efm.html

Logo (C) The University of the South, Sewanee, TN

What is Education for Ministry ?

Are you “burning out” of church activity involvement?

Do you need something deeper and more meaningful
to keep you engaged and interested in the church?

Do you have deep questions about Christian faith and tradition?

Do you claim to have lost your faith,
but still care deeply about people in the church and the world?

Are you dissatisfied with shorter Bible study programs,
and want the whole Bible?

Have you considered seminary seriously,
but don't want to be a congregation’s pastor?

Come check it out!

Education for Ministry (EFM) will be offered again in the Toledo, Ohio, area!

EFM is an in-depth program designed to deepen knowledge of Christian tradition in persons
with an interest in study and reflection. It requires a year’s commitment at a time. Called by some a
seminary for lay people, EFM presents the entire sweep of the Christian tradition from the earliest
period to the present. Participants learn the disciplines of biblical exegesis and interpretation,
systematic theology, church history, ethics, liturgics, and ascetical theology. Yet it spreads this over
four years of study; each year contains 36 weekly 3-hour meetings structured to make the material
available, but without exams and other deterrents to ordinary working people and homemakers.
Those who complete the course are not expected to lead congregations or exercise pastoral skills,
but to be informed about their faith so that they can share it in their own social and working worlds.
While the study group becomes close-knit as people work together over an extended time, it is not a
substitute for involvement in the life of a parish or congregation, and EFM has functioned
successfully as both inter-parish and inter-denominational groups.

Who benefits from personal involvement in EFM? A few telltale indicators:
1. Are you “burning out” of church activity involvement? Do you need something deeper and more
meaningful to keep you engaged and interested in the church?
2. Do you have deep questions about Christian faith and tradition? Do you claim to have lost your
faith, but still care deeply about people in the church and the world?
3. Are you dissatisfied with shorter Bible study programs, and want the whole Bible?
4. Have you considered seminary seriously but don't want to be a parish priest?

EFM participants must be persons of inquiring mind and active intellect, with the capacity to
commit to long-term serious effort, who have “follow through.” The regular tuition is $450/year.
The Episcopal Church Diocese of Ohio has a co-operative arrangement with EFM to allow $340 for
the academic year 2007-2008. The EFM administration allows for a few people to participate at
reduced tuition, but we expect every participant to make a sacrificial commitment.

Several time plans have worked for us. We expect a new group to become an inter-congregational
group and to meet in a location most conducive for those who apply; the time of meeting will be a
weekday evening or a morning, negotiated by those who commit to the group. It will begin as soon as
we have a quorum of six students, hopefully in September.
If we do not get a quorum this year, you may consider participating in an online group.

If you are interested, speak to David Nelson, who will schedule an introductory meeting for your
immediate community. Call David at 419-893-7166 or e-mail to david@davidchristiannelson.com.