Education for Ministry (EfM)
Education for Ministry (EfM) is a four-year program developed by the School of Theology at the University of the South to provide lay persons with tools and resources that will encourage them to more fully engage their baptismal journey in daily life. Participants enroll one year at a time, each year building on the last. The heart of the program, theological reflection, is supported by an exploration of the disciplines of biblical exegesis and interpretation, systematic theology, church history, ethics, liturgics, and ascetical theology.
Through study, prayer, reflection, and small-group conversation, participants are offered an opportunity to examine their own beliefs in light of the Christian tradition and everyday experience — developing knowledge, aptitude, and identity as followers of Jesus. The first two years of the curriculum focus on Scripture (year one on the Hebrew Scriptures and year two on the New Testament), year three examines Church history, and year four focuses on theology and ethics.
Topics covered include:
- Spirituality, prayer, and worship
- The authority of the Bible for the church today
- The lessons and perspectives of history
- Theological reflection as a life skill
- Integrating behavior and belief for faithful living
- Discovering vocation, passion, and one’s place in the church
If you are interested in learning more about this amazing opportunity, contact Cheri Winter, Diocesan Coordinator for EfM, at EfM@EpiscopalColorado.org, or visit Sewanee University of the South.
Online EfM
It was over fifteen years ago that I first became a mentor of an on-line EfM group. Back then we had no video capabilities. We only knew one another through use of a shared white board, a chat box and occasional phone conversations, usually reserved for the sharing of spiritual autobiographies. The online option for taking EfM was new. People who joined our group lived in places where getting to meetings was a lengthy and difficult process. Meeting via the internet seemed to most like it would be better than nothing.
I was amazed at how intimate our groups became in this strange setting. People quickly bonded and often shared at a profound depth. Ironically it was the fact that we didn’t see one another on a day to day basis and that we had only this one connection with one another that did it. We were allowed a space apart to which we could bring our most authentic selves.
It was three years ago or so that we moved to the Zoom platform for our online meetings. I was delighted to be able suddenly to see people’s expressions and body language. We had a new window into people’s homes, and we could share more easily. Groups continued to bond deeply. Spiritual growth and the discernment of lay ministry — sometimes clerical ministry as well — were universal among participants. And everybody, of course, came away from EfM with a very good understanding of what is in the Bible, what Christians have been up to for the past 2,000 years, and what ethical and theological issues face us today.
Hearing about online gathering, people’s first response used to be, “But what about the tech?” In this era of Zoom gatherings people are quickly becoming familiar with the how-tos of online meeting. Nevertheless, we are very patient in early sessions while everyone gets facile in things like screen sharing. There is no bad question when it comes to figuring out how to make the computer gathering work. And there is lots of support as we work through the inevitable glitches.
EfM online is a wonderful adventure. It joins people in isolated circumstances, across great distances. A typical group usually includes people from all four continental time zones. While exploring our unique journeys, we learn about what we hold in common as well. It can be quite gratifying to be able to share intimate doubts and longings with others who do not judge or try to fix us. If you have an opportunity, give it a try.
Laurie Gudim
Fort Collins, Colorado, and online everywhere
What EfM Isn’t and What It Is
If I am going to tell you about Education for Ministry (EfM), why would I start by describing what it is not? Because the words “for ministry” tend to send most of us everyday church folks running in the opposite direction out of fear that we are going to be dragged off to seminary and into ordained ministry. This isn’t that kind of program, nor are we talking about that type of ministry. In fact, this program was developed just for those of us who want to understand our Christian journey as it relates to our daily lives. The “ministry” that this program focuses on is the ministry of the baptized and helps participants grow more fully into their Baptismal Covenant (see pages 304-305 in The Book of Common Prayer).
EfM is a four-year program that participants commit to one year at a time and includes two years of journeying through the Bible, a year of exploring church history, and a year of growing one’s knowledge of theology, ethics, mission, and day-to-day ministry in the world.
While it is true that participants read through the entirety of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, EfM is NOT a Bible study. It is, however, an opportunity to see the Scriptures through the eyes of scholars with varying perspectives and engage in a dialogue that enriches and enhances the participant’s understanding of the way these ancient texts engage today’s world. This understanding is further expanded as Christianity is explored from just after the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the church of today. During the final two years, participants will see how the various ways we now express Christianity have been shaped by world exploration, science, industry, and more.
How does this all happen? During weekly gatherings of no more than 12 participants, trained mentors guide the process at the heart of the EfM program – Theological Reflection (TR). This process connects what participants are learning from their weekly readings to what is happening in the world around them, in their own lives, and their personal beliefs about the topic at hand. It is through TR that each person becomes increasingly aware of God’s continuous work, not only in the world around them, but within themselves, and allows them to see themselves as Christ’s hands and feet at work in every part of their lives.
If you are interested in learning more about the EfM program, contact Cheri Winter, EfM Diocesan Coordinator/Mentor, at EfM@EpiscopalColorado.org.