How does it work?
St. Marks Academy exists to raise up missionary leaders and our programme includes a blend of teaching, formation and placement to engage your heart, hands and head and enable you to be shaped more fully into the person - and leader - God has made you to be.
Teaching
Our programme is theologically-robust and practically-applied, and aims to develop you as a missionary leader who approaches ministry both effectively and thoughtfully. You’ll grow in faith, by receiving a good biblical and theological grounding, in leadership, by developing skills for mission and ministry, and in discipleship, by exploring resources to nurture their own character and spirituality. More details down the page…
Formation
You will also have a weekly Formation Group led by Jonny, our Academy Leader, where your own personal walk with God is strengthened and developed in community. Expect to go deep, find more freedom and discover your true identity!
Throughout the year you’ll also meet with a personal mentor on a monthly basis. You’ll journey into greater growth through thoughtful questions and meaningful discoveries.
Placement
Placements are a key part of your growth, where you’ll discover more of your passions and skills, and will be shaped to fulfil God’s call on your life. For more info about how placements work and what placements are available, head to the Placements page here.
Teaching: Year 1
The dynamic teaching programme includes sessions by Dr Rachel Atkinson plus a wide faculty of network and guest speakers, including sessions from CPAS leadership experts, Gas Street Birmingham pastors, and a Bishop. The main session modules are in three main strands, Heart, Head and Hands.
The teaching modules are also available on a great value ‘pick and mix’ basis to those already involved in ministry or those seeking to equip themselves alongside another full-time occupation. If that describes you, click the ‘Sign Up’ button next to any of the modules that interest you. The cost of this is £80 per module. Discounts of 50% are available to St. Marks church members and there is a discount for signing up for the whole year’s teaching. Bursaries are also available so please do get in touch with us if you would need some help to participate.
Hands I: Leadership Foundations
This module provides a strong basis for leadership. It explores the vital importance of self-leadership, through attention to developing godly character, and establishing good personal rhythms which nurture heart, mind, body, and spirit. We look at the importance of building a value-driven culture in our teams and ministries and of leading with vision, offering tools to help students develop and communicate a vision for their ministry area. We enable students to develop a leadership mindset and provide some valuable tools for the leadership task.
Sessions & Themes
Session 1 - Self-leadership: Rhythms
Session 2 - Leading others: Values
Session 3 - Leading others: Vision
Session 4 - Self-leadership: Character
Session 5 - Leading effectively: Goals and objectives (Supervisors Day)
Session 6 - Leading together: Teams
Heads I: Bible Handling
This module gives students the tools to develop strong biblical literacy and to handle the Bible responsibly, skilfully, and thoughtfully, in both personal and public use. We explore the big story of the Bible, as well as considering the nature of the biblical text, looking at issues of composition, authority, and inspiration. We discuss how to read scripture authentically, paying attention to issues of context, genre, and community.
Biblical teachers from St. Paul’s Theological Centre lead us through a Bible overview, an introduction to the Old and New Testaments, and a session on unpacking the Bible. The module concludes with two Bible handling workshops, which enable us to practice our Bible handling skills as we exegete a text and explore a theological theme together.
Sessions & Themes
Session 1 - Overview of the Bible
Session 2 - Intro to the Old Testament
Session 3 - Intro to the New Testament
Session 4 - How to unpack the Bible
Session 5 - Workshop: Handling a text
Session 6 - Workshop: Handling a theme
Hands II: Leadership Toolkit
This practical module will take your leadership to the next level. Through lectures and workshops students will be equipped with key skills which will enable them to minister effectively and lead well, and which are transferable to a wide variety of contexts. Taught by a team of highly experienced ministry practitioners, topics range from to communication skills to resilience in leadership.
Sessions & Themes
Session 1 - Culture and communication - Andy Waddams, Director of Communications & Engagement at Diocese of Coventry
Session 2 - Crucial conversations and the battle of the mind - Michael Shannon, Head of Communications, Gas Street Church, Birmingham
Session 3 - Resilience as a leader - James Laurence, CPAS
Session 4 - Leadership Masterclass - Bishop Saju, Bishop of Loughborough
Session 5 - TBC
Hearts I: Emotional and Spiritual Health
This module enables students to develop skills of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Through teaching, exercises, and reflection, we become aware of our feelings, and begin to understand how they impact our internal and external responses to situations. We consider the intrinsic connections between emotional and spiritual maturity, and explore the importance of developing emotional intelligence in leadership. We reflect on the impact of our past life experiences on our current responses and behaviour, and develop skills in handling our emotions. Drawing on resources from contemplative spirituality, such as silence and the examen, students are introduced to tools that will help them integrate their emotional and spiritual lives.
Heads II: Mission and Church Planting
This module offers a theological and practical introduction to mission. We explore the theological foundations of mission, as well as considering church planting from theological, ecclesiological and practical perspectives. Classroom teaching, delivered by experts in their field, are interspersed with two mission trips, in which students will observe and engage in practical mission in two different contexts, and have an opportunity to reflect on their experiences.
Sessions & Themes
Session 1 - Thinking theologically about Mission
Session 2 - Mission Trip
Session 3 - Mission Trip
Session 4 - Thinking theologically about churches and church planting
Session 5 - From theology to praxis – Church planting
Hearts II: Practical Discipleship
The Practical Discipleship module is based on the book Imagebearers by Dr. Rachel Atkinson and Revd. Dr. Michael Lloyd. It equips students to understand and experience God’s restoration, so that they can minister from a place of increasing wholeness, rather than seeking to meet their own needs for acceptance or affirmation.
We begin by offering a biblical and theological rationale for restoration – namely, that we are God’s masterpieces (Eph. 2:10), created in His image to reflect His glory, and that although we are marred by negative experiences and our own sin, God is committed to restoring us so that we can live freely and reflect His glory. We then explore some important spiritual practices which enable us to relate well to God and be rightly orientated towards Him - such as confession and forgiveness. We return to issues of emotional health, looking at the impact of our primary relationships, and exploring how we might experience the Mother and Father love of God, and conclude by considering practical ways to sustain and enjoy our restoration in the midst of daily life and ministry.
Sessions & Themes
Session 1 - Theology of restoration
Session 2 - Confession of sin
Session 3 - Forgiving others
Session 4 - Receiving mother love
Session 5 - Receiving father love
Session 6 - Living well
Teaching: Year 2
One year can be life changing. But doubling the time you have to develop your character and competencies as a leader gives the potential to multiply the impact of this time-investment in your calling. The second year of the Academy incorporates the same building blocks as first year - Teaching, Formation and Placement - but taken deeper into our hearts and further into our futures.
The second year teaching programme is currently being reconsidered for 2024-25 to ensure we give students input of unique value and continued quality. Formation currently happens together with first year students, but there is an additional expectation of increased reading recommended books and some written reports. Placements for second year students are especially geared towards ensuring you will have the readiness to take on more permanent employed leadership roles by the end of your year, and your mentor will work intentionally with you to help you prepare for the next career step in your adventure with God.
For more on what a second year at St. Marks Academy looks like, please get in touch.