We all face the difficult and often subtle task of interpreting the richness of the church’s faith in a complex and confusing world. We need a theological education which supports our faith and teaches us to express that faith in day-to-day events. Join Education for Ministry (EfM) to…
Deepen your Christian faith.
Learn how to articulate that faith.
Let that faith inspire you into action!
What is EfM?
EFM is a program of theological education at a distance, offered by Sewanee School of Theology. The Diocese of Western MA is a sponsoring diocese, and students of EFM sign up one year at a time for this four-year program. The seminar group is the nucleus of the Education for Ministry program. A group consists of six to twelve participants and a trained mentor who meet weekly over the course of a nine-month academic year. These meetings are usually from two to two and a half hours in length.
The focus for each year is:
A variety of resources enable participants to gain in-depth knowledge about:
Year One: The Hebrew Bible
Year Two: The New Testament
Year Three: Church History
Year Four: Theology, Ethics, and Interfaith Encounter
Through discussion and guided reflection, the seminars furnish an opportunity to deepen understanding of the reading materials. More important is the development of skills in theological reflection. The goal is to learn to think theologically. By examining their own beliefs and their relationship to our culture and the tradition of our Christian faith, participants can learn what it means to be effective ministers in the world. In coming to terms with the notion that everything we do has the potential for manifesting the love of Christ, we discover that our ministry is at hand wherever we turn.
“… a special opportunity to explore our faith in an intimate and non-judgmental way. As our group has explored, shared, agreed and disagreed, I have found myself face-to-face with ideas I had never even considered before. It has caused me to question as well as affirm my beliefs and has led me on a journey with God throughout the week, not just on Sunday mornings.” - Year One participant
Group Life
EfM groups are made up of between 6 -12 participants and are led by a certified mentor.
A typical group meeting will start with prayer, led by a group member, then a short check in. Groups then will start the year off with spiritual autobiographies, working with different themes each year, and then move into theological reflection where participants learn to look deeper at life issues by thinking theologically, reflecting faithfully, and learning how to speak civilly when confronted with circumstances and life issues that are different than your own. Groups then close with worship and prayers.
EfM groups are NOT therapy sessions where people come to “be fixed”, but can be seen as people walking together, side by side, though life’s challenges.
EfM is NOT a Bible Study where verses and stories are studied in-depth and picked over, but is experienced as a broad overview of Scripture and Christians history.
EfM does NOT lead to ordination, but those seeking ordination have found the study useful in their lives.
EfM does NOT seek to invalidate your faith, but rather is a place to question and examine things together in community and in ways you might never have imagined before.
EfM DOES help participants though their 4 years in EfM to discern one’s ministry and place in the Body of Christ. All members are ministers in the church and are part of the closely knit fabric of the church that is making the Kingdom of God manifest on earth, one person at a time.
EfM DOES help participants understand that they are part of the active ministry of Christ in today’s world as agents of reconciliation, grace, and justice.
Education for Ministry (EfM) a distance-learning program of the School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. It is a college level course for lay persons. No prior study or knowledge of scripture or theology is required. There are no tests, but there is reading, homework, and once-a-week seminar group participation with discussion and theological reflection. Participants can receive 18 Continuing Education Units (CEU) for each year completed. Tuition is $350 per year, Books are around $100
The Diocese of Western Massachusetts is currently forming new EfM groups in parishes and on Zoom. To find an EFM course near you or on ZOOM, or to start an EFM group in your church, contact our EFM Coordinator, James McDonald James.ross.mcd@gmail.com
Scholarship information
Applicants: The Diocese has limited funds to assist those who have financial need. The maximum amount of the diocesan scholarship is $175. You are encouraged to explore funding that might be available through your parish. If you have financial need and would like to apply for a scholarship through our Diocese, please have a conversation with your mentor or Rector/Priest in Charge.
Mentors/Rectors/Priests in Charge: Please request a copy of the scholarship application through Karen Warren (kwarren@diocesewma.org). If the scholarship is granted, Mentors collect checks and submit to Sewanee as per the instructions you receive through them.
Julie Mankowsky, elementary school teacher, EfM graduate, St. Francis’, Holden
“Through EfM, I found a disciplined way to study the big picture of the Bible, which often eluded me in lectionary readings. It was such a gift to then find a particular piece of the Bible that fascinated me, and to be able to discuss it with other seekers! And the extraordinary thing was that it was both deep and life-changing work, but truly fun at the same time.”
Kathleen O’Connor, attorney, EfM graduate, St. Francis’, Holden
“The EfM course of study was a challenging and helpful experience. I enjoyed reading entire books of scripture along with the study materials and delving into church history and theology which were new areas of learning for me. The weekly meetings with the group were essential for shared prayer, questioning, listening and learning from one another. The group theological reflections were always fascinating and required strong leaders to guide us through them. My only frustration was not having the time to prepare as much as I would have liked, but once I resolved to just do what I could, I enjoyed the course thoroughly.”
The Rev. Eliot Moss, EfM mentor
“The hook of EfM is the structured study of Scripture, church history, and theology, which of course provides a wonderful base for ministry, but what I, and I think most people, find to be most powerful about it is the spiritual formation that happens when you participate in spiritual reflection and small group worship week after week. You come to see the world with more spiritual eyes, and to discern God’s calling for you, your unique ministry. In my case it turned out to be bi-vocational priesthood, but EfM is not primarily about developing people for ordained ministry – it is about helping them see and live into their particular calling as a baptized child of God and member of the Church.”
