Seven Hours of Professional Coaching Sessions by a Member of the SNE Coaching Network

The International Coach Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”

The Synod of the Northeast (SNE) is committed to embedding coaching in various forms of ministry in order to support individual ministry leaders as well as ministry leadership teams. We believe “God has a dream for our congregations and presbyteries – a way we may be called to serve in response to a particular need within the regional community of the northeast.” In endorsing the Coaching Network of the Synod of the Northeast, the Synod recognizes that coaching has proven to be one of the most powerful tools for development available today in both the business world and the church, helping both individuals in leadership roles as well as church leadership teams discover, embrace and work toward their God-given goals.

The coaching relationship creates space and time for Holy Spirit to be heard and provides support for leaders of emerging and/or transformational ministries to live into their call. The coaching relationship is an incubator in which the client(s) can expand their mental and emotional capacity to work through both the technical and adaptive challenges that face all leaders today. Coaching is both reflective and results oriented. The purpose of these funds is to help PCUSA leaders (individual leaders and leadership teams) within the bounds of the Synod of the Northeast pay for coaching services.

Scholarship Details:
1. Awardees must be PC(USA) ministry leaders or teams serving in ministry settings located within the bounds of the Synod of the Northeast.

2. People engaged in these ministry areas are eligible for scholarships:
    a.  Leaders of emerging ministries
    b.  Leaders actively engaged in church transformation
    c.  Young ministry leaders
    d.  Racial/ethnic leaders
    e.  Small church leaders
    f.   Leaders working through transitions and/or adaptive challenges
    g.  Individuals in transition seeking a first time call or between calls or moving into and adjusting to retirement
    h.  Teams of ministry leaders (including but not limited to Sessions, Councils, Administrative Commissions, Presbytery Committees, Mid-Council Committees or leadership teams of ongoing or emerging ministries) matching one or more of the preceding criteria

3. Criteria for evaluating scholarship applications:
    a.  Those who make a commitment to being coached
    b.  Those who make a commitment to participate in an evaluation process re: the experience of being coached.

4. Priority of scholarship awards:
    a.  First time applicants (be they individuals or teams) will receive priority.
    b.  Second time applicants and third time applicants will be considered for a partial scholarship with exceptions for extending circumstances

5. The coach matched with you will be a member of the SNE Coaching Network.

6. The check for funds approved will be sent directly to the coach who is being matched with you. Monies will be released to the coach upon the receipt of a signed contract/covenant between the coach and the applicant(s).