About the Academy

The Anchor Academy seeks to "equip the saints for works of ministry" (Ephesians 4:12) through deliberate Bible study and discipleship. 

Our courses and resources are available for everyone. We began as a teaching ministry for the Hampton Roads Church and the American Commonwealth Region of churches in ICOC as well as sister churches throughout Australia, Fiji, India, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the UK. 

We continue to offer resources for congregational teaching and leadership development, including: CrossBearers, DiscipleMakers, NetMenders, eMANcipators, MeatEaters, BodyBuilders, and now Caleb Corps.

What’s New on Anchor Academy?

• Deliberate Discipleship has been updated, check it out HERE

• Tim Rees and Ed Anton just launched a new podcast, “Riffs on Romans.” It’s a theological nerdfest examination of the cutting room floor of our sermons and studies on the Book of Romans. Check it out HERE

• We just completed Ministry Training Program classes on Biblical Interpretation and Expository Preaching in May 2022.

• Classic Skills for the Minister and Early Church History (plus Restoration History) at The Forge, 129 Yerger Road, Schwenksville, PA on June 5-8, 2022. Register HERE. See the detailed schedule for this event below.

  • Sunday June 5

    • 5pm-6pm Arrival and Check In

    • 7pm Introduction to Church History and Worship

  • Monday June 6

    • 8a - Breakfast

    • 9a-12p - Classic Skills Class on Critical Thinking

    • 12-2p - Lunch Break

    • 2-5p - Restoration History Classes

    • 6 - Dinner

  • Tuesday June 7

    • 8a - Breakfast

    • 9a-12p - Classic Skills Class on Rhetoric and Argumentation

    • 12-2p - Lunch Break

    • 2-5p - Early Church History Classes

    • 6 - Dinner

  • Wednesday June 8

    • 8a - Breakfast

    • 9a-12p Classic Skills Class on Logic and Departure

• After thorough study by the ICOC Teachers Service Team and the ACR Bible and Gender Task Force, the Hampton Roads Church tackled a study of the Bible on Gender and Gender roles in the body of Christ. Find it HERE

• We’ve just uploaded a terrific resource for new moms trying to grow spiritually while sleeplessly trying to love their newborn and love God with all their strength, mind, soul, and strength. It’s called Quiet Times For New Moms by Deb Anton. Find it HERE.

• Please enjoy our latest class How Context Ignites Your Bible Study. HERE it is.

• Looking for some helpful training in Discipleship? Check out DELIBERATE DISCIPLESHIP. It’s HERE

YOu can navigate through the eight sections below or just type in what you’re looking for in our search bar:

NINE FOUNDATIONAL Programs INCLUDE:

• CrossBearers establishes foundational convictions for the recently baptized disciple.

• NetMenders deliberately employs principles and practices of self discipline for spiritual formation into Christ

• DiscipleMakers equips disciples to go and make disciples as they study God’s Word with seekers

• eMANcipators provides resources to set disciples free from slavery to sexual sin

• Caleb Corps prepares you for your next great adventure, Mission Team? Leadership? Resource Expert? in your mature years.

• BodyBuilders trains young leaders to become more effective Bible Talk leaders who build up the body of Christ

• MeatEaters provides solid food for disciples who are ready to deepen their knowledge and application of God’s Word

• TentMakers (this is the MTP program) equips the “bivocational staff” (e.g. Aquila & Priscilla) for ministry roles and responsibilities. The Anchor Academy offers most of the MTA core courses. Or just click on MTP.

• Family Matters collects helpful lessons for Moms, Dads, Teens, Kids, Singles, plus Women’s Interest and Men’s Interest

Check out our new course on DELIBERATE DISCIPLESHIP for BodyBuilders

Check out our newest resources

• “MeatEaters: How Context Ignites Your Bible Study”. With The Context In View, Your Bible Study Will Soar With New Thrills And Convictions. Click HERE

• During Holy Week, we posted a daily insight into each day of Jesus’ last week in the flesh. Check it out HERE

• Are you ready for some Meat? Check out the latest offering in deeper congregational teaching in MeatEaters: “The Jewish Teachers of Jesus, James, John, Peter, and Paul.” Have you ever wondered why big concepts like Resurrection, the Afterlife, Heaven&Hell, the soul, and Messiah don't really appear in the Old Testament. So how do they just pop up on the New Testament? They don't. And when you open the Gospels and read about rabbis and synagogues and even demons, did you just assume they were “somewhere” in the Old Testament? They’re not. They were fully developed throughout the "Second Temple" period (500BC to 60AD). This is a very helpful and enriching class for both NT and OT understanding.

Major Teaching and Training Events in 2022

• Troas Teaching Night XXI in Hampton Roads Church on April 1, 7:00-11:45pm at 11425 Old Courthouse Way, Newport News, VA. Topic: Introduction to the Book of Romans

• Biblical Interpretation and Expository Preaching MTP Classes in Hampton Roads, VA on May 16-19 (see links above)

• Classic Skills for the Minister and Early Church History (plus Restoration History) at The Forge, 129 Yerger Road, Schwenksville, PA on June 5-8, 2022.

• Troas Teaching Night XXII in Hampton Roads Church on September 23 7:00-11:45pm on Constructive Deconstruction of the Christian Faith and Practice

ACR CAMPUS

The ACR (American Commonwealth Region - Family of Churches) bases its classes throughout the eastern US. Its main campus is located in Norfolk, VA in the Hampton Roads Church. Ed Anton directs this campus. Its courses will appear both on the ACR page and on the Calendar. 

UK CAMPUS

The UK classes are based mainly in London and Birmingham, England. It has offered ministry training programs since 1994. Mohan Nanjudan directs this campus. Be sure to follow the UK page for all upcoming classes available via this campus. 

Bangalore Campus

The Bangalore campus serves over 60 churches throughout the Indian subcontinent. Shaijus Philip directs this campus.

Australia Campus

Sydney and Melbourne host most of the classes for the Australian Campus of Commonwealth Academy. Students participate from churches throughout the South Pacific. Sam Cameron directs the Australian Campus. Stay on top of the course offerings in the South Pacific via the Australia Campus page