As EfM prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the program examines its past while preparing for the future. In addition to EfM’s traditional 4-year program, many new formation resources are in development.
This page will be updated periodically to provide the most current information regarding program updates.
What is EfM?
Education for Ministry(EfM) began in 1975 at the School of Theology of The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and continues to this day through constituents worldwide! EfM is a four-year program of group reflection and study which supports formation for Christian ministry in daily life.
What is EfM’s web address?
Link to all things EfM through linktr.ee/efm.sewanee.edu.
There you can link to:
EfM’s website at the University of the South
EfM’s Pathwright Portal
EfM’s Substack
EfM’s Training Registration
EfM’s Resource Page
EfM’s Contacts
EfM’s YouTube Channel
EfM’s Instagram
What are the new EfM Formation Offerings I am hearing about?
EfM: Classic - the beloved 4-year program that has transformed lives for the past 50 years gains “classic” status at our 50th-anniversary celebration here in Sewanee and is recognized as the foundational program that started it all. It is not being retired; it is just being rebranded.
EfM: Wide Angle - a one-year introduction to EfM that will invite participants to experience an introduction to scripture, history, and theological reflection.
EfM: Catechumenate - a 23 - 26 week program designed to prepare individuals and communities of faith for baptism, confirmation, and reaffirmation, contextually set within the rites of the Church.
EfM: Reflections - questions, interlude books, books written by the faculty of the School of Theology, other current theological articles, and source materials from our culture source will be the fodder of a six-week reflective study.
EfM: Fun - These playful tools for small-group engagement are designed to enhance seminar life.
When is the 50th Anniversary EfM Celebration?
All are invited to the Beecken Center in the School of Theology at the University of the South to celebrate EfM’s 50th from Thursday, June 5th - to Sunday, June 8th, 2025.
What is the EfM Curriculum Revision Task Force?
The Curriculum Revision Task Force is updating EfM’s curriculum, which will debut in the Fall of 2025.
The revision will consist of four Paths. They are:
The Journey with God (2025-2026)
Following Jesus (2026-2027)
Listening to the Spirit (2027-2028)
Engaging the World (2028-2029)
Serving on the Curriculum Revision Task Force are:
Jenny Beaumont (EfM: Wide Angle Focus Lead)
Joshua Booher (Interlude Focus Lead / Program Implications)
John Clinton Bradley (Pathwright Focus Lead)
Rick Brewer (Year 4 Focus Lead)
Karen Byers (Respond/Reflect Focus Lead)
Beth Cavey (Training Implications)
Cynthia Crysdale (Year 4 Academic Consultant)
Kevin Goodman (EfM Executive Director)
Angela Hock-Brewer (Year 4 Focus Lead)
Sister Madeleine Mary Hodges, the Community of St. Mary, Southern Province (Path Spiritual Sojourner)
Stacy Holley (Wide Angle Team)
Paul Holloway (Year 2 Academic Consultant)
Steve Isham (Project Manager)
the Rev. Sister Egeria Mark, the Community of St. Mary, Southern Province (Path Spiritual Sojourner)
Hannah Matis (Year 3 Academic Consultant)
Jeffrey Mills (Editor)
Sister Elizabeth Mills, the Community of St. Mary, Southern Province (Path Spiritual Sojourner)
Liza Page Nelson (Year 2 Focus Lead)
Judy Newman (Year 1 Academic Consultant)
Sister Felicity Parks, the Community of St. Mary, Southern Province (Path Spiritual Sojourner)
Sharen Pearson (Respond/Reflect Team)
Joy Rogers (Year 3 Focus Lead)
Patty Schoeck (Assistant Editor)
Sandra Squires (Year 1 Focus Lead)
Lanning Taliaferro (Respond/Reflect Team)
Brian Tringali (Respond/Reflect Team)
Sister Hannah Winkler, the Community of St. Mary, Southern Province (Path Spiritual Sojourner)
What is Pathwright?
