Coaching Classes Offered by Central Seminary

I want to take this space to share a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning coaching skills:

Once accessible only to key executive and business leaders, the demand for coaching is growing among individuals in all areas of life. Whether it is called life coaching, leadership coaching, or discipleship coaching, churches and church leaders are seeking to develop skills in this people development process. With a new coaching concentration, Central Baptist Theological Seminary is seeking to meet that need.

In the fall of 2014, Central will begin offering three elective courses online that will assist seminary students in acquiring skills as coaches. “Introduction to Mentoring, Coaching, and Learning Communities” (MP513e) is a fall semester course for those who wish to add mentoring and coaching to their skill sets as they work with individuals in churches, not for profits, and missional faith communities.

For students who are interested in preparation to apply for a coaching credential from the International Coach Federation, two courses will be offered to fulfill the class requirements for the basic coaching credential. ICF is a major third-party global provider for coach certification.

“The Ministry of Coaching” (MP509e), an online class for spring 2015, is designed around the International Coach Federation Competencies and Code of Ethics. The class introduces students to several coaching models and involves them in practicing these models. The second course, “Coaching Practicum” (MP514e) will be offered online during the summer term 2015 to help students develop advanced coaching skills, cross cultural coaching, and intergenerational coaching issues.

Instructors for the courses are Ircel Harrison and Rhonda Abbot Blevins, supplemental faculty members in ministry praxis. Harrison has taught classes for the seminary since 2007. He is an ICF certified coach and co-author of Disciple Development Coaching as well as the Coaching Coordinator for Pinnacle Leadership Associates. Blevins is Associate Pastor for Congregational Leadership at Tellico Village Community Church in Loudon, Tennessee, and a recent Doctor of Ministry graduate of the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. She has also served as a campus minister and denominational leader. Blevins has been a coach with Pinnacle Leadership Associates since 2013 and is pursuing certification by ICF as a life coach.

Central has been an innovator in the area of coaching. The seminary began offering individual coaching to the first Doctor of Ministry cohort two years ago. The 2013-2017 create Master of Divinity students have been assigned mentor coaches. A course on “The Ministry of Coaching” has been offered as a seminary elective since 2011. This is a further step to empower leaders for effective ministry.

Please contact Ircel Harrison at ircelharrison@gmail.com for further information or to ask questions about the classes.

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