CAMP APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY (EfM)
[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-Sewanee, Tenn.]
The Board of Trustees of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., recently appointed the Rev. Johnna R. Camp as director of the Education for Ministry (EfM) Program, a theological education course of study for laity that has enrolled more than 65,000 participants throughout the English-speaking world. EfM is headquartered at the University's School of Theology.
The Very Rev. Dr. William S. Stafford, dean of the Episcopal seminary, welcomed Camp's appointment. "Johnna Camp has proven her leadership of EfM as interim director," said Stafford. "She understands the heart and mind of EfM. She cultivates the human network that makes the program move, she sees where the printed resources need to develop, and she has vision for the future. We are fortunate to have a person of her promise in this critical position."
In 2006, EfM joined with the renowned Trinity Institute's annual National Theological Conference, offering facilitator-led discussions of Web-casted conference topics and speakers for small groups of participants across the country. The Web has impacted EfM in other ways, moving the program beyond traditionally on-site small groups, to new on-line course offerings. Now laypersons in multi-state regions can take part in the EfM theological education program.
"This is such an exciting time for the EfM program," said Camp. "With 30 years of experience under our belts, we've learned a lot about how adults learn best and how that learning can be integrated with one's faith life. With technological advances and new collaborations like the one with the Trinity Institute, we are poised to reach people we've not had the opportunity to serve before. The future holds great potential for us, and we are blessed to offer our gifts to the Church."
An ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Camp joined EfM as assistant program director in February 2003, and accepted a promotion to interim director in April 2004. Prior to joining the EfM staff, Camp had a long history of service as an EfM mentor and trainer.
Camp is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Kentucky and earned her Master of Divinity degree at Lexington Theological Seminary. She currently is studying for her Doctor of Ministry degree at the School of Theology. Camp and her husband, Bryant, have three children-Noa, Malachi, and Ethan-and reside in Cowan, Tenn.
Since it began in 1975, EfM can be found in Canada, the Bahamas, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and Europe, in addition to the United States. Students sign up one year at a time for this four-year curriculum and study the entire sweep of the Christian tradition from the earliest period to the present. For more information, call 800.722.1974 or 931.598.1473; e-mail efm@sewanee.edu; or visit http://theology.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMhome.html.
The School of Theology at the University of the South comprises the residential seminary and the Programs Center. The seminary has more than 150 graduate students pursuing master and doctoral degrees, and certificates in theology. The Programs Center serves over 10,000 participants a year in a variety of spiritual growth and leadership opportunities, education at-a-distance, and continuing education for laity, clergy, and congregations. Founded in 1857, the University is located in Sewanee, Tenn., on 10,000 wooded acres on the Cumberland Plateau between Chattanooga and Nashville. The College of Arts and Sciences, with 1,430 undergraduates, is one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges. Sewanee is owned by 28 Episcopal dioceses, the only university so directly related to the Episcopal Church.
