New MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership
21 January 2025
We are delighted to announce a brand new programme, an MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership, led by our new Programme Director, Dr Mark Stirling.
The programme
Being a leader has always been a challenge, and today it may seem especially tough. Many Christian leaders are seeking help and inspiration in how to lead in ways that truly serve others as Christ has served us, without burning out or giving up.
The MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership is designed to help leaders handle the challenges of leadership, fostering the habits of heart, life and mind that can sustain them joyfully through ministry in the long term. It is suitable for leaders in both church and parachurch contexts, within the UK and around the world.
Through learning and reflecting alongside other leaders, this programme will deepen students’ theological understanding of Christian leadership, build practical skills for real-world situations as well as help leaders to create lifelong patterns of growth in Christ-like character.
The 3-4 year programme involves two residential weeks a year with a cohort of fellow leaders in September and January, with a dissertation to be written in the final year. The programme is designed to allow leaders to combine ongoing service with study.
Dr Mark Stirling
Mark is a former medical doctor who then pioneered work amongst university students with the Navigators in Edinburgh from 1998 to 2004.
In 2021 Mark and his wife Jenny moved from St Andrews where Mark had been senior pastor in a new church (Cornerstone St Andrews). They relocated to the Scottish Highlands where Mark has been teaching at Highland Theological College as well as directing the ongoing work of Chalmers Institute in a variety of theological education and formation initiatives. The heart of life and ministry for Mark and Jenny is the hospitality of an open home as a reflection of the Gospel of grace.
In 2007 he completed an MA in Exegetical Theology at Covenant Seminary in St Louis, and in 2011 gained a PhD in Biblical Studies from St Andrews University on the topic of discipleship and maturity in Ephesians.
Mark recently co-edited a book with Mark Meynell, Not So with You: Power and Leadership for the Church, reflecting a long-held concern for healthy biblical leadership.
Watch a brief interview with Mark here.
Mark said of his appointment:
“I'm hugely excited about this Masters in Contemporary Christian Leadership because I think that developing Leaders who are Christ-like in character and whose behaviour and leadership is shaped by Christ's character and example is the urgent priority right across the church.
This feels like something that I have been preparing for through positive and negative experiences for most of my life. It's enormously exciting to craft a program that's going to try to help people along that journey to become those kinds of leaders who equip and release God's people to live the way that God wants them to live, so that this desperately needy world actually sees more of God's character and hears that message of good, good news.”
Oak Hill Principal, James Robson said of this appointment:
“There is something of a crisis in Christian leadership today. Often input comes too late, when things have gone wrong. This MA is more like a gym than a hospital. It is designed to help you develop as a healthy, emotionally intelligent, biblically faithful leader, with others. We are delighted to have Mark leading it.”
Endorsements
Marcus Honeysett, Founder of Living Leadership
“I'm delighted to see the emphasis on spiritual habits for healthiness, and ministering out of the joy of the Lord, in this new MA course. I'm sure it will be a huge help to leaders and churches seeking to develop vibrant gospel culture.”
The Right Reverend Bishop Mark Tanner, Bishop of Chester
“I am delighted to see Oak Hill launch their new MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership. Faithful leadership seems an increasingly complex task in every sphere of 21st Century life: this MA is an opportunity that builds on Oak Hill’s long history of biblical scholarship and missional engagement to equip the faithful for works of service.”
Rev Dr Girma Bishaw - Co Director, The London Project
"Leadership is both a profound privilege and a significant challenge, especially in today’s fast-changing and diverse world. This MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership offers a rare and valuable opportunity for guided reflection, exposure to cutting- edge thinking and practices, and growth in Christ-like service."
Rev Canon Jo McKee - CPAS Head of Leadership Development and Director of the Arrow Leadership Programme
“This is an essential programme for equipping leaders to navigate the incredible opportunities and significant challenges of sharing the gospel today. We are excited to see how this programme will empower leaders to faithfully serve and proclaim the gospel in a dynamic and transformative way into the future.”
Graham Beynon - Head of Local Ministries at FIEC
"I'm delighted that this new MA is available and that Dr Mark Stirling is leading it. There is such a great need for theologically robust, pastorally sensitive, and culturally attuned leadership, and this course will help train people for it in our churches today."
Want to find out more?
We are running two launch events in February.
In person at Oak Hill College on Tuesday 11th February from 12.45-2pm (with a free lunch) and online on Thursday 13th February from 1-2pm where Mark will speak on ‘what is Christian leadership?’ and share more of the programme.
Book in here.
