Coaching in the Montana Synod

What is Coaching?

Coaching is an intentional relationship in which the trained coach uses powerful questions, strategic listening, and accountability to uncover and utilize your strengths and insights to accomplish your goals.

The challenges facing leaders in the church today are significant. A coach will accompany you, listen intently to what is going on in your life and ministry, and ask questions that will empower you to take the next step. In coaching, the client does 80% of the talking.

Creating a coaching culture in the Montana Synod

We believe that anyone who has goals they want to accomplish and learning they want to master can benefit from a coaching relationship. The core requirements are a posture of openness, teachability, willingness to reflect, and a desire to work on the part of the client.

All of our coaches have been trained by an International Coach Federation Associate Certified Coach who has been developed as a Coach Trainer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Each of our coaches has passed a development process called ELCA Launch and are at least what we call in the ELCA a Level 1 Coach.

Challenges facing church leaders remain significant today.
A Montana coaches offers:
Confidential and respectful conversations
Freedom to explore and express concerns in a non-judgmental situation
Affirmation around your concerns

YOUR FIRST SESSION IS FREE!

Montana Coaching Offers 3 Services

Coaching is an intentional relationship where a trained coach uses:

Coaching reminds and reconnects you with how your life story is part of God’s story

Individual Sessions with a trained coach
Team Coaching: A coach working with a team of people
Training of new and current coaches

Strategic listening
Questions to reflect that listening
Questions to help discern your internal and external barriers
Planning to discover actionable steps to get you unstuck no matter where you are

Helps to support and maintain health and good boundaries
Helps provide some accountability around timing and resources
Testimonials: https://www.elcacoaching.org/pages/intro-to-coaching

Why have a Coach work with a team?

Transitions

Changes in Call
For pastors
For congregations

Changes in council leadership
Changes in committee leadership
Changes in worship issues
Changes in building issues

Mission Development

New Ministry - Adaptive Changes
Neighborhood Outreach
New congregations
Merging congregations
Digital ministry development

Montana Synod Coach Bios

I would like to get a coach!

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Congregation *

I'm interested in: *

Being Coached Becoming a Coach Coaching for Leadership Teams & Councils Cultural Compentence Coaching

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Frequently Asked Questions

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME?
Costs can run from the price of a cup of coffee or lunch to $150 per session. The difference in the cost is related to the amount of experience of the coach. If you are a pastor or congregational leader and your congregation is going to benefit from the coaching relationship, we highly recommend that the church bear whatever cost there is associated with the relationship. If you need help to offset some of the cost of coaching, please contact Coaching Coordinator: Marilyn Hall at marilynlovestocamp@yahoo.com

HOW LONG IS A COACHING RELATIONSHIP?
The initial relationship will be five to six sessions over a space of three to six months. At that time, our coaches are trained to reflect with you on the progress you are making and the effectiveness of the relationship. At that point, some clients prefer to take a break from coaching for a while, and others prefer to continue the coaching relationship.

I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. WHO CAN I TALK TO?
Please contact the Montana Synod Coaching Coordinator: Marilyn Hall marilynlovestocamp@yahoo.com, Or you can simply fill out the Contact Us form. She will set up a time with you to speak.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COACHING, COUNSELING, CONSULTING, AND MENTORING?
Counseling: In counseling, the therapist works with the client on places of mental or emotional barriers, often working through past hurts and relational difficulties with the goal of reaching emotional or mental freedom and higher relational functioning.

Consulting: In consulting, the consultant acts as material expert, does the majority of the talking, presenting, and the telling. The posture of the client is one of receptivity and much more passivity.

Mentoring: Mentoring is a longer term relationship that leverages the knowledge, experience, and wisdom of the mentor for the growth and empowerment of the mentee. The relationship is mutual and the dynamic of interaction is 50/50.

Coaching: Coaching is a relational alliance that leverages the technology and art of powerful questions and intentional exploration to produce awareness, change, and and transformation for the client. In coaching, the client does 80% of the talking.

I’M INTERESTED IN COACH TRAINING TO IMPROVE MY CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP. WHAT NEXT?
Check out our Coaching Services page on this website for upcoming ELCA Launch Coach Training options across the ELCA.

I’M NOT A PASTOR, BUT I’D LIKE A COACH. CAN I HAVE A COACH TOO?
Yes! We believe the church needs effective leaders, both clergy and lay. Coaching can powerfully effect the context you lead in whether you are a pastor, a lay ministry professional, or an unpaid leader in your congregation such as Council President, or any committee chair from the church council.

WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DO OUR Montana COACHES HAVE?
All of our coaches have been trained by an International Coach Federation Associate Certified Coach who has been developed as a Coach Trainer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Each of our coaches has passed a development process called ELCA Launch and are at least what we call in the ELCA a Level 1 Coach. Level 2 Coaches have additional training in specialty areas such as Leadership, Discipleship, Congregational Development, and Congregational Redevelopment.

WHAT OTHER THINGS DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT Montana COACHES?
All of our coaches abide by the ethical guidelines of the International Coach Federation. To read those guidelines, simply click here.

Training: for Current and New Coaches

Current Coaches:
Resources from ELCA: https://www.elcacoaching.org/pages/for-coaches
Trainings from ELCA: https://www.elcacoaching.org/events

New Coaches:
Contact Current Coaching Coordinator:
Marilyn Hall: marilynlovestocamp@yahoo.com
DEM Peggy Paugh Leuzinger: Peggy.PaughLeuzinger@elca.org