Education for Ministry

Registration now happening for 2009-2010

EfM is designed to teach us how to think theologically, deepen our faith and our understanding of our Christian heritage, and provide us with a new confidence to be Christ's minister. Every baptized person is called to ministry and the EfM program provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. Many people think that one must be ordained in order to be "a minister." The fact is that all baptized Christians are called to be active participants in the church's total ministry. It is that vocation for which we pray at the end of the Eucharist: "And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord."

The EfM program is preparation for the ministry to which we all are called. This group meets Tuesday evenings in St. John’s Parish Hall to study the Old and New Testaments, church history, liturgy and theology one year at a time over a four year curriculum designed and administered by the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. While a ‘typical’ Tuesday is hard to define, our group spends time praying together, participating in a guided theological reflection process, discussing the week’s texts and reading assignments, and enjoying various forms of worship as well as the fellowship, support, prayers, and shared wisdom that this close knit group offers its members. St. John’s has many EfM graduates and students in our parish and is open to anyone seeking a deeper knowledge and understanding of Christian history and contemporary theological thought. The study year typically begins in late August/early September and 4th year students ‘graduate’ in May. Please talk to mentors Susan Sangren or Kathy Scarsdale if you are interested in exploring this spiritually challenging and fulfilling ministry.