WHAT IS EfM?
Are you looking to deepen your faith? Do you want to know more about the Bible, Christian Tradition and Church History? Are you hoping to understand how your personal experiences and beliefs bring you closer to God and God's people?
If "yes," EfM (Education for Ministry) may be for you. EfM is four-year Christian Formation program founded and administered through the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee. Through study, prayer, worship and reflection, EfM seminar groups journey together through scripture, church history, and theology. A seminar group consists of one or two mentors and up to twelve participants. A seminar group meets up to 36 times during the course of a year. Years One & Two study the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospels and the New Testament. Year Three looks at Church History. Year Four reads about systematic theology to develop and enhance their own.
I serve as a mentor for EfM and have been involved with this seminar for adults since 1989. Currently, my group meets on Wednesday nights, 6:30 - 9:30, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Evanston, Illinois. We gather from September - June. My seminar group includes participants from St. James Cathedral, St. Matthew's Evanston, St. Mark's Evanston, and St. Luke's Evanston.
During a weekly seminar, the group does 5 things: 1) Check-in - how has the group encountered and responded to God since out last seminar, 2)Worship - participants lead worship, 3) Reflect theologically (TR) - after agreeing upon a shared focus, the group examines tradition and culture, paired with experiences and beliefs, 4) Study coursework - participants discuss insights and implications of assigned readings, 5) Hospitality - the group spends time in fellowship.
SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY RETREAT
Every year, prior to our seminar’s first session, we gather for an overnight EfM retreat. The cost of the retreat is $175 which includes overnight accommodations and 3 meals - Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast and lunch.
MATERIALS / BOOKS TO ORDER
Included in your seminar registration is our program workbook The Reading and Reflection Guide, affectionately known as the RRG.
All participants need a study bible; a bible you are comfortable writing in and marking up. Here are some recommendations:
All participants must purchase the year’s interlude books. This year’s interlude books are:
Interludes 2022-23
Reading the Bible from the Margins by Miguel A. De La Torre
Healing our Broken Humanity by Grace Ji-Sun Kim & Graham Hill
All participants must purchase EfM course books for the year they are enrolled. Find your year and order the books in whichever format you prefer. Here are the course books by year:
Year 1 - The Hebrew Bible
A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Third Ed. by John J. Collins
The Hebrew Bible: Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives edited by Gale Nee
Year 2 - The New Testament
Introducing the New Testament, Second Ed. by Mark Allan Powell
What Are Biblical Values? by John J. Collins
Year 3 - The New Testament
Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch
Year 4 - Theology, Ethics, and Interfaith Encounter
Theology: A Very Short Introduction by David F. Ford
Mysteries of Faith by Mark McIntosh
The Christian Moral Life by Timothy F. Sedgwick
My Neighbor’s Faith edited by Jennifer Howe Peace, Or N. Rose, & Gregory Mobley
CALENDAR
EfM SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY RETREAT
Friday, September 23 - Saturday, September 24, 2022
Group 5897 gathers for an introduction to, and work on this year’s spiritual autobiography and be introduced to theological reflection.
Siena Retreat Center
5637 Erie Street
Racine, WI 53402
Friday, September 23
6:00 - Welcome and Introductions
6:30 - Dinner
7:15 - Film
9:15 - Glass of ? | Closing Worship
Saturday, September 24
8:00 - 9:00 - Breakfast
9:00 - 10:15 - Introduction to TR
10:15 - 10:30 - Break
10:30 - 11:00 - Introduction to Spiritual Autobiography
11:00 - 11:45 - Spiritual Autobiography Work
11:45 - 12:15 - Share Spiritual Autobiography work
12:15:-1:00 - Lunch
1:15 - 1:30 | Spiritual Autobiography Session
1:30 - 2:00 | Spiritual Autobiography Work from image
2:00 - 2:30 | Spiritual Autobiography Hall Work
2:30 - 3:00 | Finish and Closing worship
EfM PROGRAM YEAR
September 14 - Week 1 - Orientation and Organization
Orientation & Planning - Norms, Books, Housekeeping, Organizing the Year
worship / hospitality / RRG - Laura
September 21 - Week 2 - Spiritual Autobiography and Listening
Spiritual Autobiography (1) - SELF Share experience(s) with other cultures that have contributed to your sense of self.
