Thank you Andy.  We have consulted the SBL handbook of style (Society of Biblical Literature) and this is what it says:--

Section 4.4.8 (p.21)

“Avoid using gender-specific pronouns in reference to the Godhead (see 4.3). In those cases when such pronouns are unavoidable, they should not be capitalized (thus he, him, his…)”

This, to me, clearly indicates that it is the accepted practice for academic writing in biblical studies not to capitalize pronouns referring to the Godhead. It is not just a rule that has been made up by staff teaching at and marking for Spurgeon’s College.

You might also find this link useful: on the Bethany Seminary (in the States) website http://www.bethanyseminary.edu/files/academics/WritingGuide2c.pdf Page 7 onwards deals specifically with biblical topics. It is a useful summary of everything covered in the SBL handbook.

If this is the academic standard, and we wish to learn and demonstrate skills at an academic level, then we should adhere to it. If we are just doing modules for interest, and have a conscience about this, then keep on using the capitalised version, but accept that you will be marked down. Personally I have no strong feeling and feel that an essay reads better without the capitalised version. You can avoid its use at all by manipulation of the sentence structure.