We believe in an idea described as "the total ministry of all believers." It is a belief that all people who believe in Jesus Christ are called to minister, not only to each other, but to all the people we meet and live with. And by ministering we don't mean preaching, but caring for and nurturing others, showing God's love not just through words, but also through actions.
About forty years ago, people at the School for Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, decided to develop a curriculum which would provide a basic theological education to lay Christians. Thus, Education for Ministry (EfM) was born.
EfM is a distance learning certificate program in theological education based upon small-group study and practice. Members of the group meet each week to discuss reading materials which provide a basic education about Christianity and contemporary theological issues.
It is a four-year program, but students commit to only one year at a time. The first year is devoted to reading and understanding the Old Testament; second, the New Testament; third the history of the Christian Church; fourth, contemporary theological issues. The discussions are led by mentors who keep the discussions on topic. Each group makes decisions about how the group will be run within a broad set of guidelines.
Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside hosts two EfM groups at the present time. One meets from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays and the other meets Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. By agreement, the groups begin and end each meeting with a brief worship. Each member of the group leads worship several times each year. Please contact Barbara Brooks at tipark4me@aol.com or Diane Santoriello at Dianesantoriello@gmail.com for more information.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon will be hosting an EfM group on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. starting September 21. Contact the Rev. Garrett Yates at garrett@stpaulspgh.org for details.
When you are a member of an EfM group, you gather together with other inquisitive souls to Eat, Pray and Learn. The cost of the program is $350 a year and includes all text books.