Church Staff Coaching

Coaching Church staffs is one of our specialty areas, wherein our passion for learning, growth, and spiritual development are focused. We come along side you and your staff, working toward effective ministry and mission advancement. When you serve with passion, vigor, and health, we rejoice. Pinnacle does not have a “one size fits all” approach to Coaching church staffs. Instead, we get to know you, your vision for ministry, and your ministry context. Then together we construct a Coaching plan that supports and advances the mission and vision of your particular congregation. The following are Coaching Plans church staffs use through Pinnacle, and may choose from.

Annual Agreements

Traditionally, most of us spend much of our continuing education budget on going somewhere for an immersion learning experience. Though there is much value in getting away from our context, the long-term pay off for this learning approach is often minimal. For about the same level of funding, a church staff can form a year- long agreement with Pinnacle for personalized learning and development. The payoff for the staff and congregation is more focused and contextualized. Often a Coaching Plan for a Church Staff will look like this:

• Crafting the plan with input from the lead pastor and staff
• 3-4 Days on site with the staff during the year
• Each Day on Site includes spiritual enrichment, coaching toward learning/development goals for the team and for each staff person, and a seminar by the coach
• Between the coach’s days on site, the staff works their coaching plan, moving forward in intentional ministry and personal/professional growth

Staff Development Days and Retreats

We frequently facilitate Staff Development Days and Staff Retreats. Follow this link to learn more > >

Vocational Coaching

There are times in our lives when we need discernment about the next stage of the journey. Clergy and church staff engage Pinnacle for Vocational Coaching when:

• Considering entering ministry
• Considering a major change in their ministries
• Vocational crisis comes and they are considering what’s next
• New interests and opportunities arise
• When they lose their direction and interest
• At the major transition points in ministry, requiring reflection and learning

Our Coaches will listen to your need and design a coaching process to reach your discernment goals. Since we are experienced in doing the Vocational Assessments for ministry candidates for several denominations, we are able to integrate various assessment instruments into Vocational Coaching. Often we use inventories and questionnaires to help, like

• Emotional Intelligence Inventory
• Pastoral Intelligence 360
• Peoplemap Personality Questionnaire
• Peoplemap Leadership Style Inventory
• Peoplemap Professional Development Report
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
• Firo-B Personality Indicator
• Others depending on the particular need

Writing Coaching

How’s that Writing Project coming? Started? Part-way through? This describes the work of many writers. Turning inspiration and ideas into words on the page or in the blog can be challenging. At Pinnacle, we provide Coaching for Writers, in person or by phone, assisting them to move beyond their good intentions to actual writing. Anita Flowers is Pinnacle’s Writing Coach, providing Individual and Group Coaching. Watch for Pinnacle’s Writers' Retreat as well.

Wellness Coaching

All effective Coaching includes a holistic focus on Wellness. On the other hand, some coaching is specifically focused on Wellness. When you recognize your systems are not running well, your life is out of balance, or you want to strengthen your well-being, Wellness Coaching may be the best Coaching for you. Martha Beahm and Debra Griffis-Woodberry are Pinnacle’s Wellness coaches, dedicated to the well-being of our clients. Individual and Group Wellness Coaching is available.

Attention Deficit Coaching (ADD)

Given the clinical background of several of our coaches, we have the capacity to assess for ADD, followed by recommendations. Accurate diagnosis of ADD includes many persons and several professionals. We provide the online objective testing which complements other assessment tools. When a person is struggling with ADD, coaching can be very helpful. Our ADD coaching includes specific field work, reading assignments, and constant feedback on progress toward goals. contact us for more information.

Disciple Development Coaching

As you can see, we at Pinnacle believe in the effectiveness of Coaching for bringing change, progress, and growth. Not only are we providing Coaching, but we have designed a Coaching model for clergy, church staff, and lay persons to use in their ministry contexts: Disciple Development Coaching©. DDC training and certification is described in the Training section of this website. Read more about Disciple Development Coaching >

Retirement Coaching and Inspired Retirement Planning

Individuals who are approaching retirement today are some of the healthiest, most gifted, and caring people in our society. Although much of retirement planning in the past has focused on financial viability, more people are beginning to think about how they can use their time most effectively after retirement and pursue a vision that will give renewed passion and enjoyment in their lives.
Inspired Retirement Planning is a process that includes personal assessment, goal-setting and individual coaching so a person can chart an intentional course for the years beyond full-time employment. As you create a retirement life plan, you discover how to leverage your talents, interests, and dreams into a lifestyle of meaning and purpose.
Although he has been “retired” for four years, Pinnacle Associate Ircel Harrison has continued to purpose his passion for encouraging individuals to discover their growing edge and to live into it. Inspired Retirement Planning is one of the services he offers to clients. Contact Ircel at ircelh@pinnaclelead.com.
Associate Rhonda Blevins also does retirement coaching. Rhonda is associate pastor of congregational life in a church that serves a sizable planned retirement community in east Tennessee. Her experience in working with her congregants gives her insights into the gifts and aspirations of retired people. Contact Rhonda at rhondaab@pinnaclelead.com.