Education for (Lay) Ministry Program
- Cultivating Lay Leadership
- Responding to the Call of Christian Service
- Shaping Faith into Action
Why EfM?
Every baptized person is called to ministry. The challenge for lay people is acquiring the tools to interpret the richness of our faith within a complex and confusing world. EfM develops an informed and discerning laity, deepening our faith and teaching us how to express that faith in our everyday lives.
Whether your ministry is at home, at church, or in the world, or, if you are exploring new ways to serve, EfM could be for you.
The Power of EfM
I am a witness to the power of EfM. It was the late 1980s. I was a new, but active, member of an inner-city church – on the Altar Guild, in the choir, a Eucharistic Minister, and more. Yet I knew almost nothing about the Bible, the Church, or God’s call to me. My understanding of God had not grown much since my childhood. I had heard that EfM could give me the tools to dig deeper, but I kept putting it off because I was too busy. Then I attended a Vestry meeting where my eyes were opened.
Vestry was deliberating a proposal to lease a small office to a new Gay Rights organization. The discussion followed along these lines: On one hand, the group probably meant well, even if their cause was controversial. On the other hand, if their advocacy created bad publicity, our church might be drawn into it, just because we rented to them. The vote began with the Sr. Warden’s no. The next man voted no, and the next. Then Peggy, an EfM graduate, voted no. But she stopped, reconsidered, and said, “Change my vote to yes. I believe God is calling us to do this.” The rest of the Vestry followed her lead, and the measure passed.
After the meeting, I asked her, “How did you do that – change your mind in the middle of the vote?” She answered, “EfM. I did a quick theological reflection. I thought of my new gay friend, a really caring person, who shared with me how unfairly he has been treated by society. And I remembered that the Bible says that God created us all in His image. Then I knew what I had to do.”
Better aligning my actions with what God is calling me to be and do. That’s what I wanted. I signed up for EfM right away.
If you are searching for what God wants you to be and do, too, I encourage you to consider EfM.
– Mary Novello, EfM graduate, mentor, and Diocesan Coordinator for Central PA
What is EfM?
EfM is a unique small-group, distance-learning certificate program from the University of the South’s School of Theology. Each program year consists of 36 meetings where group members encounter the breadth and depth of the Christian tradition and bring it into conversation with their experiences of the world as they study, worship, and engage in theological reflection together.
Since its founding in 1975, this international program has assisted more than 120,000 God-seekers in discovering and nurturing their call to Christian service.
In the fall of 2025, Sewanee will inaugurate EfM’s newest and most exciting curriculum revision.
EfM: Classic
EfM Classic remains a four-year program in which learners commit to studying one year at a time. Each yearly Path has a theme:
- Path A – The Journey with God (2025-2026)
- Path B – Following Jesus (2026-2027)
- Path C – Listening to the Spirit (2027-2028)
- Path D – Engaging the World (2028-2029)
Learners completing all four years receive a certificate in theological education.
As it has in years past, EfM Classic offers 4 years of study:
- Year 1 – the Hebrew Scriptures
- Year 2 – the Christian Scriptures
- Year 3 – Christian History
- Year 4 – Christian Ethics and Spirituality
EfM: Wide Angle
Too busy for Classic? Try EfM: Wide Angle, which begins September 2025. The new, one-year offering invites learners to experience an introduction to scripture, history, spiritual practices, ethics, and theological reflection. Wide Angle learners may be included in a Classic seminar group, or may join a Wide Angle-only group, depending on availability. Regardless, each EfM group is led by an accredited mentor.
The 36-week curricula for both Classic and Wide Angle are composed of 27 weeks dedicated to Core Studies and 7 weeks devoted to Common Lessons.
Seven times a year EfM seminars worldwide engage the same material. The Common Lessons are comprised of 4 essays from the Path’s Spiritual Sojourners. The Spiritual Sojourners accompany the learners through a path-wide theological reflection inviting deeper engagement with the Path’s theme.
The three remaining Common Lessons are Community Gatherings. Community Gatherings are special times for an EfM seminar when we invite alumni and those interested in joining EfM to gather and reflect upon a book relating to the Path’s theme and engage other multi-media content.
For The Journey With God, the path presented in 2025, click here for the Common Lessons and texts, and click here for the Core Studies texts.
A Note to Rectors and Adult Formation Leaders: Debuting in Fall 2025, EfM: Reflections are four-to-ten-week short courses that invite learners to reflect theologically on contemporary Christian subject matter. Great for Advent or Lenten study groups. No special training is needed to lead these courses.
Learn more about the revision and new offerings.
Visit the EfM website.
Interested in Joining or Starting a Group?
On site and online groups are currently active within the Diocese. Contact Diocesan Coordinator, Mary Novello at EfmMaryN@gmail.com.
If you feel called to start an EfM group, becoming a mentor has never been easier. Even people who have never taken EfM can become accredited mentors if they have the necessary attitudes and skills. Online training is now available. Contact Diocesan Coordinator, Mary Novello at EfmMaryN@gmail.com for more information.