European Institute of Christian Studies
Education for Ministry
EfM is a four-year program in practical theology for lay people, which explores a wide concept of ministry, based on the baptismal call to minister to each other in our daily lives.
There are Five Core Practices in EfM:
- Living in Community
- Regular Prayer and Worship
- Theological Reflection
- Study of the Christian Tradition
- Vocational Discernment
The Convocation-wide EfM Online group was formed in 2014 and is now in its eleventh year. In January 2021, a new group of “EfM Graduates” was formed which meets once a month, also online. This group increases in number each year as new graduates join.
In January of 2025, a small group from both the current group and the graduates were guests of the Cathedral in Paris for our yearly retreat. In the summer of 2025, a new revised curriculum was introduced and on September 16th, the new 2025/2026 group of twelve participants from parishes and missions across the Convocation met online for the first time. The group will continue to meet each week until June of 2026.
We are committed to keeping this group thriving and would love to hear from you.
For further information, please contact the EfM Online Mentors:
efm@episcopaleurope.org
Lay Preaching Training Course Begins in January
The second Convocation-wide Lay Preacher Training course will begin in January 2026 for people interested in the possibility of preaching in the Episcopal Church. The one-year course is offered through the Episcopal Preaching Foundation and combines regular self-study...
APL Workshop Focuses on Care for Refugees
The Academy of Parish Leadership (APL) met at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Geneva on 19-20 September for a training weekend focused on the refugee crisis. Eighteen participants shared insights from existing projects while working to establish a framework to identify...
Article by St. Paul’s Member Published by Diakonea
An article on the diaconate in the Convocation by Shelley Ruelle, member of St. Paul's Within the Walls in Rome, Italy, was recently published in the Diakoneo, a publication of The Association for Episcopal Deacons. Read her article below, courtesy of the publisher,...
TEC Europe Lay Preaching Foundation Course – Pentecost Reflections
The current class of the Convocation's Lay Preaching Foundation Course invites you to join them for a series of reflections for the Pentecost season. Each day a new reflection will be made available on this page.
New Sessions of Education for Ministry begin in September
Within the Convocation, we have been running a weekly online EfM group for over 10 years now and have a graduates group that has been meeting monthly for over 4 years. We have had members from many different Christian faiths and countries in our groups over the years, which is something to celebrate as they discover and nurture their call to Christian service.
APL | RJBC “All Sinners Are Welcome”
Racial Justice Beloved Community, in partnership with EICS, presents a second session of their APL series "All Sinners Are Welcome", encouraging and teaching how to explore radical hospitality, self-reflection, and the pursuit of Beloved Community within the church....
Current board of the European Institute for Christian Studies
Janet day-strehlow
Chair, Member of Church of the Ascension (Munich, Germany)
The Rev. Anthony Jewiss
(Alet Les Bains, France)
Helena Mbele-Mbong
Member of Emmanuel Church (Geneva, Switzerland)
The Rev. Scott Moore
St. James the Less (Nuremberg, Germany)
The Rev. Dan Morrow
Ascension Church (Munich, Germany)
Kaye O'Connell
Member of Church of the Ascension (Munich, Germany)
The Rev. Michael Rusk
Emmanuel Church (Geneva, Switzerland)
Bill Tompson
Member of The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Paris, France)
The Ven. Walter Baer
Archdeacon (Advisor)
The Rt. Rev. Mark Edington
Bishop-in-Charge (ex-officio)