Emmanuel begins education for ministry

Aug 11 2011 

Emmanuel Episcopal Church will begin the seventh year of its popular interfaith Education for Ministry program in September.

EFM provides an in-depth and practical theological education, designed to enhance knowledge and provide the tools needed to better answer the personal call to serve, whatever that may ultimately be.

EFM is a four-year program, designed by the University of the South. It begins with study of the “Hebrew Testament,” followed by the “Christian Testament,” “Church History” and concluding in the fourth year with “World Faith Traditions, Ethics and Ministry Studies.”

New knowledge is applied to daily life through continuing theological reflections.

“This might best be described as a method of looking at issues with the newspaper in one hand and faith traditions in the other,” said coordinator Tom Murdock. “It is an exciting process of learning and ‘doing life.’”

Small EFM groups of no more than 12 meet weekly, 34 times each year, and there is some home study.  The program is built around the participants and can accommodate changing schedules and vacations.  Group members commit to participate only for a year at time.

“But almost everyone completes the full four years – it is that good,” Murdock said.

To learn more about EFM, call Tom Murdock at 376-6166.