About EfM

What Is Education for Ministry?

Education for Ministry was developed in the 1970s at the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is an ecumenical program designed to help laypeople engage their faith with depth and seriousness. The program is offered through small, mentor-led seminar groups that meet weekly for 36 weeks.

EfM participants study the breadth of Christian tradition  from the Hebrew Scriptures to the early church, through centuries of church history and theology, and into contemporary theological reflection. But EfM is not just an academic exercise. Its most distinctive feature is Theological Reflection (TR), a structured practice that connects participants' life experiences with the resources of Christian tradition, culture and their own beliefs, helping them discover meaning and discern their calling to ministry in the world.

Click the link to view the EfM: Welcome video.

The Weekly Rhythm: Engage, Respond, Reflect

Each seminar week follows a three-part rhythm designed to connect individual study with community reflection:

• Engage: Individual preparation before the seminar. Participants read scripture, study texts, listen to podcasts, videos, music, or contemplate art.

• Respond: The work of the seminar group together, discussing insights and implications of the individual Engage work.

• Reflect: A theological reflection conversation that moves through four movements (Identify, Explore, Connect, Apply) drawing on four sources of wisdom: Experience, Tradition, Culture, and Position.

The Five Core Practices of EfM

EfM is built around five Core Practices that together create a nourishing atmosphere for formation and growth in faith:

• Living in Community  - Sharing our stories and listening attentively to one another, building relationships through spiritual autobiography, covenant, and deep listening.

• Regular Prayer and Worship  - Opening and closing each seminar with prayer, exploring diverse worship forms, and developing personal spiritual practices.

• Theological Reflection  - The central practice of EfM. A structured process (TR) that explores and connects personal experience, Christian tradition, culture, and individual perspective, always asking: "Where might I take this next?"

• Study of the Christian Tradition  - Reading and engaging with scripture, church history, and theology, forming a solid foundation for reflection and faithful living.

• Vocational Discernment -  Listening for and responding to God's call to ministry in daily life. Not just about what we do, but how we live with purpose, asking "Who am I becoming?"