Counseling: In counseling, the therapist works with the client on places of mental or emotional stuckness, often working through past hurts and relational difficulties, with the goal of reaching emotional or mental freedom and higher relational functioning.

Consulting: In consulting, the consultant acts as material expert, does the majority of the talking, presenting, and the telling. The posture of the client is one of receptivity and much more passivity.

Mentoring: Mentoring is a longer term relationship that leverages the knowledge, experience, and wisdom of the mentor for the growth and empowerment of the mentee. The relationship is mutual, and the dynamic of interaction is 50/50.

Coaching: Coaching is a relational alliance that leverages the technology and art of powerful questions and intentional exploration to produce awareness, change, and transformation for the client. In coaching, the client does 70% of the talking.

Check the Resources link on our Coaching page for upcoming ELCA Coach Training options, either in the NT-NL Synod or across the ELCA.

Coaching is open to both clergy and lay leaders. Please connect with our Synod’s Coach Coordinator (to be announced soon). They will work with you on next steps.

Yes! We believe the church needs effective leaders, both clergy and lay. Coaching can powerfully affect the context in which you lead, whether you are a pastor, a lay ministry professional, or an unpaid leader in your congregation, such as Council President or Stewardship Chair.

All of our coaches have been trained by an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach who has been developed as a Coach Trainer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Each of our coaches has passed a development process called ELCA Coach Training Launch and are, at least what we call in the ELCA, a Level 1 Coach. Level 2 Coaches have additional training in specialty areas such as leadership, discipleship, congregational development, and congregational redevelopment. Some of our coaches in the NT-NL Synod are working on professional credentialing through the ICF.

All of our coaches abide by the ethical guidelines of the International Coach Federation (ICF). Click here to read those guidelines.

Please contact our Coaching Coordinator (to be announced soon). They will set up a time to speak with you.

Just click on the Request a Coach link and fill out the form. Our Coaching Coordinator will reach out to you on next steps.

Costs can run from the price of a cup of coffee or lunch to $150 per session. The difference in the cost is related to the amount of experience of the coach. If you are a pastor or congregational leader and your congregation is going to benefit from the coaching relationship, we highly recommend that the church bear whatever cost there is associated with the relationship. If you need help to offset some of the cost of coaching, please contact BpGronberg@ntnl.org.

We believe that anyone who has goals they want to accomplish and learning they want to master can benefit from a coaching relationship. The core requirements are a posture of openness, teachability, an openness to reflection, and a desire to work on the part of the client.