Coaching and Christian Leadership
By Ann A. Michel

Coaching has become a popular topic in Christian leadership. A number of books and resources, as well as training opportunities, are available to help church leaders adapt coaching techniques to the practice of ministry. What can be learned from these resources?

Defining coaching. Although the subject of coaching comes up frequently in leadership discussions, there is often confusion about what coaching is and how it differs from other developmental relationships, such as training, supervision, consulting, mentoring, counseling, or spiritual direction. This confusion is understandable given that there is considerable and legitimate overlap in how these activities are practiced. Experts in coaching, however, would describe the distinctions in the following ways.

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Some Resources for Coaching

 Christian Coaching by Gary Collins (Navpress, 2001.) One of the first texts on Christian coaching, it is an easily read, common-sense introduction presenting the basics of coaching. With a background in counseling and clinical psychology, Collins emphasizes personal development issues.

 Coaching for Christian Leaders: A Practical Guide by Linda J. Miller and Chad W. Hall (Chalice Press, 2007.) Organized around a discussion of key coaching skills, this book is for pastors and church leaders who want to incorporate coaching into their ministries. Focused listening and precise questioning are core skills. Chapters on incorporating coaching into ministry leadership and coaching in the church are particularly helpful.

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Leaders do not need answers.
Leaders must have the right questions.

A church council comprising most of the volunteer leadership in a small membership congregation wanted a relatively simple way to think about the future of their church. They made two lists on newsprint. One included words that described the current reality of their congregation. Next to that list they created one with words describing what they most hoped their church could be in five years. Then, they used this question:

What will be required to close the gap between
where we are and where we believe God is calling us to go?

Editors:  Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Ann A. Michel
Production and distribution:  Joe Arnold

Copyright © 2007 by the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Leading Ideas material may be freely distributed with attribution (exclusive of material protected by separate copyright).