Loading...On behalf of the Diocese, Susan Hinton attended EfM Coordinators’ Training Conference held March 17-19 at St. Mary's Sewanee, Tennessee, led for seven invited coordinators by trainers Juanita Caldwell and Jean Avery Johnson.
 |
Meeting during the academic year in weekly seminar groups, EfM provides laity with the tools to dig more deeply into the Christian faith; to study the Bible, Church history and theological ideas; and to reflect on connecting faith with life experiences. (EfM Online provides, for people who cannot attend a weekly face-to-face group, an opportunity to participate in this course of study.)
EfM coordinators are the point of contact between the EfM Program in Sewanee and a local institution, diocese, or organization. They organize mentor training events, provide information about the program to people in their areas, and maintain the linkage between their organizations and the program.
Coordinator training topics included recruitment, recognition, and retention; program budgeting and administration; and conflict resolution. Guests who spoke at mealtimes included program director Karen Meridith; program coordinator and coordinator of online groups Cynthia Hargis; and The Very Rev. William S. Stafford, Ph.D., D.D., Dean of The School of Theology at Sewanee.
Said trainer Jean Johnson, "The sparkplug for EfM's continuing success is our wonderful group of Coordinators. The future of EfM is bright because of their involvement in this international program, which gifts each EfM participant with biblical, historical and theological insights. For over fifteen years, EfM has given me new friends, new ideas, and new understandings. I hope others will take advantage of this great opportunity."
 |
Ms. Hinton and Barbara Mowery are co-coordinators for the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, and are planning a mentor training for 2011 to serve new and existing Diocesan groups. An online group is also under consideration.
Mrs. Hinton said, "Every baptized person is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry 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. I'm so grateful to have had this recent opportunity to learn how to serve in the Coordinator role. I'm especially interested now in learning how EfM might work online, in our Diocese, in addition to the groups who have met here so faithfully."
