Adult Education
Bible Study - Education for Ministry
A
group consists of six to twelve participants and a trained mentor or
two who meet weekly over the course of a nine-month academic year.
These meetings are usually from two and a half to three hours in length.Through study, prayer, and reflection, EfM groups move toward a new understanding of the fullness of God's Reign. This process can be
illustrated by a two-rail fence. One rail is the Christian tradition.
The other is the collective experience of the group's members. The
rails are linked by fence posts which represent the seminar sessions
where life and study meet. The fence is grounded in the soil of regular
worship which is vital to the life of the group.Participants are given weekly assignments to study with the help of resource guides. Students are responsible for setting their own l
earning
goals. They spend between two and four hours in study and preparation
each week. In the seminars members have an opportunity to share their
insights and discoveries as well as to discuss questions which the
study materials raise for them.Through discussion and guided reflection, the seminars furnish an opportunity to deepen understanding of the reading materials.
More important is the development of skills in theological reflection. The goal is to learn to think theologically. By examining their own beliefs and their relationship to our culture and the tradition of our Christian faith, participants can learn what it means to be effective ministers in the world. In coming to terms with the notion that everything we do has potential for manifesting the love of Christ, we discover that our ministry is at hand wherever we turn.
George Green and Jean Probst (pictured) are the mentors of St. Mary's EFM group, which takes new students each fall. For questions or to sign up, contact either of them, and you can reach them through administrator@saintmarysepiscopal.org