About the Gentlemen’s Academy
Our founder, Bishop Roderick L. Hennings, often teaches a simple but powerful principle:
“In order to be a man, you must first see a man.”
In the same way, to become a gentleman, you must first see what a gentleman looks like.
The Gentlemen’s Academy was established to provide that example.
In a time when many men are left to figure out manhood on their own, the Academy exists to model, teach, and reinforce the qualities that define a true gentleman—not only through words, but through example and practice.
The Gentlemen’s Academy focuses on developing men who carry themselves with discipline, respect, responsibility, and confidence. Participants are introduced to both the character and the practical skills that shape well-rounded men.
This includes learning how to present oneself with excellence through proper dress, grooming, and personal conduct, as well as understanding the everyday responsibilities that reflect maturity and preparedness.
Men are exposed to lessons that were once commonly learned through fathers, mentors, and elders in the community. These include practical life skills such as how to tie a tie, how to change a tire, how to care for one’s appearance, and how to carry oneself with dignity and integrity in public spaces.
Just as important are the principles of respect and honor—showing courtesy to women, removing one’s hat when entering a building, and demonstrating the kind of presence that earns trust and respect in any environment.
The Gentlemen’s Academy is about development—shaping men who understand that character, preparation, and respect are foundations for leadership.
This Academy is not limited to a particular age group. Manhood is not measured by age alone, and many men—at different stages of life—desire guidance, structure, and growth. Whether a man is just beginning his journey or seeking to strengthen the man he has already become, the Gentlemen’s Academy exists to help men see the standard, grow into it, and live it out for others to follow.
Through mentorship, example, and intentional instruction, the Academy seeks to ensure that men do not simply hear what a gentleman should be—but see it, learn it, and live it.