Eight New Coaches Certified to Aid in Ministerial and Professional Growth

The Clergy Lifelong Learning Office at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) and the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the Korean Methodist Church (KMC) have partnered over the last two years to share best practices and learning resources. The KMC’s clergy coach program is one result of the continued partnership between the churches. Expanding the service of the program, eight new KMC coaches have received the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) designation from the International Coach Federation (ICF) to provide greater access to resources.

The Clergy Coach Training: Preparation for ICF Certification programs within the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the KMC were established to offer development opportunities for current and aspiring church leaders. In addition to providing coaching resources to the churches, the programs each offer training classes for clergy coach candidates and help them to prepare for the ICF certification. Val Hastings, Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference, is master coach certified and serves as the coaching program trainer for the KMC and UMC. Coaches can pursue three types of certification: associate, professional and master. 

Since 2015, the KMC clergy coach program has produced 66 graduates, and 40 new participants are expected to enter the coaching program by June 2017. With the first eight newly certified KMC coaches, nearly half of the graduates are currently pursuing ICF certification. 

To earn ICF certifications, coaches must complete 60 hours of requirements, more than 100 hours of coaching practice, including paid coaching sessions, 10 hours of mentored coaching for the coach, and general practice coaching sessions. The coach training and certification process takes approximately two years to complete as most of the coaches must maintain their full-time clergy or professional duties. 

“We have put in a lot of effort and resources to develop the clergy coach program within our church and our affiliated churches,” said HiRho Park, executive director of Clergy Lifelong Learning and UMC Cyber Campus. “We are very proud to see our work has produced eight ICF certified coaches in South Korea. We look forward to the continued expansion of the clergy coach program across the globe and providing an enviable service for the church.”

The coaches offer support and assistance in a range of focus areas, including entering and transitioning into ministry, organizational development, succession planning, cross-racial/cross-cultural church revitalization, life coaching and much more. Coaching is available online and is a convenient, easy-to-use and unique resource available within the church.

The KMC and UMC provide supplement grants to assist candidates. For example, grants valued at $800 are provided by the Clergy Lifelong Learning Office at GBHEM to UMC clergy who apply for the Clergy Coach Training program. There is a $2,500 cost associated with the clergy coach training program.  

As members of the ICF, the new KMC certified coaches are listed on the federation’s website and open to global opportunities. Certified coaches are also available on the ICF website, as well as UMC CyberCampus, which provides continuing education resources and guidelines for the professional development of Christian leaders.

The UMC Clergy Lifelong Learning Office is working with churches around the world to implement and expand access to coaching resources. The office most recently worked with Methodist Church of Peru to train 30 coaches. Later this year, the office will work with Bishop Gary Rivas, Central District, The Methodist Church of Southern Africa, to implement a coaching program. 

To learn more about the coaching program or training to be become a coach, visit www.umccybercampus.com/coaching.

About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to lead and connect the educational and ministerial life of the church. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call on their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.