Education for Ministry (EfM) is a four-year theological program offered on Zoom by the School of Theology at the University of the South at Sewanee, TN. Participants commit to one year at a time and meet weekly in seminars led by one or two trained mentors. Over four years, participants study the Bible (the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament), church history, and theology while learning to engage in theological reflection. EfM is a means for exploration and formation of Christian faith.

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The seminar group is core to the EfM program. A group consists of 6-12 participants and trained mentors who meet weekly over the course of a nine-month academic year. Meetings are usually from 2 to 3 hours in length, and the EFM in ASL seminar group is conducted exclusively in American Sign Language.

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Through study, prayer, and reflection, an EfM group moves toward new understandings of the fullness of God’s kingdom. Every year, participants are supplied with a workbook, textbooks and resource guides and are expected to be prepared each week by reading and completing assignments. In weekly seminar meetings, participants share their discoveries and pose questions that are raised from the week’s readings, and through discussion and guided reflection there is opportunity to deepen understanding of the reading materials and have the opportunity to apply lessons to daily living and vocational goals.

 

Another core element of EfM is the development of skills learned through group theological reflection (TR). The goal of a group TR is to learn to think theologically about a previously event and look for meaning. 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 potential for manifesting the love of Christ, we discover that our ministry is at hand wherever we turn.

 

Registration for the fall will begin soon. If you are interested in learning more or wish to join EfM in ASL, contact the mentors at efminasl@gmail.com.