Education for Ministry

During these uncertain times with COVID-19 disrupting our lives and the struggle to end racial inequality, you may have been looking for new ways to explore your faith or for a way to challenge old ways of thinking so that you can put your faith into action in challenging new and dramatic ways. I think we can all agree that the world around us is in need of faithful people who are dedicated to being agents of justice, grace, mercy, and love.

Perhaps it is time for you to look at Education for Ministry. EfM is a 4-year program through the University of the South (Episcopal) in Sewanee, TN. EfM is held in a small group setting that typically runs from September through the end of May, just like a normal school year. It explores Hebrew Scripture, Christian Scriptures, church history, develop your own personal theology and how to examine your personal beliefs and those around you so that you can fully practice your faith.

EfM uses a wide variety of sources to challenge you and to help you in the exploration of your faith. If you are a past graduate of EfM, this is an entirely new program compared to what you experienced in the past. Graduates of EfM are invited to enroll in any year they wish to take.

Each EfM session includes prayer, worship, theological reflection, and discussions on the book readings. Through the course of the four years we work from a Common Lesson book that will cover the following themes:

Year A) Living faithfully in your world

Year B) Living faithfully in a multicultural world

Year C) Living as a spiritually mature Christian

Year D) Living into the journey with God.

A Common Lesson book is a rich source in developing your own personal theology as well as the lesson book we all work out of.

We currently have EfM groups in 20 parishes in the Los Angeles Diocese with close to 200 active participants.

If you would like further information and the name of the parish with active groups closest to you, please let me know.

Gary Leonard,
Diocesan Coordinator
efmladiocese@gmail.com