Pathwright is an online digital syllabus and electronic library. EfM formation products will be available exclusively through Pathwright. Pathwright is accessed through any web browser, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, on your computer, laptop, phone, or e-reader. Mentors and participants will still decide whether to purchase course texts electronically or in print.
All EfM formation products will be built upon 3 weekly movements:
Engage - the participant's work to prepare for the seminar. A participant may be asked to read scripture, study a source text, listen to a podcast, view a video, or contemplate a piece of art.
Respond - the work of the seminar group as they discuss the insights and implications of the prep work from “engage.”
Reflect - a theological reflection that moves through four movements - identify, explore, connect, apply - while exploring four sources - action, tradition, culture, and position.
Additionally, a Resource section will provide the opportunity to go deeper at the participant’s discretion.
What is EfM: Classic?
EfM: Classic is the rebranded 4-year formation program at the center of the EfM program for 50 years.
What is EfM: Wide Angle?
EfM: Wide Angle is a new, one year, offered as an additional or first year alongside EfM: Classic. This experience is part of EfM and will be led by an accredited EfM mentor.
The idea grew out of the desire to offer an authentic EfM seminar experience that incorporates the Core Practices to those who may want to –
try EfM without the four-year commitment of the classic program
continue in their groups after they graduate from the 4-year program
engage in formation through a variety of learning resources – videos, podcasts, blogs and short readings
limit the reading, watching and listening prior to the seminar to 60 – 90 minutes
experience a less academic introduction to EfM and Christian Formation
enter a first or second faith formation experience as a transition to the academic study EfM: Classic offers
EfM: Wide Angle will support the recruitment by offering mentors another avenue of participants. It may be that a mentor has 5 participants and can gain one more participant who is drawn to EfM: Wide Angle. Or a mentor may have 6-12 participants who are all doing EfM: Wide Angle. There is no set way to offer this year except that is part of an EfM group with an accredited mentor. The Wide-Angle participants will be an integral part of the seminar and engage in the common life of the group including – essays, interludes and opening and closing weeks. Wide Angle will be piloted within the classic EfM structure with various years present.
EfM: Wide Angle will offer the same quality formation in Hebrew Texts, New Testament, Church History, and Ethics & Theology to give participants the foundation they need to fully engage in EfM's core practices. The material will be new to EfM and not from Years 1-4. At each point of selecting material, we ask: What aspect of EfM are we supporting, and what voices are missing?
The videos, podcasts, and reading will provide additional kindling for learning and reflecting as participants add their voices to develop spirituality. Imagine reading a chapter in the core text, reading scripture referenced in that core text, and watching a video exploring the theme from another perspective.
The materials that EfM: Wide Angle participants will read, watch, and listen to come from a well-spring of varied voices across our church—including lay and clerical orders of ministry—feasting on the deep, yet often less familiar, wisdom found in various Christian spiritual traditions and perspectives.
What is EfM: Reflections?
EfM: Reflections are 6-8 week formation courses for small-group study and congregational use. They invite people to gather onsite or online to theologically reflect upon experience, church tradition, cultural sources, and deep questions.
Currently in development are:
The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning - Catharine Meeks, Focus Lead
Why remain in the Anglican Communion? -Karen Meridith, Focus Lead
Beyond a Binary God: Congregational Conversations - Tara Soughers, Focus Lead
What’s Love Got to Do with Law? - Becky Wright, Focus Lead
What is EfM: Fun?
EfM: Fun is charged with creating manipulatives for use within seminars and training to enhance small-group engagement.
The EfM: Fun team is made up of:
Anne Hawkins (Focus Lead)
Kay Flores
What is EfM: Catechumenate?
EfM: Catechumenate is a journey, a process, based on relationships: our relationship with God and with one another, all formed in a community of mutual support, trust, tolerance and genuine love. The catechumenate builds on the Christian story shaped by the teachings and traditions of the Episcopal Church. This story moves towards the mystery of Christ's resurrection and our participation in that mystery through baptism and the celebration of the Great Vigil of Easter.
