Pastor coaching - coachnet

Many pastors are benefiting by engaging with a coach.

One organisation that provides coaching for pastors is coachnet..

How does the coaching relationship work?

A coaching relationship--especially a first coaching experience--is different than any other relationship.   Both coach and person being coached--what we at CoachNet call the leader--pour themselves into the relationship, but all the energy and results generated in the coaching relationship are focused on the goals chosen by the person being coached.

The coach is committed to listening first, and strives to ask powerful questions.  All for the benefit of the leader.  The other person.  Coaching is truly a generous proposition...it's a chance to give to the other person without any regard to what the coach gets back in return.  Think about it, a relationship where someone's goal is to make things better for the OTHER person.

For pastors

You’re a pastor.  You’ve got a full plate.  You’re charged with guiding each individual member’s spiritual development, setting a vision for the congregation’s direction, and running the day-to-day operation of the church.  On top of this, you have to build and sustain healthy relationships with the members of the church in order to be effective.

Plus, this isn’t just any job.  Being a pastor is a calling of the highest order.

Think about this.  Ministry is not just something that you decide to take up.  Your discipleship journey gave you no option…serving God’s people in an existing church, a church plant or other ministry setting was something God picked out for you.  And it’s hard. VERY hard.

The hours are long.  Even the most focused congregation can wander off mission from time to time.  Relationships can go well one minute and poorly the next.  You need someone to come alongside of you to listen, ask good questions, and to help you figure out what comes next.  You need a coach.

For more information http://www.coachnet.org/

Australia coaches:  http://www.coachnet.org/intl/about-us/meet-the-team

Mentoring Resources - John Mallison

Whenever  I am in a discussion about Christian mentoring, the name John Mallison always comes up...
John Mallison's resources appear to have stood the test of time. 

In his book Mentoring to develop disciples and leader, John aims to:

• To show that mentoring is not an optional extra, if followers of Christ are to mature and fulfil God's purpose for them.
• To encourage every follower of Christ to take an interest in another's personal and spiritual growth (to 'watch over one another in love'). Mentoring others is not reserved for the giants of the faith!
• To emphasise that the foundation for effective Christian mentoring is a vital, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• To give a clear understanding of the various dimensions of mentoring and what is involved.
• To explain that mentoring can be done with varying degrees of intensity from a close friendship to a professional relationship, occasional wise words of encouragement and guidance to well-structures, regular meetings.
• To lay a sound biblical and theological basis for mentoring.
• To provide some practical guidelines for both mentors and mentorees.
• To emphasise that mentoring is essentially experience-based learning to which reflection is central.
• To help especially leaders see the broad possibilities for mentoring. To provide case studies of some options and enable them to develop mentoring networks in their churches or organisations.
• To present Jesus Christ as our prime mentoring model.

The book is an Australian resource which is available from Australian Church Resources for $22

Other mentoring resources from John Mallison include:

• Mentoring Overview
• Resources for Mentoring Sessions
• Resources for Transition Retreats
• Articles by John Mallison to Promote Mentoring
• Helpful Ideas on Mentoring by Other Authors
• Legal Pitfalls in Mentoring and How to Avoid Them
• Recommended Reading for Mentoring/Discipleship
• Links to Other Mentoring/Discipleship Sites

To discover these visit http://www.johnmallison.com/mentoring.htm