Dr. Mark Andrew Jefferson is Associate Professor in the John Gladstone Chair of Preaching and Worship, and Dean of the Sarah Daley Nickerson Chapel at Acadia Divinity College.
Amplifying Formation in an Age of Acceleration
What I initially failed to realize was that formation is an ongoing process. A few years later, I went back to Emory to earn a PhD in Religion, focusing on preaching. That experience revealed to me how powerful learning communities are, where students develop not only through the material but also through relationships, questions, and encouragement. I made a personal vow then: if I ever got the chance to teach, I would influence students with the support and care that had shaped me.
Even after twenty-five years of preaching, I do not walk into the classroom as an expert delivering perfect wisdom. I come as a co-learner — paying attention to the stories, cultures, questions, and convictions my students bring. Their experiences continue to teach me, challenge me, and broaden my understanding of what ministry can be. Formation, at its best, is a shared and sacred journey.
Today, the formation task feels both more urgent and more complex as our world is rapidly reshaped by technology, digital culture, and artificial intelligence. The church — and its leaders — must navigate a landscape characterized by acceleration, uncertainty, distraction, and possibility. This is part of what motivated my recent book, which explores how technological change is transforming spiritual practices and community life. Our era calls for leaders who can interpret these cultural currents with theological insight, pastoral wisdom, and a hopeful imagination.
In my teaching and mentoring, I emphasize three essential practices for this moment: attentive listening, because ministry begins in understanding the realities people inhabit; reflexive self-awareness, because leaders must examine their motivations, biases, and assumptions; and imaginative proclamation, because preaching in a technological age requires naming God’s redemptive possibilities amid disruption.
What excites me most about joining ADC’s formative mission is the opportunity to help amplify voices that will guide the Church into its next chapter. Amplify formation is an invitation to prepare leaders who can stand with wisdom and humility at the crossroads of faith and the future. My story continues to be shaped by those who formed me. Now, I step into this community ready to listen, learn, and help others discern how God is shaping them, especially in a world being transformed before our eyes.
Dr. Seidel Abel Boanerges is Associate Professor in the Abner J. Langley and Harold L. Mitton Chair of Church Leadership, Director of Mentored Ministry, and Director of Simpson Lectures at Acadia Divinity College.
Shaping Faithful Leaders in Call, Character & Capabilities
Formation is at the heart of every enduring ministry. It is the steady work of the Holy Spirit shaping our minds, refining our character, and stirring our hearts to God’s call. After years of leading ministerial formation, I have learned that leadership is not defined by what we do, but by who we are becoming. To amplify formation is to give voice and momentum to that process of walking with others as they grow into the fullness of who God calls them to be.
My personal formation journey in the UK was one of discovery and grace. I am deeply thankful to my mentors who saw potential in me when I could not see it myself. I owe much to my congregation, who taught me patience and courage, and to my students, whose questions keep my faith and ministry fresh and alive. Each of these experiences has convinced me that formation happens best within a community where scripture, prayer, mission and shared life are interconnected. In such spaces, faith becomes resilient, leadership authentic, and service joyful. At Acadia Divinity College, formation is a tapestry woven from academic excellence and the spiritual, relational, and practical aspects of ministry. Our classrooms are not only centres of knowledge but spaces of encounter, where theology meets life and knowledge is shaped by compassion.
Through our renewed Mentored Ministry process, we are refocusing on ministerial call, character, and capabilities, redefining how we prepare leaders at ADC. A clear sense of call grounds every aspect of formation, helping students discern where God is leading them to serve. Capability in preaching, pastoral care, leadership, and cross-cultural engagement equips students to serve effectively in complex contexts. Yet it is character that sustains ministry over time. Integrity, humility, courage, and empathy are not merely attributes to admire; they are habits of the heart that must be intentionally cultivated.
As an educator and minister, I aim to foster a rhythm of intentional time with God as a top priority in the formation of every leader. We need leaders who think critically, love deeply, and act courageously. The Church needs shepherds who are spiritually grounded yet culturally aware, who hold the ancient truths of faith with a fresh, relevant voice. The Church of tomorrow needs leaders who carry grace under pressure, who listen across divides with compassion, and who choose integrity even when the way forward is unclear. When we invest in formation, we invest in transformation that reaches far beyond the classroom or pulpit. When God’s people are deeply formed, communities come alive, churches are renewed, and the good news of Jesus shines with clarity and hope. That is the kind of formation I long to see take root. That is the kind of formation that truly changes the world.
