January 2011 Annual Meeting
Education for Ministry, EfM Report
Submitted by Tom Marsh
This is my second year as co-mentor, with Roxy Wright, of the local EfM seminar group. We are not teachers but like guides. It is a four year theology course, studying the Bible and the history and development of the church over its 2,000 years.
This year we welcomed Laura Vines, Linda Demientieff and Will Haight as year one students, Cindy Stragier and Tree Nelson continuing in year two, and Bella Jean Savino in year four. Recent graduates Bonnie Marsh & Bruce Gadwah couldn’t stay away and are participating as un-official mentors. They can become official mentors after receiving training.
EfM was developed as a seminary level course aimed for lay people by the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. It is open to anybody who is interested in learning more deeply about how the Bible came to be, what it can tell us, and how we got to where we are today. We also learn to do Theological Reflections that help us to see our world theologically. I have found this process enlightening and have even done it without intending to.
St. Matthew’s Church has sponsored a seminar group for over 25 years.
