By Mariann Scott
Education for Ministry (EfM) is a four-year Christian Formation program founded 50 years ago, and administered through the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee. Through study, prayer, worship and reflection, EfM seminar groups journey together through scripture, church history and theology. Sara Bean has been an integral part of the program here locally, having mentored groups for 30 years at Trinity Indianapolis, and this summer retired from mentoring groups. Below you can learn more about this wonderful retired EfM mentor.
Mariann: How long were you a mentor with EfM?
Sara: I have been an EFM mentor for almost 30 years. I started in 1994-95 , in my third year as a student. Enid Morrison, my mentor at the time, asked me to be her co-mentor, which I was for 2 years. When she retired I became the mentor for the group.
Mariann: Could you say a few words about your co-mentor and his contribution?
Sara: I have had a co-mentor for 15 years. Jim Knowles is a retired Lutheran Minister and a member of Trinity Church Indianapolis, and a graduate of the EFM Program. He is a deep listener and his favorite question after a student makes a presentation about the reading assignment for the week is: “So what? How does this impact your faith ?” Some of our richest conversations have been the response to “So what ?”
Mariann: Do you have any funny stories that you could share with me?
Sara: I don’t have a specific funny story, but a funny moment that has been consistent throughout the years is that moment after a group has struggled with the theological reflection model of creating and exploring a metaphor for the assigned topic, often a challenge for many. We get to steps 3 and 4, personal position and application and the group sits back and someone says; “How did we get here from there? WOW”
Mariann: What has been the most rewarding part of mentoring and what has kept you mentoring over the years?
Sara: The most rewarding part of being a mentor and what has kept me mentoring over the years is watching and participating with the members of the group as they study and reflect on sacred text and watch the written word transform into the “Living Word” that informs the lens through which they view the world they live in, and how they can best respond to the world in a way that honors their faith and move in the world as a member of the Body of Christ , bringing the Real Presence into their circles of influence to love and serve the Lord.
