The next class starts in fall 2019.
Enroll by July.
Lay persons face the difficult and often subtle task of interpreting the richness of the church’s faith in a complex and confusing world. Many believe that they need a theological education
which supports their faith and also teaches them to express that faith in day-to-day events. As the emphasis on lay ministry has grown, Education for Ministry has come to play an important role in the Episcopal Church by providing a program that develops an informed and knowledgeable laity.
EfM is a unique four-year certificate program in theological education created by The Beecken School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, TN. In a one-room schoolhouse model, about ten of your fellow St. Jamesians meet weekly for theological study and discussion. You can see more about the curriculum at http://efm.sewanee.edu. As you might expect, our group also adds a good bit of St. James’ unique flavor to the recipe.
EfM at St. James’ is open for enrollment for new students as well as those who have completed part of the program in another parish. The St. James’ EfM group meets weekly. The cost is $375 each year, but scholarships may be available for persons in need. The mentors are De Sellers (desellerslpc@gmail.com) and Pam Beachley (pam@beachleylaw.com).
Each of us participates in EfM with a different end in mind, but the overarching goal is to explore and nurture who we are and where we are going in our lives of faith. We bring Scripture and other texts into conversation with our questions, ideas, and experiences in the world as we study, worship, and engage in theological reflection together.
