Coaching – A Ministry Advantage       by Rev. Ken Anderson

For many Australian Ministers/Pastors, the culture of theological education, in mainstream denominations, provided a “one model fits all”, solid academic approach with some help in the areas of preaching and pastoral care. Very little training was offered in leadership development, visioning, setting and implementing goals, recruiting and training staff, developing strong financial resources and other skill areas needed to develop and grow vibrant, strong, relevant communities of faith.


Change
In the past 15 years, there has been more emphasis on further education. However, this has often centered around academic assignments arranged from Theological Halls by academic staff who were often not experienced practitioners. Supervision has been seen to fill the gap for some, but often this becomes time management, pastoral care, and friendly support.  Spiritual Direction is another track that some of us have walked and found great benefit at a personal faith level.

Apart from attending inspirational conferences like the Willow Creek Summits where does the Pastor look to develop leadership and management skills for effective ministry? Where does a Pastor who has a passion to see God’s Church alive and effective in the Community, learn the skills to:
-  Lead a church past the 150 barrier
-  Plant a new campus
-  Move from being the “jack of all trades” at the small church to becoming a designer responsible 
   for the implementation of a new and exciting program for growth.
-  Employ another staff person and decide if it should it be a second Minister, an administrator or a 
   Family worker? Full time or part time?
-  Look at a major funding program.

For my generation the unspoken answer to many of the above demands sounded like;

    - Work harder and longer
    - Pray more …be more spiritual
     - Preach better
    - Have better programmes
    - Raise more money
    - Hire more staff 

Models
A superficial observation of Churches in Australia today, particularly in, mainstream denominations may reveal two models.

The first is the traditional seventy member Church where numbers have not changed for 40 years. Wonderfully faithful people who need a Chaplain rather than a Pastor and whilst being very open to children, youth and families, their worship style, music, programmes and property will not attract many who are under 60 years of age.

The second model is reflected in emerging Churches who have had an openess to listen to the Spirit, to dream dreams, agree to a vision statement, set goals and let their vision and the people that they seek to serve write their agendas.  Pastors serving in these Churches need more than the traditional, academic approach to training.  Strong Biblical and Theological foundations, Church History, and Pastoral Care are essential. However today’s leaders also need ongoing support that will enable them to maintain their passion for the Gospel and continue to develop leadership and management skills to match their Spiritual gifts and graces. Ongoing training that will enable them to be effective to lead their Churches to serve God in the Communities where they are placed.

Personal Coaching has become a proven method to assist Pastors to change their leadership perspectives and move their Churches ahead in Mission and Service in, and to, God’s World.  Willow Creek Australia, in partnership with “Ministry Advantage USA” is offering a Coaching Programme to the Australian Church to assist Pastors in developing the skills necessary to lead their Church to reach its full potential.

What is coaching?
“Coaching is a collaborative relationship which deepens understanding for the purpose of implementing more effective actions”.  While coaching for Pastors is relatively new, the concept of coaching is not. Athletic, music, acting and fitness coaches have been encouraging and training others toward greater effectiveness for hundreds of years. Without their coaches, most of the heroes and stars of these fields would never have reached their pinnacles of effectiveness and success.

The methods used by these coaches are similar for Ministry Advantage coaches. Encouragement, specific guidance for change, objective and direct feedback, friendly accountability, training on “best practice” techniques and tools - until the next level of effectiveness for Christ is reached. Coaches never call to "just talk." Coaches explore, challenge, encourage, probe, suggest, facilitate, praise, focus, direct and stimulate…but never just talk. The goal of every coaching session is to implement specific strategies and actions that will lead your church closer to its full redemptive potential.

The Vision of Ministry Advantage internationally is:         

                                      To help churches worldwide turn their vision into reality.

The Mission statement in Australia is:           

                                      To help Australian churches reach their maximum potential.

History
Development and testing for Ministry Advantage began in 1996 in the USA. Formal focus groups with pastors were held nationwide and a market research project with 2500 senior pastors was conducted. From 1998 to 2000 forty Churches were enrolled in a pilot group. Eighteen months later the pilot group gave rave reviews to the effectiveness of the Ministry Advantage approach.