Dig deeper into the Christian faith, studying the Bible, Church history and theological ideas and reflect on connecting faith with life experiences.  Participants in the EfM program study the entire sweep of the Christian tradition from the earliest period to the present. Participants learn the disciplines of biblical exegesis and interpretation, systematic theology, church history, ethics, liturgics, and scetical theology.

 The traditional content is not studied in a vacuum. Students belong to small "communities of learning" in which the events of each person's life may be examined in the light of the materials being studied. While the course materials provide substantial academic content, the focus of the program is on life as ministry and understanding that ministry. EfM provides Christians with that basic skill which is the foundation of all Christian ministry -- theological reflection. In doing this, participants sharpen their skills of personal and cultural assessment and enhance abilities to be effective in a variety of ministries.

Every baptized person is called to ministry. The four year (EfM) program provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. During the Service of Confirmation we ask God to "Renew in these your servants the covenant you made with them at Baptism. Send them forth in the power of the Spirit to perform the service you set before them." EfM offers an opportunity to discover how to respond to the call to Christian service.

Lay persons face the difficult and often subtle task of interpreting the richness of the church's faith in a complex and confusing world. They need a theological education which supports their faith and also teaches them to express that faith in day-to-day events. As the emphasis on lay ministry has grown, EfM has come to play an important role by providing a program that develops an informed and knowledgeable laity.

At Trinity-by-the-Cove, we have six first year students, three second year and five Year Three students with room for new students beginning in February of 2012. The program runs for thirty-four weeks with time off for summer vacations (July – August). For those who leave Naples in the summer, we are videoconferencing for the weeks members are away.

 For more information about EfM, copy and paste the following address into your web browser.  http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/index.htm