Worship / hospitality - Beth
RRG - Common Reading: Living in a Multicultural World
September 28 - Week 3
Spiritual Autobiography (3) - TRUTH Share one or more ways in which living in a multicultural word has shaped your definition of and understanding of truth.
Worship / hospitality - Denise
RRG - Kevin
Yr 1: Collins: Preface, Introduction, 1 Near Eastern Context,2 Nature of the Pentateuchal Narrative”
Yr 2: Preface, 1 The NT Background: The Roman World, 2The NT Background: The Jewish World
Yr 3: Acknowledgements, Introduction, 1 Greece and Rome
Yr 4: Ballard essay: On Being Theologically Literate, rrg, 180 -188, Ford: 1 Introduction
October 5 - Week 4
Spiritual Autobiography (4) - BELONGING Share an experience where your sense of belonging was challenged by an encounter with a culture other than your own.
Worship / hospitality - Joy
RRG - Kevin
Yr 1: Yee: Preface, Introduction
Yr 2: Collins - 3 The Bible and Gender, 4 Marriage and Family, 5 The Bible and the Environment, 6 Slavery and Liberation
Y3 3: 2 Israel
Yr 4: Ford 2 Theology and religious studies
October 12 - Week 5
Spiritual Autobiography (5) - COMPASSION OR JUSTICE Share a story about how your feeling of compassion (or justice) was awakened (or challenged) by an encounter with a person or group you experience as “other.”
Worship / hospitality - Casey
RRG - Joy
Yr 1: * Genesis 1:1-11, Collins: 3 The Primeval History, The Priestly Creation Story RRG Pt II 215–232
Yr 2: 7 Violence and Zeal, 8 Social Justice in the Hebrew Bible, 9 Social Justice in the Shadow of the Apocalypse, The Authority of the Bible
Yr 3: A Crucified Messiah
Yr 4: Ford 3 Thinking of God
October 19 - Week 6
Worship / hospitality - Sue
TR - Kevin
RRG - Laura
Yr 1: * Genesis 12-50, Collins: 4 The Patriarchs
Yr 2: Powell: Preface, 1 The NT Background: The Roman World, 2 The NT Background: the Jewish World
Yr 3: 4 Boundaries Defined
Yr 4: 4 Living Before God
October 26 - Week 7
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG - Joy
Yr 1: * Exodus 1-5, Collins: 5 The Exodus from Egypt
Yr 2: Powel: 3 The New Testament Writings
Yr 3: 5 The Prince: Ally or Enemy
Yr 4: Ford 5: Facing Evil
November 2 - Week 8
Worship / hospitality - Kevin
TR - Sue
RRG -
All Years: UNIT TWO: Theological Reflection is a Life Skill
COMMON READING: Last Words
November 9 - Week 9
Worship / hospitality - Laura
TR - Joy
RRG -
Yr 1: * Exodus 16-40, Collins: 6 Revelation at Sinai
Yr 2: 4 Jesus, 5 The Gospels
Yr 3: 6 The Imperial Church
Yr 4: Ford 6 Jesus Christ
November 16 - Week 10
Worship / hospitality - Kevin
TR - Laura
RRG - Sue
Yr 1: * Leviticus, * Numbers, Collins: 7 Priestly Theology: Eopdus 25-40, Leviticus, and Numbers."
