Education for Ministry

Education for Ministry (EFM) is an amazing program of Bible study, prayer and meditation, and theological reflection.  It is sponsored by the School of Theology at The College of the South in Sewanee, TN.  Started over 30 years ago as a distance learning method for lay people to study the Bible in depth, it is also appropriate education for licensed and lay ministers.  (Seminary graduates will likely find the material comparable with overview courses in Old and New Testament and church history offered in most seminaries.)

The heart of the program is a small group of 6 – 12 people led by a mentor.  The group usually meets weekly (but we have lots of flexibility in that), studies the Bible and a textbook with background information and questions, prays and worships together, and uses a structured approach to theological reflection (how to apply the Bible to everyday life).  Students sign up for one year at a time, and the entire course takes four years

Ed Owen and Deitra Blackwell are trained mentors for EFM groups.  We would like to start two or three groups in our region this September.  Ed’s group will be in Meridian, MS and Deitra’s group will be in central Arkansas.  An on-line group or a telephone conference group is a possibility if the people interested in the program are spread out all over the Region. 

A combination of formats is also a possibility.  For example, the central Arkansas group may meet online each week and in person every three months.  Or Ed’s Mississippi group may meet at Meridian, but other people in the south part of our region can join by telephone if they live too far away to attend in person. 

If several people in your area or your church are interested, we may be able to set up a group in your area.

Let Deitra Blackwell know if you are interested, and we will make the schedule work!

If you know of other people who might be interested in Education for Ministry (They don’t even need to be Disciples!) please pass this information on to them!

Contact Deitra Blackwell at disciplesinstitute@grrcc.org or at 501-517-2474 for information and enrollment forms.

Additional information, including sample lessons, is also available at http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/index.htm