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Seminar Groups
Mentor Training
History of EFM
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EFM
Mentors
EFM Mentors
guide and facilitate the seminar group in all aspects of the program
and administer the group for the School of Theology Programs Center
at Sewanee. Persons seeking to become mentors should have:
- a desire
to be a companion/guide to people as they engage in an intensive
theological education program
- an
ability to articulate thoughts and feelings, show understanding
of thoughts and feelings of others, respond effectively
to conflict and group dynamics, and be a facilitator rather
than a teacher
- maturity
in a life of faith, comfort with the diversity of our rich Christian
Tradition, and familiarity with the study of biblical criticism
- willingness
and ability to manage administrative responsibilities in a timely
fashion
Mentor
Training:
Training
for mentors is on-site, intensive, and requires 18 contact hours.
Full participation is mandatory. The purpose of mentor training
is for participants to discern whether they have the desire and
skills to be a mentor for the EFM program, and to provide ongoing
training and support for experienced mentors who have an active
group. The event provides an opportunity for an EfM trainer to
evaluate the skills of trainees and to accredit those who qualify.
Accreditation is not automatic.
There
are two levels of training: Mentor training (basic and in-service)
and formation training.
Basic/in-service
training covers the nature and purpose of EFM, the four-source
model of theological reflection, the place and purpose of spiritual
autobiographies, group skills and resources to resolve problems,
worship as an integral part of a group, administrative procedures,
recruiting and starting a group, and conducting an EfM seminar.
Persons
who may attend include anyone interested in becoming a mentor;
a mentor who has attended mentor training only once and needs
to update accreditation; an EfM mentor whose accreditation is
out of date; a person who wishes to replace a mentor who is leaving
a group and needs accreditation; someone who wants more information
but may not be ready or willing to mentor yet ("for information
only").
Formation
training is designed for the experienced, active EFM mentor
who would like to work more intensively on one particular aspect
of his or her formation as a mentor. It is open only to active
EfM mentors who have trained no fewer than two times previously
and have been recommended by a trainer to attend formation for
their next cycle of accreditation. Some topics include Advanced
Theological Reflection; Spirituality; Living With Conflict; Myers-Briggs;
Experiential Learning; Equipping for Ministry; Power and Authority;
Worship; and Transition in the Midst of a Changing World.
2008
Formation Training -- "Vocation" When
God calls a congregation, we speak of mission. When God calls
an individual, we speak of vocation. Vocation is not chiefly an
external duty or onerous obligation, but the key to a life of
purpose and fulfillment. Vocation arises from our God-given gifts
and the things we care most about. As Frederick Buechner puts
it, "The place God calls you is the place where your deep
gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
This formation event offers mentors an opportunity to reflect
on their own sense of vocation and then consider how they can
strengthen the sense of vocation ot the participants in their
EfM groups.
Mentor
Training Events
Training
events are held on a regular basis. We customarily offer sections
of Basic Mentor Training and Formation Training. The
training event in 2008 will be on May 29 through May 31, 2008.
Registration
information will be sent out and posted at this site prior to
each event. To register for a Mentor Training Event, contact the
EfM Coordinator at barbaramiles07@comcast.net
Training
events are also held at Sewanee
every month. You may also attend training events in another
diocese.
Training
for 2008 has been completed: The following
information is to let you know the general guidelines that we
use for Mentor Training.
- When:
Thursday, May 29 to Saturday, May 31, 2008
- Check-in
at 1 pm on Thursday. Training will begin no later than 2 pm.
We are usually complete early afternoon Saturday
- Where:
The Cathedral College (formerly, the College of Preachers),
on the Cathedral close in Washington DC
Please note: The College is a beautiful old gothic building
and is not handicapped accessible.
- What:
We will have both a basic mentor training and formation training.
The formation topic will be on "vocation.". (See description
above.)There are limits on the size of both classes. All mentors
signing up for formation training must have completed two basic
training classes, must not have had more than three consecutive
formation or alternative trainings, must be certified by their
previous trainer, and must have an active group.
- Cost:
$350. This includes double-occupancy room, all supplies, dinner
Thursday and Friday, continental breakfast and lunch Friday
and Saturday (Saturday may be a bag lunch). There may be some
single rooms available, but we cannot guarantee them.
- Trainers
will be: For vocation, it's Ms. Mary Tom Watts For basic, it's
Mrs. Christina Lee.
- Registration:
Please advise us by email (to hold a spot) and then print, fill
out, and mail the registration
form regular mail with a non-refundable registration fee
of $150 as soon as possible, but no later than April 23, 2008.
We do not accept credit cards. Registration will begin December
1, 2007.
Participants
are expected to be present for the entire session in order to
meet the training requirement of 18 contact hours. More details
and directions will be sent to all registered participants approximately
two weeks before the event. Questions can be addressed to the
diocesan coordinator at barbaramiles07@comcast.net
or by calling her at 301-963-0515 (home).
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