Yr 2: * Matthew, 6 Matthew 8
Yr 3: 7 Defying Chalcedon: Asia and Africa
Yr 4: Ford: 7 Salvation
November 23
Thanksgiving Holiday
November 30 - Week 11
Worship / hospitality - Joy
TR - Sue
RRG -
Yr 1: * Deuteronomy, Collins: 8 Deuteronomy
Yr 2: * Mark, 7 Mark
Yr 3: 8 Islam: The Great Realignment
Yr 4: Ford: 8 Through the past to the present
December 7 - Week 12
Worship / hospitality - Casey
TR -
RRG - Sue
Yr 1: Yee: 1 Character, Conflict and Covenant in Israel's Origin Traditions
Yr 2: *Luke, Powell: 8 Luke
Yr 3: 9 The Making of Latin Christianity
Yr 4: Ford: 9 Experience, knowledge, wisdom & 10 Theology for the Third Millennium
December 14 - Week 13
Worship / hospitality - Sue
TR - Laura
RRG -
Yr 1: * Joshua, * Judges, Collins: 9 Joshua, 10 Judges
Yr 2: * John, Powell: 9 John
Yr 3: 10 Latin Christianity: New Frontiers
Yr 4: Coakley Essay: God as Trinity, RRG Pt II, 241-252
December 21 - Week 14
First Interlude - Reading the Bible from the Margins
Common Reading: De La Torre xi - 81
Worship / hospitality -
TR / RRG - Joy
Common Reading: De La Torre xi - 81
December 28
Christmas and New Year’s Holiday
January 4 - Week 15
First Interlude - Reading the Bible From the Margins
Common Reading: De La Torre Book
Worship / hospitality -
TR / RRG - Kevin
Common Reading: “Reading the Bible from the Margins”
January 11 - Week 15 pt. 2
First Interlude - Reading the Bible From the Margins
Common Reading: De La Torre Book
Worship / hospitality - Sue
TR - Casey
RRG - Denise
Common Reading: “Reading the Bible from the Margins”
January 18 - Week 16
Unit 3 Developing a Sustaining Spirituality
Common Reading: Spirituality in the Digital Age
Worship / hospitality - Casey
TR - Beth
RRG -
Common Reading: Spirituality in the Digital Age
January 25 - Week 17
Worship / hospitality -
TR - Deniise
RRG - Casey
YR 1: * 1 Samuel, * 2 Samuel, Collins: 11 1 Samuel, 12 2 Samuel
Yr 2: *The Acts of the Apostles, Powell: 10 Acts
Yr 3:11 The West Universal Emperor or Universal Pope?
Yr 4: McIntosh, 1 Mysteries of Faith 2 The New Encounter with God
February 1 - Week 18
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: * 1 Kings, * 2 Kings, Collins: 13 1 Kings 1-16, 14 1 Kings 17-2:25
Yr 2: New Testament Letters, 12 Paul
Yr 3:12 A Church for All People
Yr 4: McIntosh, 3 The Splendour of God, 4 The Voice of God
February 8 - Week 19
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: Yee: 2 Intersections of Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Nation
Yr 2: * Romans, 13 Romans
Yr 3: 13 Faith in a New Rome
Yr 4: McIntosh, 5 The Humanity of God
February 15 - Week 20
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1:* Amos, * Hosea, Collins: 15 Amos and Hosea
Yr 2: * 1 Corinthians, * 2 Corinthians, 14 1 Corinthians, 15 2 Corinthians
Yr 3: 14 Orthodoxy: More than an Empire
Yr 4: McIntosh, 6 The Glory of Humanity
February 22
Ash Wednesday Holiday
March 1- Week 21
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: * Micah, * Isaiah 1-39, Micah - RRG pt II pp 253-256, Collins: 16 Isaiah Yr 2: * Galatians, 16 Galatians
Yr 3: 15 Russia: The Third Rome
Yr 4: McIntosh 7 The Drama of the Cosmos
March 8
Unit Four Integrating Belief, Behavior and Doctrine
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Common Reading: Believing
March 15 - Week 23
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: * Jeremiah, * Lamentations, * Ezekiel, Collins: 17 The Babylonian Period, 18 Ezekiel
Yr 2: * Ephesians, 17 Ephesians
Yr 3: 16 Perspectives on the True Church
