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Education for Ministry (EFM) is a four-year certificate course written
by The University of the South at Sewanee. The study involves a weekly 3
hour seminar, and around 3 hours reading in preparation. (see detailed
information below) The groups spend time in study of
scripture, church history and theology, in spiritual and theological
reflection, and in worship.
There are three active
and lively groups who are engaged in this program one on Sunday, Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings during the academic year. If you think you
might be interested in becoming a member of a new group, or have
additional questions about the program,
please contact
Rob Anderson, Eleanor
Pritchett, or Ken
Lockerman
EFM has had over 60,000
participants during its history and as of 1999/2000 the enrollment was
nearly 8,000 in the USA. It is a four-year curriculum that includes:
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Study : Four
years of weekly reading materials which cover the Hebrew Scriptures,
the New Testament, Church History, and Theological Choices. The
seminars also allow opportunity for discussion and reflection on the
materials.
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Reflection :
Using different models for theological reflection, the seminar group
develops participants ability to think theologically.
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Worship : The
group has a life of regular prayer and worship as part of its
regular meetings.
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Education for Ministry — New Groups Forming Late Summer
What it is.
Education for Ministry, affectionately known as EFM, is a
program of theological education of the School of Theology of the
University of the South. Students sign up, one year at a time, for
the four year program. It covers the basics of a theological
education in the Old and New Testaments, church history, liturgy
and theology.
Students meet regularly, usually once a week, in seminar under
the guidance of trained mentors. The program grants a certificate
at the completion of the four years and eighteen continuing
education units for each year’s work.
What EFM Does
EFM teaches the seminarian how to think theologically, deepens
understanding of scripture and of church history, challenges
assumptions, and expands the universe of faith.
One person’s experience of EFM
To be in EFM is to live in community, to create a family; to
be challenged intellectually, spiritually and in the places in the
heart that don’t have a name; to make a commitment to a discipline
that changes how we think about ourselves and others; to learn,
with such grace as may be given, how to embrace the uncertainty,
the ambiguity, the beauty and the terror that is life in gratitude
and in wonder.
Kendall Lockerman
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