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.
All Academy students will complete the full Year 1 teaching programme. The teaching modules are also available to those who are not Academy students either to audit as an entire year package, or on a great value ‘pick and mix’ basis. This suits those of any age who are already involved in ministry, or those seeking to equip themselves in a specific area alongside another occupation. If that describes you, click the ‘Sign Up’ button next to any of the modules that interest you, or use the button below to enquire about signing up for the whole year’s teaching. The year’s teaching costs £450 and on a per module basis it is £80 per module. Discounts of 50% are available to St. Marks church members. Bursaries are also available so please do get in touch with us if you would need some help to participate. For Academy students, placement churches and our diocese partner ensure that participating is free to the student.
Hands I: Leadership Foundations
Autumn 2024
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. This foundational module enables students to cultivate a leadership mindset, as well as developing core values to guide our leadership. Some key church-context leadership tools are introduced, equipping students in practical skills to lead prayer times, discussion groups and more.
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
Autumn 2024
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.
Skilled Bible teachers will guide us through sessions on understanding and using the Bible well, including application on using the Bible in different ministry contexts.
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
Spring 2025
This practical module will take your leadership to the next level. Building on Leadership Foundations, this module adds specific skills to your toolbelt of ministry leadership, in areas such as prayer and prophetic ministry, listening skills, and evangelism. This module is taught by a varied faculty of experienced practitioners.
Sessions & Themes
Session 1 - Prayer ministry training - Rachel King
Session 2 - Listening and pastoral skills - Dr Holly Howe
Session 3 - Project and event planning - Nathan Leigh
Session 4 - Process evangelism - Dr Rachel Atkinson
Session 5 - Prophetic ministry training - Guest team from Bethel Church, California
Hearts I: Healthy Hearts
Spring 2025
This course locates the health and healing of our hearts as both an integral part of the Gospel and an important key to Christian discipleship. We explore what the heart is, from a biblical and theological perspective, and why we need to pay attention to it. On this course you will learn practical skills to develop your own self-awareness and emotional intelligence. You will gain insight into what has shaped you own heart and any unhealthy strategies you might use to deal with the difficult emotions of anger, sadness and fear. As you understand what it looks like to disciple your own heart you will begin to experience greater freedom and find keys to living life more fully.
Healthy Hearts is delivered through a combination of teaching, testimony, work in single-sex groups, and exercises designed to help you integrate the emotional and spiritual aspects of who you are.
Sessions & Themes
Session 1 - The heart of discipleship
Session 2 - Understanding heart disease
Session 3 - Listening to the heart: developing emotional awareness
Session 4 - Discipling the heart: uncovering default patterns
Session 5 - Discipling the heart: three conversations for freedom
Heads II: Mission and Church Planting
Summer 2025
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: Restored Hearts
Summer 2025
Building on the work done in Healthy Hearts, this module moves from growing in self-awareness to understanding and experiencing God’s restoration. We begin by offering a biblical and theological vision for heart restoration, and then explore key topics which will lead us into more and more freedom. These include: The power of the Cross, The healing voice of Jesus, and The freedom found in confession and forgiveness. Restored Hearts is delivered through a combination of teaching, testimony, work in single-sex groups, and exercises designed to help you engage with God and step into the freedom he has for you.
Much of the material in this module is based on Image Bearers by Rachel Atkinson and Michael Lloyd, which makes an excellent accompaniment to the course.
Sessions & Themes
Session 1 - The hope of restoration
Session 2 - The healing voice of Jesus
Session 3 - The power of the cross
Session 4 - The cleansing of confession
Session 5 - The freedom of forgiveness
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.
For the first time, St. Marks Academy are launching a Year 2 programme in 2024-25. Open to applications from Year 1 graduates, there will be 3 teaching modules building on the foundations of the Year 1 programme, an increased amount of time on placement in local churches, and with continued formation input in a Year 2 formation track with 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 both your supervisor and your personal 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.