Yr 4: Sedgewick: Preface, Introduction,1 Describing the Christian Life
March 22 - Week 24
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1:* Isaiah 40-66, * Jonah et al, Collins: 19 Additions to the Book of Isaiah, 20 Post Exilic Prophecy
Yr 2: * Philippians, * Colossians, 18 Philippians, 19 Colossians
Yr 3: 17 A House Divided
Yr 4: Sedgewick: 2 An Anglican Perspective
March 29 - Week 25
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: Yee: The Challenge of Violence and Gender under Colonization
Yr 2: * 1 Thessalonians, * 2 Thessalonians, 20 1 Thessalonians, 21 2 Thessalonians
Yr 3: 18 Rome's Renewal
Yr 4: Sedgewick: 3 Incarnate
April 5 - Week 26
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: *Ezra, *Nehemiah, *1 Chronicles, * 2 Chronicles, Collins: 21 Ezra and Nehemiah, 22 The Book of Chronicles
Yr 2: *1 Timothy, *2 Timothy, *Titus, *Philemon, Powell: 22 The Pastoral Letters, 23 Philemon
Yr 3: 19 A Worldwide Faith
Yr 4: 4 Love and Justice
April 12 - Week 27
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: * Psalms, * Song of Songs, Collins: 23 Psalms and Song of Songs
Yr 2: * Hebrews, 24 Hebrews
Yr 3: 20 Protestant Awakenings
Yr 4: Sedgewick: 7 The Practices of Faith, 6 The Call of God, Appendix
April 19 - Week 28
Second Interlude - Healing Our Broken Humanity
Common Reading -Kim & Hill, 1-90
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Common Reading - Kim & Hill, 1-90
April 26 - Week 29
Second Interlude - Healing Our Broken Humanity
Common Reading - Kim & Hill, 91-207
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Common Reading - Chapters 5 - 8, Conclusion
May 3 - Week 30
Unit 5 Vocation
Common Reading: The Mission of the Church
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Common Reading: The Mission of the Church
May 10 - Week 31
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: * Proverbs, * Job, * Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth), Collins: 24 Proverbs, 25 Job and Qoheleth
* Yr 2: James, 25 James
Yr 3: 21 Enlightenment: Ally or Enemy
Yr 4: Peace, Rose, Mobley: Forward, Introduction, 1 Encountering the Neighbor
May 17 - Week 32
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: * Ruth *Esther, Collins: 26 The Hebrew Story
Yr 2: * 1 Peter, * 2 Peter, 26 1 Peter, 27 2
Yr 3: 22 Europe, Re-enchanted or Disenchanted
Yr 4: Peace, Rose, Mobley: 2 Viewing Home Anew, 3 Redrawing our Maps
May 24 - Week 33
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: * Daniel, *1 Maccabees, *2 Maccabees, Collins: 27 Daniel 1-2 Maccabees
Yr 2: * 1 John, * 2 John, * 3 John, 28 The Johannine Letters
Yr 3: 23 To Make the World Protestant
Yr 4: Peace, Rose, Mobley: 4 Unpacking our Belongings, 5 Stepping Across the Line
May 31 - Week 34
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: Ben Sira (Ecclesiasticus), Wisdom of Solomon, Collins, Chapter 28 - The Deuterocanonical Wisdom Books
Yr 2: Jude, Powell, Chapter 29
Yr 3: 24, “Not Peace but Sword”
Yr 4: Peace, Rose & Mobley “Part VI: Finding Fellow Travelers”
June 7 - Week 35
Worship / hospitality -
TR -
RRG -
Yr 1: Yee, Chapter 4, “Affirming and Contradicting Gender Stereotypes” by Judy Fentress-Williams and Melody D Knowles, Collins, Chapter 29, “From Tradition to Canon
Yr 2: The Revelation to John, Power, Chapter 30 - Revelation”
Yr 3: MacCullock, Chapter 25, “Culture Wars,”
Yr 4: Peace, Rose & Mobley, “Part VII: Repairing Our Shared World”
June 14 - Week 36
Final Meeting, Closing the Year