Did you know that EfM is an acronym for Education for Ministry, an exciting and life changing programme of theological education based on adult education, through individual reading, study, prayer and reflection using small group study and practice drawing on contemporary scholarship in the fields of Christian scripture, church history, theology and the life of faith in a changing world.
Did you know that this programme was developed 50 years ago through the University of the South, The School of Theology, Sewanee, Tennessee? It has helped over 120,000 people internationally respond to their call to ministry.
Did you know that in 1985 the Diocese of Kootenay was formally invited to administer the program in Canada and to be the home of the Canadian head office? The seed money for EfM came from Diocesan Anglicans, In Mission Fund which, with a national projects case, that had money raised for various diocesan projects. The Director of EfM Canada resides in the Diocese of Kootenay, but every contracted Diocese in the programme has a Diocesan Coordinator. Kootenay’s Coordinator is Jane McCraw Frost.
In the near 40 year history of EfM Canada, there have been 4050 people who have taken all or part of the EfM programme in Canada. There have been 150 mentors trained. It has seen four directors.
In the 50 years of EfM’s history there have been five revisions of the curriculum. The latest version is set to come out later this spring which will be delivered digitally cutting down on printing and delivery costs. The digital format allows for links to essays, videos, podcasts and articles.
The programme will cycle through four annual themes beginning this year with The Journey with God with the remaining themes being Following Jesus, Listening to the Spirit, and Engaging the world. Each theme has spiritual sojourners who reflect on the year’s theme through essays that identify, explore, connect and apply the theme to daily ministry.
The four year programme (Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, and Spirituality and Ethics) is now called EfM Classic — Who is Israel? Who is Jesus? Who and What is the Church in the World? What are we to be in the World? At the heart of EfM remains Theological Reflection, a process of seeking to discern the presence of God in the events of daily life. Each group is lead by an accredited mentor who is not a teacher but a guide and co-learner.
There is also a one year programme called EfM: Wide Angle which gives participants an introduction to scripture, history, spiritual practices, ethics, and theological reflection. It is a one year programme designed to give inquirers a taste of the full EfM Classic programme and encouraging enrolment in the Classic programme. Like EfM Classic, this new one-year curriculum is facilitated by an accredited mentor, and both programmes have specific texts for study.
What sets EfM aside from other theological programmes is the integration of the five core practices into every seminar – Living in Community, Regular Prayer and Worship, Theological Reflection, Study of Christian Tradition and Vocational Discernment.
Again, Education for Ministry is an exciting and life changing programme available in face to face groups or online groups.
For more information about EfM please feel free to contact Jane McCraw Frost or me.
Jane McCraw Frost, Diocesan Coordinator [email protected]
Annette Cowan, Director of EfM Canada [email protected]
