Coaching can draw out potential through awareness that becomes action.
By Cara Garrity, Development Coordinator, Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
This year our theme has been “Faith, Hope, and Love Integrated.” Throughout the year, we have explored a variety of tools that support our development of Healthy Church rhythms and integration of the ministry Avenues. What role does GCI ministry coaching play in all of this?
What is coaching?
In its most basic definition, coaching is a dynamic and intentional relationship that is positioned towards growth.
More specifically, coaching in GCI can be described as:
- An intentional process by which a person’s potential is drawn out through the discovery of new awareness that becomes new action.
- A process by which the coach helps the coachee to identify and take the next steps in their development towards healthy leadership, healthy teams, and Healthy Church.
- An ongoing intentional conversation that empowers a person or group to fully live out God’s calling. (See The Coach Model for Christian Leaders: Powerful Leadership Skills for Solving Problems, Reaching Goals, and Developing Others by Keith E. Webb).
See GCI Buzz—Mentoring & Coaching
How can coaching contribute to my development as a healthy leader?
Coaching is designed to move us towards discernment and action as leaders. While there are many ways coaching can help us to grow as leaders, here are three key ways that coaching can help us in our journey toward healthy leadership:
- Ministry coaching supports and challenges us to become more intentional and strategic.
- The process of coaching encourages us to participate in Jesus’ ministry from a posture of discernment rather than compliance.
- Coaching draws on our God-given strengths and gifts.
How can coaching help me develop my team?
In GCI, we are Team Based — Pastor Led. There are two key ways that coaching can help you to develop your team:
- You can focus on the topic of team development in a 1:1 coaching session.
- You can use team coaching.
Team coaching is a form of coaching that brings an entire team through the coaching process together. Highly motivated teams can benefit from seasons of team coaching.
This can be a great option for:
- Newly assembled teams that are establishing team rhythms.
- Teams in the process of discerning congregational mission, vision, and values.
- A team that is facilitating change or trying something new in the local congregation.
- A team that is developing a Team Ministry Action Plan (TMAP) for the upcoming year.
- A team that is navigating a particularly challenging barrier in ministry.
How can coaching help us develop healthy ministry rhythms?
Because coaching is designed to move us through exploration and discernment towards action, it can be a helpful support for intentional growth of healthy ministry rhythms.
Coaching can help you or your team to consider challenging yet liberating questions such as:
- What has been working and what hasn’t been working?
- What congregational habits have become barriers to meaningful ministry participation?
- What needs to change to reach our congregational goals/carry out our mission and vision more intentionally?
- What are we afraid of? What is holding us back? What is at stake if we do not continue to develop healthy ministry rhythms?
How do I receive GCI ministry coaching?
If you and your team think you may benefit from a season of GCI Ministry Coaching, please contact me for further information. cara.garrity@gci.org
What is the cost of ministry coaching? GCI’s ministry coaches serve on a volunteer basis. Congregations that use coaching for a leader or team are encouraged to provide an annual honorarium to each coach for their hard work and dedication.
To learn more about ministry coaching in GCI, please visit our website.
