The aim of the Disciple-making Leaders Network Advanced Seminar is for each participant to build upon the biblical convictions about leadership and disciple-making with which they engaged at the Forum last year. They will also be able to reflect on their personal practice of these convictions. 

A key component of this Network will be small group interaction and discussion of the participants' own case histories. These discussions will be facilitated by Dr Mark Stirling and Pete Dowse, and the focus will be upon the practical outworking of biblical principles in real-world ministry situations. Each participant will therefore be expected to bring to the Forum and be prepared to discuss one particular relevant scenario from their own life and ministry. This scenario could relate to an individual, group or issue. Participants will be expected to anonymise their own case histories and respect the confidentiality of all contributions.

The Network will also include discussion of pre-Forum reading and lectures on key Biblical material. Applicants should be those who have attended the European Disciple-making Leaders Network: Foundational Seminar in the past.

Discussion of Case Histories

One of the core components of the Disciple-making Leadership Network Advanced Seminar this year will be the discussion of case histories. The aim of these discussions is to take practical examples from life and ministry and, with the help of experienced facilitators, to work out what issues are involved and how we may apply biblical principles to facilitate growth.

In order for this to happen, you, as a participant, need to come to the seminar with a prepared case history. We would like you to bring a written summary (no more than one page) which outlines the following:

1. The people involved - Your case history may involve perhaps an individual whom you are mentoring, a group you are leading, a group with which you are involved or a challenging situation in which you struggle to discern a way forward.

2. What is your current responsibility in that situation? - Are you leading, being led by others, a participant in a group, etc...

3. What are your desired outcomes? - What would it look like for growth towards maturity to happen in this situation?

4. List the questions you have about how to make progress with this relationship or situation - Try to express clearly the questions you have. These may be, for example, how you can lead someone through a particular obstacle to maturity, how you may deal with a difficult relationship in a godly manner, whether you need to bring in extra specialised help, etc...

Participants in the seminar will be bound to the utmost confidentiality regarding these case histories. We also ask that you do not use real names in writing your case history.

Mark Stirling is a former medical doctor who has worked in student ministry with the Navigators in Edinburgh. In 2007 he completed an MA in Exegetical Theology at Covenant Seminary in St Louis. He, his wife Jenny and their four children now live in St Andrews, Scotland, where they seek to help students grow to maturity in Christ. Mark is also engaged in PhD studies in Theology and Biblical Studies (Learning Christ in Ephesians) at the University of St Andrews and is involved in helping to lead the work of the Navigators amongst students in the UK.

Pete Dowse is the leader of the Navigators in the UK.  He became a Christian while in Cambridge studying Maths & Management, and later studied at London School of Theology.  During many years working with the Navigators he has pursued his passion to reach and disciple those beyond the churches.  Until taking on his current role, he combined this with acting as MD for a company providing leadership development for secular organisations.  In his spare moments he is currently pursuing a masters in consultancy for mission and ministry.

Glynn Harrison is an Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Bristol, England, and a retired clinical psychiatrist. His research was focused in the psychotic disorders and evidence-based practice, for which he was awarded numerous research grants. He has acted as an Adviser to the World Health Organization and UK Department of Health. He is a Lay Minister in the Anglican Church and frequently lectures and gives seminars on biblical aspects of counselling and the interface between faith and mental health.

Day 1:

Introduction and Overview of Network

(Foundational and Advanced Seminars combined)

Mark Stirling

This introductory session will introduce the aims and methods of this network. This first session will include an introduction to the members of the small group. Participants will work in the same small group for the duration of the Forum. These will be facilitated by experienced small group leaders.

The focus of this session will be upon the nature of Biblical maturity, how people grow to maturity and how leaders facilitate and nurture that growth. The second half of the session will be devoted to group work engaging with the question of what key Biblical convictions need to be built into people’s lives in order for them to grow to fruit-bearing maturity.

A Biblical Vision for Disciple-making

(Foundational and Advanced Seminars combined)

Pete Dowse

In this session we will take a closer look at the way in which disciples came to maturity in the New Testament.  We shall give particular attention to the dynamics of the relationships within which we are established in faith and equipped for the work of ministry.  We shall also seek to learn from the self-understanding and practice of those giving a lead in this.

Day 2:

Discussion of Case Studies

Facilitated by Mark Stirling and Pete Dowse

This day will focus on discussion of the participants’ case histories, with additional input from Mark Stirling and Pete Dowse.  The aim of these discussions will be to identify Biblical principles of disciple-making leadership that can be applied in each situation and to help each participant work out practical strategies to help those whom they are leading move towards maturity.

Day 3:

Discussion of Case Studies

Facilitated by Mark Stirling and Pete Dowse

Continuing from the previous day's programme, Day 3 will also be devoted to discussion of the participants’ case histories, with additional input from Mark Stirling and Pete Dowse. 

Day 4:

Discipling with Self-Awareness: Limits, Boundaries, Pride and Dependency 

Glynn Harrison

A hallmark of the Christian disciple-maker is that he/she shows as well as tells the truth about a faithful walk with Christ. To disciple as Jesus did, we need to minister out of our hearts as well as our heads. This brings risks however, and behind our motivation to ‘see people grow’ there can lurk deeper issues of identity, driveness, status-consciousness, ‘co-dependency’ and compartmentalised sexuality. In this seminar we will ask how we can recognise, mitigate and manage our character flaws in a way that keeps us growing alongside those we are seeking to serve. 

So What? Or, Where Do We Go From Here?

(Foundational and Advanced Seminars combined)

Discussion facilitated by Mark Stirling

In this final session, each small group will work for 45 minutes at clarifying the take-home messages of this Network and generating specific personal applications, revisiting the list of Biblical convictions they generated on Day 1 of the Network. There will then be a final 30 minute plenary when groups will feedback on what they have learned during the Network and what ways their learning will inform their ministries when they return home. There will be a particular focus in the final session on the question of leaders’ responsibilities to train and equip (“multiply”) other leaders.