New Doctor of Ministry in Ministry Coaching to be offered
“Life coaching” is a hot trend in leadership these days. A new track in “Ministry coaching” is the answer of the Doctor of Ministry program at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
The new track will begin in July of next year; the application deadline is Feb. 1, 2008.
“Coaching is different from consulting, counseling, or mentoring,” explains Jim Wilson, associate director of the seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program. “It involves respecting each other as capable equals, while guiding them to identify for themselves steps to accomplish God’s purpose in their lives.”
Golden Gate’s doctor of ministry is a three-year degree program for those with a master of divinity and at least three years of substantive ministry experience. Candidates join a cohort of eight to 15 other ministers for seminars and other learning experiences built around the distinctive focus of their track – in this case, ministry coaching.
This particular track combines Golden Gate’s doctoral process with a certification process that meets the coursework requirements of the International Coach Federation – the largest professional coaching organization in the United States.
To meet the ICF requirements, Golden Gate has partnered with a Christian professional coaching organization out of Hickory, N.C., called The Columbia Partnership (TCP), which will provide adjunct faculty for the coaching seminars.
TCP provides coaching, consulting, speaking, seminars, future planning, and other services to denominations, congregations, and educational institutions; Golden Gate Seminary is the first to offer a doctoral-level program utilizing their services.
The track is designed for senior pastors of multi-staff churches, executive or equipping pastors, ministry staff supervisors, denominational leaders, and others who coach ministry leaders. The cohort is limited to the first 15 qualified applicants.
In addition to the standard doctor of ministry courses, candidates will take eight coach training courses through TCP, covering such topics as: coaching through change, transition, and transformation; the language of coaching; how to coach teams; and a coach approach to discipleship and evangelism.
“Working with The Columbia Partnership allows us to focus on what we do best – shaping leaders for Kingdom work – while facilitating an academic environment for what the Partnership does best – training coaches who bring out the best in others,” explains Wilson.
Once they have completed the doctoral program, candidates will have the required coursework for a professional level certification through the International Coach Federation; additional coaching hours are still required and are administered through ICF.
Seminars will be held at the Hollifield Leadership Center in Conovor, N.C., and at the Northern California campus of Golden Gate (Mill Valley, Calif.).
For more information, contact the
Doctor of Ministry office.