Province III, which includes the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania, is partnering with Forma to offer a discounted rate for the January 22-25 Forma Conference. The conference will be available both online and in-person at various locations across the church. Province III’s in-person conference will be held at the Claggett Center in Adamstown, Maryland. In-person participation will cost $250 and online participation will cost $50.
Education for Ministry (EfM) is an international program founded in 1975 by the School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee. More than 100,000 lay people have participated in EfM to help discern and carry out their ministries. EfM helps faithful people encounter the breadth and depth of Christian tradition and bring it into conversation with their experiences of the world as they study, worship, and engage in theological reflection.
At its heart, EFM is a program based in a set of five core practices that form and support us in the various ministries to which we are called:
Living in Community
Regular Prayer and Worship
Theological Reflection
Study of the Christian Tradition
Vocational Discernment
Education for Ministry is a four-year program that emphasizes a different area of knowledge each year:
Year A: Hebrew Bible
Year B: The New Testament
Year C: Church History
Year D: Theology, Ethics, and Interfaith Encounter
The Diocese of Western New York has a strong history of EfM involvement. Please contact Linda Makson at 585.781.4661 or lam2419@yahoo.com to learn more about EfM in our partnership dioceses or to ask about starting an EfM group.
Formation Resources
ChurchNext
A portal with a variety of video-based learning opportunities, founded by the Rev. Chris Yaw and featuring leaders from across the Episcopal Church. Visit the website.
Church Publishing
The publishing arm of the Episcopal Church, Church Publishing offers books and digital resources in categories including Curriculum & Faith Formation, Prayer and Spirituality, and the Episcopal Church / Anglicanism. Visit the website.
An Episcopal Church publisher of books and digital resources for prayer, spirituality, evangelism, pastoral care, vestry, and more. Visit the website.
Grow Christians
A ministry of Forward Movement, Grow Christians gathers reflections, stories, images, and recipes from Episcopalians. Visit the website.
Rhythms of Grace
A program developed at Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington, Connecticut that supports children on the autism spectrum or other special needs. Visit the website.
Virginia Theological Seminary Center for Lifelong Learning
Spiritual Formation Resources from the Partnership
These short videos will introduce you to numerous practices that may help you deepen your spiritual life. The practices include centering prayer, praying the daily office, praying with icons and others.
Developing Your Personal Prayer Practice
Praying with Icons
Praying the Daily Office
Walking the Labyrinth
Centering Prayer
Using Prayer Beads
Making Prayer Beads
To make the prayer beads described in the video, you’ll need: