A Theology of Coaching

Parker Palmer is one of my favorite authors. This quote from Palmer recently came to my attention:

"The good news is that God loves us, and we’re all created in God’s image. And if you really believe that today, then that means staying grounded in that good news, being open to the world, taking creative risks and investing yourself and your resources."

As I read this passage, I became aware that this provides a good theological basis for coaching.

First, we are all created in God’s image. As I am involved in coaching my clients, I am aware they are individuals created in the image of God. They are special and unique. No matter where they are in their spiritual walk, they are important to God and to me.

Second, my approach to coaching is grounded in the good news. For me that means everyone has the potential to be “transformed by the renewing of [the] mind” (Romans 12:2) and seeing life through the perspective of the Gospel. This perspective enriches and empowers our daily choices.

Third, we are to be open to the world, taking into account the environment in which we function. We do not live in a vacuum but in a world that impacts our activities. In our setting, we discover both challenges and opportunities if we will only open our eyes to them.

Fourth, God challenges us to be creative risk-takers. If we take our faith seriously, we are called to do things that may be out of synch with our culture, but this may often be the path of real growth. One role of the coach is to walk with the client as that person tries out new behavior or pursues goals.

Fifth, in a coaching relationship, I encourage the client to take a full accounting of the resources available to him or her. These may be personal values, gifts, or skills, but they can also be external factors such as relationships, networks, and physical resources.

Sixth, the clear challenge in any coaching conversation is to call the client to make an investment, an intentional decision to serve, change, or grow in some area of life. The key question is always, “What are you going to do?”

Palmer’s quote provides an effective and succinct theological basis for coaching.

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