to offer experiences that touch both. The first few weeks are like a pantomime, but by the end of the summer, they’re given full freedom to lead and serve.”
Supervising interns also offers Locklear space for theological reflection, renewing his sense of pastoral calling. “Andrew has reminded me of something simple but profound: when in doubt, read scripture,” he says. “His posture toward the word has refreshed my own.”
The relationship between student and supervisor is one of mutual growth. As Locklear puts it, “Field education is a mutual blessing—it stretches students, renews pastors, and strengthens the church.”
For prospective students discerning seminary or wondering what field education is like, Ingram offers an honest assessment.
“Duke is challenging—the academics are really challenging—but there’s a lot of grace from professors, teaching assistants, and preceptors,” he said. He also encourages those unsure about their vocation to consider a pre-enrollment field ed placement, like one he completed earlier before starting classes. “It was really life-changing for my discernment process and affirmed that I’m in the right spot.”
Looking ahead, Ingram plans to serve as a rural church pastor in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. “I hope to take what I’ve learned about relationship-building and being involved in the community with me to wherever I am appointed,” he said. “I also hope to keep the connections and relationships I’ve built in my field education placements as resources for the future.”
Through field education, Ingram is discovering that ministry isn't just about theological knowledge—it's about building relationships, serving communities, and learning to communicate across differences with curiosity and grace.
