The Revd Canon Dr Michael Leyden (BA, MA, MSt, PhD) is the founding Dean of Emmanuel Theological College, and has played a key role in developing Emmanuel’s vision and ethos and its distinctive approach to ministerial formation. He is passionate about theologically rich and practically robust formation that equips the whole Church for her part in God’s mission today.
Michael oversees the whole community and leads the College Leadership Team. His first task is to pray for Emmanuel’s students and staff, and to nurture our Christ-centred, hope-filled, and mission-orientated ethos in everything we do. The fruit is a community culture that is generous and charitable in our differences and united in faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Michael grew up on council estates in Liverpool and Knowsley before heading to university. Later he taught in both Universities and Theological Education Institutions and worked in the book trade to pay for his studies. Coming from a working-class background and having learned to navigate the transition into higher education has stoked in Michael a deep passion for social justice and especially for enabling others to step into quality theological education and formation undeterred by their socio-economic, ethnic, or educational experience. He is trained to support students with dyslexia and has significant experience supporting those who are new to higher education. As Dean he ensures Emmanuel is a place where all students can flourish as they trust God and access the support offered by our highly committed staff team.
After ordination, Michael served in parishes adjacent to post-industrial towns in Liverpool and Chester Dioceses. In both cases he worked with lay leaders to develop blended-economy church, weaving inherited and time-honoured approaches together with pioneering new forms of church that often looked wildly different from one another except their commitment to Jesus and the regular spiritual diet of word and sacrament. He has ministered in UPA, urban, sub-urban, and semi-rural contexts in various traditions, and is regularly involved in coaching and mentoring developing leaders. He is a member of the Local Board for the Triangle of Hope project.
Michael is married to Anna, a vicar in Chester Diocese, and they have two children and a dog. He used to play in a blues band, and often day-dreams about playing his harmonica with BB King…
Expertise
- Theological ethics
- Character formation
- Moral leadership
- Christology and anthropology, especially human agency and responsibility
- Karl Barth’s moral theology
Select publications
- Leyden, Michael J. (Forthcoming) Living Eucharistically: Holy Communion and Christian Ethics. London: SCM Press.
- Leyden, Michael J. (2025) ‘Living Eucharistically: The Sacrament and Christian Ethics’ in Simon Cuff (ed.) Catholic Life in the Church of England: Good News for Everybody. Norwich: Canterbury Press.
- Leyden, Michael J. (2025) ‘Masculinity and the Imago Dei: Learning How to Be a Man’ in Robert Beckford and Rachel Starr (eds), Behold the Men: An Introduction to Critical Theologies of Masculinity. London: SCM Press.
- Leyden, Michael J. (2023) ‘Christological Soundings on Being Human’, Crucible Journal, July.
- Leyden, Michael. (2021) ‘Liturgy, Generosity, and the Mystery of Worship in the Spirit: Towards a Theology of Worship’ in Graham Tomlin (ed). The Bond of Peace: Exploring Generous Orthodoxy. London: SPCK.
- Leyden, Michael J. (2021) ‘Teaching Christian Ethics: Then and Now’, Crucible Journal, April.
- Leyden, Michael J. (2019) Faithful Living: Discipleship, Creed, and Ethics. London: SCM Press.
- Leyden, Michael. (2016) Doctrine in Practice: Introducing Karl Barth’s Moral Theology. Cambridge: Grove Books.
Speaking engagements
Michael is regularly invited to speak at leaders’ gatherings, retreats, and church weekends and has been keynote speaker at several conferences. He is known for mixing humour with theological wisdom and practical leadership insight.
