Coaching for Rostered Ministers

An Introduction to Coaching

The value of coaching has long been recognized in sports. A good coach can improve the skills and attitudes of athletes, making the difference between winning and losing. Within the church, coaching can be the difference between staying stuck in patterns that are no longer working and moving into a hopeful future following God’s leading. Working with a coach can be a transformative experience, but the field of coaching is often misunderstood.

Why Coaching?

Getting results is not always about doing more and trying harder. Often there are self-imposed limits that stand between the individual and the desired outcome. 

In these days of huge adaptive challenges, coaches are an invaluable third party that can help a leader with the process of opening and change. The coach holds nonjudgmental, curious space for reflection and discernment. In this safe, trusting relationship, you’ll begin to identify what is holding you in place. Trusting in Jesus’ presence and grace to guide the process, you will be equipped to make progress toward your goals faster than you could alone. 

The reasons for partnering with a coach vary. Here’s a sampling of the ways a coach can help you or your church:

  • Developing, implementing, and evaluating missional experiments

  • Supporting first call pastors

  • Improving as a leader in ministry

  • Working with paid and volunteer staff

  • Strengthening communication

  • Handling staff or congregational conflict

  • Discerning call to ministry

  • Accompanying conclusion of ministry

  • Merging congregations

  • Moving forward with ministry goals 

Coaching Is...

  • partnership

  • co-creative

  • listening and learning

  • thought-provoking

  • collaborative

The coach creates a safe space for curiosity and exploration. In a co-creative partnership led by the values of the individual, the coach guides the individual to establish goals, develop insight, experiment, assess results, and make adjustments. Coaching within a faith-based context offers a thought-provoking process of questions, reflection, prayer, awareness, action, and accountability with a focus on listening for and leaning into God’s activity in the world.

A coach helps the individual define exactly what they want to experience, feel, or achieve that is different from where they are now. Faith-based coaching offers individuals and organizations a process to hear God’s voice in bringing about hoped-for outcomes and expressed goals in the next steps of life and ministry.

Coaching Isn't...

  • therapy

  • counseling

  • mentoring

  • consulting

  • spiritual direction

In many of these helping professions, the relationship is that of expert or authority working with a patient or novice. The expert evaluates the situation and provides the solution.

It’s a common misconception that a coach can tell you what to do and how to do it in order to achieve the results you want. In reality, the foundation of coaching is a partnership in which the individual is the expert of their own life. Coaching assumes the individual is already whole and focuses on nurturing the fullness that exists within.

Choosing a Coach

Help finding a Coach

Finding the right coach is a personal decision. We encourage you to begin your search by reviewing the coaches listed below, or by exploring other coaching networks that align with your needs.

If you’d like additional assistance in your search process, you can email renewal@milwaukeesynod.org. One of our Coaching Coordinators, Rev. Andy Fetters or Danette Braun, will respond with tools to support your discernment process. Please note both Andy and Danette are also included as potential coaches on the GMS Individual Coaching page. To avoid any conflict of interest, Andy and Danette will not recommend specific coaches (including themselves), but are available to help you with questions to consider — i.e., training, certification, coaching philosophy, specialties, rates, and policies —  to help you find a good match.

Working with Coaches Outside the Synod List

You may also work with a coach who is not listed on the Synod website. In that case, your coach must:

  • Agree to follow the ethical standards of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

  • Provide proof of certification or training through the ELCA or another ICF-accredited organization.

Important: If you choose to work with a coach outside the Synod’s list, submit the coach’s proof of certification or training to renewal@milwaukeesynod.org. Documentation must be submitted and approved prior to the Synod issuing any reimbursement. We strongly recommend obtaining and submitting this documentation before your first coaching session to avoid any disruption in reimbursement.

Questions about this process? Please reach out to renewal@milwaukeesynod.org.

Our Coaches