A Call for Denominational Investment in Leadership Coaching
By Ircel Harrison
Our culture is experiencing a significant moment, with churches and their leaders facing a renewed demand to offer hope and community amidst current challenges. This era calls for proactive engagement from believers. We must not be passive or reactive, lamenting church decline rather than embracing Jesus' command in Matthew 25:40 to serve "the least of these." Authentic leadership, characterized by humble service and bold witness, requires empowered and supported leaders.
Edward Hammett, in his book Coaching as Spiritual Practice: Deepening Faith While Deepening Impact, proposes a key strategy: denominations, churches, and related organizations should collaborate to employ resident coaches dedicated to developing leaders. These new leaders, in turn, will revitalize churches. The tailored leadership development facilitated by coaching can provide crucial support for leaders and organizations navigating today's transitional landscape.
The Institute of Coaching, reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the role of coaching during that difficult period, identified six key themes in their paper, Leading with Humanity: The Future of Leadership and Coaching:
Coaching offers a secure environment for grounding and reflection.
Coaching equips leaders to navigate challenges and crises.
Coaching broadens leaders' awareness.
Coaching helps leaders recognize their blind spots and biases.
Coaching expands a leader’s capacity.
Coaching facilitates transformative shifts in thinking and behavior.
Clergy leaders, tasked with applying the Gospel to contemporary needs, require all these benefits. To make a meaningful impact now, we must support and encourage leaders who are engaged, innovative, and committed. Coaching offers a valuable pathway to the formation of such leaders.
If you want to learn more, contact me.
Ircel Harrison is coaching coordinator for Pinnacle Leadership Associates and Director of Education for Summit Coach Training from Pinnacle. He is an ACC credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation.