Why Coaching?

Rev. Jim Haun

“I’m not sure I want to do this for the rest of my life.” That was the answer of a clergywoman when asked why she wanted to work with a coach. She was an accomplished, well-regarded professional in her ministry, known locally and nationally as highly effective. Yet, she had questions about direction, commitment and fulfillment. Sooner or later, all clergy who “stay the course” face those questions.

Effectiveness in ministry is a goal clergy seek. But, success is seductive. The systems in which we work ask for more and we are tempted to comply, becoming involved in so much in so many ways that we lose touch with the essence of who we are and the reason why we responded to the Call.

This was the situation of the clergywoman who came for coaching. So, we talked about her vision for ministry, her values, her gifts and strengths. She began to realize that many of the tasks she was taking on were drawing her away from her center, draining her energy, and turning ministry into a burden. In coaching she found a safe place to articulate her frustrations and redesign her ministry around what she had to offer instead of what everyone else wanted her to do.

She remains in ministry today. It’s not the same, though. She is learning to focus on what she does best and raise up others to fill the inevitable leadership gaps in the system. She is learning to integrate who she is with what she does. She is learning that she has choices about what she will do for the rest of her life and is courageously stepping into her vision for it.

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center have partnered to create and GPSS Leadership Coaching to help clergy and other leaders maximize their impact through exploring and expanding vision, unlocking potential and reaching desired goals with increased confidence, competency and commitment.

Coaching is a safe place where you can raise your own questions, explore options and begin to design a creative, proactive future. To connect with a coach trained in GPSS Leadership Coaching, or if you are interested in becoming a GPSS Certified Coach yourself, go to www.gpsscoaching.org or contact Jim Haun, Garrett-Evangelical’s Consultant for GPSS Coaching at james.haun@garrett.edu.

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Rev. Jim Haun is the Garrett-Evanelical Consultant for GPSS Coaching.