EfM (Education for Ministry)

"Every person is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry (EfM) program provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. During the Service of Confirmation we ask God to "Renew in these your servants the covenant you made with them at Baptism. Send them forth in the power of the Spirit to perform the service you set before them." EfM offers an opportunity to discover how to respond to the call to Christian service.

Our own Carl Eric Johnson went through the EfM program over two decades ago at his then parish, St. Patrick's in Washington, D.C. He is fond of describing EfM as "seminary for lay people" or, more tongue-in-cheek, "remedial Sunday school." The ordination process provides clergy with excellent theological training. EfM brings this same level of training to the rest of us in a very affordable four-year program that you commit to just one year at a time.

At a very high level, this is the focus of each year:
- Year One - Old Testament
- Year Two - New Testament
- Year Three - Church history through the mid-nineteenth century
- Year Four - Church history to the present, and future directions

But EfM is more than just a "Bible study on steroids." The heart of the EfM program is a process called theological reflection. Through TR we can wrestle with real-life issues facing us today, drawing parallels from scripture and tradition, and allowing us to formulate our own informed personal positions.

Each year is made up of 36 weekly sessions of 2 1/2 to 3 hours each, plus lessons to study during the week. As you can see, this is not "fluff"! But if you've ever wondered how our theology has developed over the millennia, EfM is definitely for you.

Contact:  Carl Eric currently co-mentors an EfM group sponsored by St. John's. For more information, email him directly carl@carleric.com or visit EfM's website: http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMAboutUs.htm