2023 Education for Ministry Graduates

Karen Clark, Jennifer Sansing Hughes, Mary Layton, Dawn Currica

We are honoring those who are completing the Education for Ministry (EfM) program this year. For anyone who doesn’t know about EfM, a short explanation is in order. EfM is a non-degree, four-year study that is part of the outreach program from the School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee. This program is designed for lay people and is not for the purpose of ordination. Participants sign up for a year at a time to become more familiar with the Bible, the history of the development of Christianity, and theology. The group has assigned readings that are discussed at weekly meetings. The goal is to deepen one’s understanding of personal theology and how it relates to an individual’s life and how that theology applies to living in today’s world.

Dawn Currica is completing the program with her EfM group at Holy Communion. We celebrate her achievement and look forward to benefiting from her gifts here at GSL.

Here at GSL our EfM group has three women who have completed all four years and have earned certificates from Sewanee. Here are some of the comments about them and their gifts that their companions during this year have made:

Karen Clark

Karen thinks deeply and expresses her thoughts honestly and carefully and clearly, and she pushes those around her to do the same. I admire her fierce devotion to and care for those she loves. Such a good listener, a great processor of information and a quick and insightful responder. Karen is pure strength—she faces whatever head on and moves forward. I love her discussions on the readings. Karen leads with intelligence and kindness. She is a practiced listener. She knows her own mind, is open to new ideas, and is adept at summarizing. If I ever needed an advocate for any reason, she’d be my choice. Karen is brilliant and expresses her thoughts with clarity. I am always excited to hear what she thinks and I appreciate that she’s honest about her opinions without ever discounting what someone else thinks. Endurance/Dedication swirled with Cool. She has brought such depth, wisdom and logical insight to our readings. I admire her motherhood and how she has instilled a sense of servant leadership and life purpose in her daughter and son. I love having her greet me on Sunday morning as a vestry member.

Jennifer Sansing Hughes

I admire Jennifer’s willingness to be vulnerable and to embrace all that life brings her—great joy and deep sorrow and everything in between. She is vibrant and expressive and raw, a firework with endurance. Brings such a happy disposition and positive outlook to every class; manages to find the real meaning in dense text. Jennifer is pure love and light.

You can’t help but be uplifted when you’re with her. She is selfless— sometimes to a fault, but it always comes from a place of love. She has survived and thrived! She is a safe place—no judgement, just love. Jennifer is very bright and is all heart. She does the hard work, always identifies with the underdog, and is frequently brought to tears on behalf of the human condition. Strength swirled with Cool. Jennifer is such a warm presence in EfM. She doesn’t hold back her feelings and it makes it a safer place for all of us to do the same. She is full of light, love and laughter. She has brought such joyfulness to our class. I will never forget when she helped me in a windstorm bring Valentine cookies inside. While many were blowing away, I said a “bad word” and she spontaneously laughed uncontrollably …I caught it and we entered the room in convulsive laughter to many stares. We are bonded forever!

Mary Layton

I admire Mary’s openness to different viewpoints and new experiences. She is an adventurer, always seeking to expand her boundaries, to live life more fully and abundantly. Always seeks out new experiences and able to respond wisely from such a variety of perspectives. “There is definitely something about Mary!” Fierceness is what comes to mind. She has lived a full life and done so with courage, strength, and determination. I have such admiration for her ability to uproot, move to a new city, and continue to live a full, rich life. I love the way she embraces her family and friends. Mary is the epitome of educated, refined elegance. Her life experience and education make her a joy to have in a seminar setting. Her contribution is wisdom. Inspirational swirled with Cool. I admire Mary’s consistent thirst for knowledge and new experiences. She is always questioning our material and trying to find ways to apply it to her life. As a cradle Episcopalian, she is very wise and experienced in life. I have appreciated her sharing her cultural relatedness from racial and geographical perspectives. I love how she still pursues new life experiences by visiting all parts of our community through worship traditions. She has added so much to my spiritual journey.

Group members also include Margaret Craddock, Carol Ann Mallory, and Ellen Rolfes who have finished up their first year. Beth Perkins is repeating EfM and is finishing up her second year again. Stephani Adair, Tracy Banks, and Brenda Medling (also repeating) are completing their third year.

Mentors for the group are the Rev. Amanda McGriff and Lee Nix. Please feel free to speak to anyone in the group about EfM and the experience.

–Submitted by Lee Nix