

The
Group
The
group is
the nucleus
of the
EfM
programme.
It
consists
of six
to twelve
students
and a trained
mentor
who usually
meet weekly
for 36
sessions
over the
course
of a year.
These meetings
are generally
two-and-a
half hours
in length.
Seminar
groups
have a
very relaxed
atmosphere
and often
meet in
the home
of one
of the
group members.

Study
Students
are responsible
for setting
their own
learning
goals.
They spend
around
three hours
in study
and preparation
each week. In the
group meetings
students
have an
opportunity
to share
their insights
and discoveries
as well
as to discuss
questions
that the
study materials
raise for
them.

Reflection
Through
discussion
and guided
reflection,
the meetings
provide
an opportunity
for students
to deepen understanding
of the
study materials.
EfM has
a creative
method
of theological
reflection
that enables
participants
to make
connections
between life
experiences,
the attitudes
and values
we hold
dearly,
the cultural
context
in which
we live,
and most
importantly
the insights
of 2000
years of
Christian
tradition.
Students
begin to
practise
this method
almost
immediately.
As biblical
knowledge
of the
Bible and
theology
deepens
by reading
the texts,
so
theological
reflection
becomes
more insightful.

Worship
The
group
is supported
by a life
of prayer
and regular
worship.
Students
take responsibility
to lead
the worship
each week.

The
Mentor
Each
group
has a trained
mentor
who contract
to serve
as a facilitator
and administrator.
Their role
is not
to teach
but to
enable
the process
of learning
to take
place in
the life
of the
group.

Educational Model
EfM
is a programme
where adults
may explore
their faith
and is
particularly
appropriate
to people
in their
mid life.
The
programme
stands
by one
of the
very basic
principles
of adult
education,
which states
that adults
learn what
they want
and need
to learn
at a time
that is
right for
them. The
primary
responsibility
for learning,
therefore,
belongs
with the
student.
The amount
of effort
a person
puts into
EfM is
directly
proportional
to what
will
be gained
from it.
In EfM
there are
no test
papers
and no
exams although
there is
opportunity
for personal
written
work.
Through
study,
prayer,
and reflection,
EfM groups
move toward
a new understanding
of the
fullness
of God’s
kingdom.
This process
can be
illustrated
by a two-rail
fence.

One
rail
is the
Christian
tradition.
The other
is the
life experience
of the
group’s
members.
The rails
are linked
by fence
posts that
represent
the group meetings
where life
and study
engage.
The fence
is grounded
in the
soil of
regular
worship
that is
vital to
the life
of the
group.

Syllabus
The
EfM
programme
is a four-year
curriculum, though the commitment is to one year at a time.
Each 'year'
covers
36 sessions.
New students
usually
begin with
the first
lesson
of the
first year.
Frequently
students
in the
same group
are reading
different
years.
Participants
in the
EfM programme
study the
entire
sweep of
the Christian
tradition
from the
earliest
period
to the
present.
Students
learn the
disciplines
of biblical
exegesis
and interpretation,
systematic
theology,
church
history,
ethics,
liturgy
and modern
theology.
While
the course
materials
provide
substantial
academic
content,
the focus
of the
programme
is on life
as ministry
and appreciating
our ministry
in the
world.
EfM provides
Christians
with that
basic skill
of theological
reflection
that is
the foundation
of all
Christian
ministry.
Click
here to
view the
Prospectus
as a PDF >

Reading
Materials
Annually, students read between twenty-nine to thirty four chapters of academic content, depending on their year of study, and five Common Lessons.
These Common
Lessons
help the
group get
started,
learn to
reflect
theologically,
develop
its spirituality
and life
of worship,
and examine
the potential
for various
kinds of
ministries.
Each year
the students
encounter
a new cycle
of Common
Lessons
so that
they complete
four different
cycles
during
their time
as EfM
students.
Topics
covered
in the
reading
materials:
- The
First
Year
- The
Old Testament
- The
Second
Year –The
New Testament
- Third
Year
- Church
History
- The
Fourth
Year
- Theological
Choices
EfM is currently revising its textbooks. Year 1 and Year 2 are now using the following texts:
Year 1 - Either
- A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible [Abridged] [Paperback] £22
Paperback:
320 pages
Author: John J. Collins
Publisher: Fortress Press, US; abridged edition (21 Sep 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800662075
ISBN-13: 978-0800662073
Product Dimensions: 17.7 x 1.6 x 22.7 cm
Available from
Amazon UK Also available on Kindle
- Introduction to the Hebrew Bible [Cd-Rom] £26
CD-ROM
Author: John J. Collins
Publisher: Fortress Press, US; CDR edition (1 Feb 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800696778
ISBN-13: 978-0800696771
Product Dimensions: 19 x 13.5 x 1.5 cm
Available from Amazon UK
Year 2
- Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey [Hardcover] £26 - £30 Hardcover: 544 pages
Author: Mark Allan Powell
Publisher: Baker Academic, Division of Baker Publishing Group (1 Nov 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 080102868X
ISBN-13: 978-0801028687
Product Dimensions: 32.5 x 3.3 x 17.8 cm Available from Amazon UK Also available on Kindle
Year 3 and Year 4 are currently using the materials imported from the University
of the
South,
Sewanee. Sample
Lessons
for the
current
Academic
Cycle which
may be
viewed
by clicking
this Sewanee
Link http://www.sewanee.edu/EfM/index.htm and then
sample
lessons, or Click
here to
see some
sample
lessons
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