Developing this resource for congregational use is:
the Very Rev. Jim Turrell, Dean, School of Theology, University of the South
the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee, Bishop (retired)
What is the Executive Director’s Council of Advice
The Executive Director’s Council of Advice keeps EfM’s executive director in tune with congregational and diocesan realities and challenges. Together, the Council explores insights and implications.
Serving on the Executive Director’s Council of Advice are:
the Very Rev. Jim Turrell, ex officio, Dean, School of Theology
Ms. Bobbie Ashley, EfM staff, Registrar
the Rev. Jose Fernandez, mentor, trainer, rector, Grace Episcopal Church, Woodland, AL
the Rev. Kay Flores, mentor, trainer, St. Timothy Episcopal Church, Chehalis, WA
Ms. Catharine Hamrick, alumna, Vice President, Senior Consultant at Segal Benz, parishioner, St. Matthew's Evanston IL
Ms. Donna Layne, clerk for the Council of Advice, EfM Operations Coordinator
Mr. Mark Patzman, mentor, coordinator, Diocese of San Diego CA
the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers, former mentor, former trainer, Presiding Bishop's Staff Officer for Church Planting
the Rev. Jenny Replogle, former mentor, Co-Rector, St, Paul's Episcopal Church, Peoria, IL
the Rt. Rev. Phoebe Roaf, alumna, mentor, bishop, Diocese of West Tennessee
Ms. Mary Novello, mentor, coordinator - Diocese of Central PA, Co-Vice President of the Commission on Ministry for the Diocese of Central PA, member Mt. Calvary, Camp Hill PA
Ms. Ruth Winkler, mentor, former coordinator, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister, Children Worship and Wonder Trainer at Disciples Home Missions, Watauga TX
What is the Communications Task Force?
EfM’s Communications Task Force is working on updating recruitment materials. Three new brochures debut this summer at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Additionally, they are producing a 50th-anniversary book of curated essays.
Serving on the Communications Task Force are
Maggie Taliaferro (Focus lead)
Elizabeth Lang
Kay McCall
Leah Romanelli DeJesus
Sissie Wile
What is the Program Working Group?
EfM’s Program Working Group (2024) is tasked with navigating and strengthening diocesan relations and addressing coordinator realities.
Serving on the Program Working Group (2024) are:
Joshua Booher, EfM Associate Director
David Bresnahan, Diocese of Massachusetts
Beth Cavey, EfM Trainer in Residence for Mentor Empowerment
Katy Dickinson, Diocese of El Camino Real
Kevin Goodman, EfM Executive Director
Cindy Hargis, EfM Diocesan Relations
Cherryl Holt, Diocese of Chicago
Deanna Eure, Diocese of Mississippi
Mary Novello, Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
Whit Stodghill, Diocese of Western Louisiana
Lucy Wagner, Diocese of Texas
EfM’s Program Working Group (2023, disbanded) was responsible for Training implications and the production of Paths to be used asynchronously in training.
The following served on the Program Working Group (2023)
Jenny Beaumont
Karen Byers
Joshua Booher
John Clinton Bradley
Beth Cavey
Kevin Goodman
Mary Novello
Lucy Wagner
Jennifer Wickham
How can I support EfM financially?
EfM is a self-funded formation program developed by the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee. There are three ways to support EfM:
Program Funds
Scholarship Funds
EfM: Endowment
LINK HERE to support EfM financially.
Who currently serves on the EfM Staff at the Beecken Center?
The EfM Staff is:
Executive Director of Education for Ministry, The Rev. Kevin M. Goodman
Associate Director, Joshua D. Booher
Registrar, Bobbie J. Ashley
Controller, Dawn Baker
Trainer in Residence for Mentor Empowerment, Beth Cavey
Diocesan Relations, Cynthia C. Hargis
Operations Coordinator, Donna G. Layne
Registration Specialist, Deborah Russell
