Coaching for Leadership - Common Questions
What can you expect from coaching?
From this program you can expect to improve your skills in many of the following areas:
- Communication
- Strategic planning
- Organizational
- Time management
- Professional boundary issues
- Setting and prioritizing of goals
- Conflict management
- Personnel recruitment
- Supervision and program evaluation
- Stress reduction
- Health and recreational goals
- Renewing and refreshing spiritual life
- Balancing health, family and ministry
Effective pastoral leadership must include a balanced perspective, including concerns for not only the minister’s work, but also his or her physical, social and spiritual development needs.
Some Common Questions
How is coaching different than counseling?
Coaching is not a substitute for psychotherapy or counseling. Coaching assumes that you are relatively free from psychological and relational problems. Nor is coaching mentoring in the narrow sense of the term.
Can I take coaching as fulfillment of disciplinary action?
Coaching works best when you initiate this program in your life and commit to its goals. We do not recommend pastors to take this program in lieu of disciplinary action by their denomination or under the threat of such action.
Does your program endorse any particular theological or ministry orientation?
Our program does not endorse any particular theological persuasion, denomination or ministry. You choose your ministry goals as God has given you direction—whether they be church growth, social justice work, improved personal health or just better sermons—whatever your goals are, they are your goals! Our job is to help you reach your goals.
Will I benefit from this program if I am not ordained or not Christian?
We welcome applications from all religious professionals—ordained and non ordained. We welcome applications from clergy serving congregations and those serving non-profit religious or educational organizations. We welcome applications from the wide variety of Christian traditions and from other faith traditions as well. We will do our very best to understand and work with you within your unique religious tradition and organizational culture.
How will a coach be selected for me?
The SFTS Coaching for Leadership program will provide you with a coach who is trained in the art of coaching. It will be someone with sensitivity to the unique needs of a parish pastor. It will be someone with experience in leadership either in the world of business or church structures. We will do our best to match your needs and interests with those of our coaches, but it has been our experience that the match does not need to be perfect to be effective.
How long will coaching last?
Coaching works precisely because your coach works with you over a period of time. You learn slowly and on-the-job as you put into practice new insights and skills. Normally, coaching relationships are at least six months, and often several years.
Do I need to live in the Bay Area?
Absolutely not! While the initial retreat is at the SFTS campus, coaching is normally done by phone, thus making this program ideal for pastors living out of the area or in isolated communities in the West. We can participate in this program from anywhere!
What will happen in Coaching for Leadership?
Our program will begin with a retreat on the campus of San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, Calif., near San Francisco. During that time, we will help you connect again with your sense of call; we will review some basic concepts from the world of effective leadership and outline for you the nature of the coaching relationship. You will then be matched up, face to face with your coach and together you will begin to formulate your goals for the forthcoming work. After the retreat you will have twice-a-month phone sessions with your coach or six months, to monitor progress on your goals, identify challenges, brainstorm strategies and “next steps” and firmly hold you accountable.
Professional Fees
Even though this program is being underwritten by San Francisco Theological Seminary and a grant from the Longbrake Family Foundation, each participant will be charged tuition of $1,800. The fee for this program will cover both your retreat time and a full six months of coaching. You pay only for transportation and phone use. Normally, such expenses are a very good use of a pastor’s continuing education budget and study leave.
Upcoming Classes
Our next class for “Coaching for Leadership” is scheduled for mid-February 2010, although individual retreats can be arranged at any time. The retreat is followed by six months of coaching. Applications will be received and acted upon at any time.
Early Bird Special
If you register early, you will receive an Early Bird Discount of $300. We must receive your completed application and your $200 deposit by Dec. 1, 2009. With your Early Bird Discount, your total cost for the retreat and a full six months of professional coaching will be just $1500. Act now and save!
