Education for Ministry (EfM)
What is EfM?
EfM participants study what the Bible says and also learn how to understand the Bible within its historical, literary, and cultural settings. Biblical studies form the primary work of the first two years. EfM helps participants understand and then apply Holy Scripture to daily life. God's revelation through Christian tradition is taken seriously by EfM, from the earliest biblical messages, through the development of liturgy and theology, and even to the context of the challenges we face in our own times and daily lives. In the environment of the weekly seminar, this study becomes the fodder for discussion and theological reflection.
Each seminar group sets its schedule to accommodate the thirty-six weeks of the EfM: Classic and EfM: Wide Angle programs. Each seminar includes worship, community life, theological reflection, and a reflective discussion of the participants' study from that week's assignments.
New to EfM: Wide Angle
EfM: Wide Angle is a new year, now part of EfM Classic. This experience is part of EfM and will be led by an accredited EfM mentor. The idea grew out of the desire to offer an authentic seminar experience to those:
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who may want to try EfM without the four-year commitment of the classic program
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who may want to stay on in their groups after they graduate from the 4-year program
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who want to engage in formation through a variety of learning resources – videos, podcast, blogs and short readings
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who want to limit the preparation time to 60 – 90 minutes per week
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Wide Angle will offer the same quality formation in Old Testament, New Testament, Christian History, and Christian Ethics & Spirituality to give participants the foundation they need to fully engage in the core practices of EfM. The material will be new to EfM and not taken from Years 1-4.
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The materials that Wide Angle participants will read, watch, and listen to will come from rich and varied voices across our church – including 3 orders of ministry – lay, priest, and bishop. The videos, podcasts, and readings will provide additional kindling for learning and reflecting. Imagine reading a chapter in the core text, reading scripture referenced in that core text, and watching a video that further explores the theme from another perspective.
Want to know more? Contact the church office.