Coaching Church Planters

Posted on May 1, 2009

I’m in a coaching training with Corporate Coach U right now. About a year ago I went through Coachnet/Coaching 101 with Bob Logan and Scott Thomas. Coaching is definitely in vogue with forward thinking, missional initiatives/networks/denominations, and with good reason.

My first exposure to coaching definitely forced me to rethink my presuppositions. I learned that:

  • Good coaches don’t actually give advice; they ask good questions.
  • Good coaches can coach any kind of church planter or church planting model.
  • Good coaching requires good listening and insightful questioning.
  • Good coaches move the coachee along in their thinking, understanding, and approach to ministry.
  • Good coaching guides, not informs, the coachee to concrete action.

All these principles are good; however, as Nate recently pointed out, the best coach actually prays for his coachee, loves his coachee, approaches him or her as a fellow disciple under Christ. Good coaching changes the coach and coachee, moving them beyond skills and methods into deeper dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

Reflections on Q Conference

Posted on April 28, 2009

I’m doing some blogging on the Q Conference. There have been some powerful moments during this conference, the least of which was not Ted and Haggard’s transparent, gospel-gripping testimony about their post-excommunication journey. Unfortunately, we’ve been asked not to blog on it, so suffice it to say that what he said was profoundly biblical and gospel-centered. I was brought to tears and to praise.

Q Conference

Posted on April 28, 2009

This week I have been participating in the Q Conference, a conference committed to exploring new ideas in the areas of Future, Culture, Church, and Gospel. Abraham Kuyper would be proud. This conference is stimulating, innovative and sane. Each speaker talks for 18 minutes, followed by smaller “talkbacks” to futher the conversation. Speakers have addressed issues from Nuclear Disarmament to Spirituality in the Suburbs. Here are a few noteworthy speakers/projects:

Two Futures Project – compelling case for the role of Christians in advocating nuclear disarmament. Tyler Wigg Stevenson made the case that Christian vocabulary and a theology of the impossible compel Christians to take up this cause for the sanctity of human life.

The Future of the Suburbs – presented data arguing for continued migration to the suburbs which will become new centers of cultural influence, competing with urban culture.

Culture, Power, & Privilege – Andy Crouch shared some seeds for his new book project on the role of power, privilege and sacrifice in culture.

Shannon Sedgwick Davis – advancing justice and mercy in the third world through groups like “The Elders” a collection of peace-making leaders like Desmond Tutu, President Carter, and Nelson Mandela.

*Yours truly will speak on a panel tonight on the topic of American Ecclesiology.