Having a framework that pulls theology, leadership theory, and lived experience together has helped me see why leadership matters and why it’s worth taking seriously.
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Mars is ordained in the Church of England and now works in a school as a house parent
When I trained for ordination, there wasn’t much training in leadership. As a curate, I later received some excellent leadership input, and that was a turning point for me. It made me realise just how critical leadership is if you’re going to do ministry well—and how little formal training I’d actually had. From then on, I tried to fill the gaps myself: reading books, going to conferences, and piecing together ideas from lots of different places. For a long time, I wanted to study leadership properly and in depth, but my role at the school was so intense that nothing really fitted my life.
When I stepped down from that role last summer and discovered this course, the timing felt exactly right. What really drives me is how much damage I’ve seen caused by poor leadership, especially in churches. Not all hurt is avoidable, but so much of it doesn’t need to happen. We should be doing better at training leaders to lead well, and I wanted to understand that more deeply—biblically, theologically, and practically.
The course has been brilliant so far. It’s helped me join the dots between ideas I’ve had for years—things I sensed were true but couldn’t fully explain. What’s surprised me is how deep leadership really is. It’s not a distraction from the gospel; it’s bound up with our humanity and our calling as image-bearers. Having a framework that pulls theology, leadership theory, and lived experience together has helped me see why leadership matters and why it’s worth taking seriously.
One particularly striking moment came when we explored power dynamics. I realised that even though I don’t currently hold a formal leadership role, I have significant relational power because of my history in the school. That’s changed how I approach meetings and conversations, helping me step back rather than unintentionally dominating space.
Learning alongside such a diverse cohort has been a huge gift. People come from very different contexts, stages of life, and ministries, yet the group has been incredibly supportive and honest. It’s felt safe to be vulnerable, to talk about struggles, and to learn together.
For me, studying leadership now isn’t optional. If leaders stop learning, they stagnate—and everyone else stagnates with them. This course has come at exactly the right moment, giving me space to breathe, reflect, and grow before whatever comes next.