Character
Spiritual Direction or Coaching
…O LORD, YOU ARE OUR FATHER. WE ARE THE CLAY, YOU ARE THE POTTER; WE ARE ALL THE WORK OF YOUR HAND.” -ISAIAH 64:8
We affirm that our character as Christians – and as ministers – is deeply rooted in a Christ-defined identity that recognizes God’s working in every area of our lives. Through Sustaining Pastoral Excellence (SPE) we desire to connect Covenant pastors, missionaries, and chaplains with resources through which they can grow their connection to this working, and ultimately deepen their friendship with God. This is often experienced through the practice of spiritual direction.
Spiritual direction is a ministry of listening, discernment, and prayer in a confidential setting of encouragement and compassion. Through this ministry, one discerns the presence and work of God’s Spirit with a companion who sets aside the concerns of their own life to attend to the experience of God in the life of another.
Personal Spiritual Direction or Coaching
- Up to $500 can be used in one calendar year to defray the cost of spiritual direction or Coaching using the COACH model. Fees for receiving spiritual direction or coaching vary from free to up to $100 per session.
- Application submissions are considered as they are received.
Opportunities to Receive Spiritual Direction
Sustaining Pastoral Excellence offers grant funding for Covenant pastors, missionaries, and chaplains to explore spiritual direction for their own lives. If you desire to receive spiritual direction, there are Covenanters in each conference who are happy to assist you in locating a director or pointing you to further resources.
Opportunities to Receive Coaching
Coaching comes alongside leaders like you to promote discovery, foster clarity, and empower you to create action steps that will move you forward in your work and life. Covenant coaches trained in the COACH Model® stand ready to coach as part of cohorts with Develop Leaders Thriving in Ministry Cohorts (add Thriving in Ministry link once that page is created); in step with workshops offered by Start and Strengthen Churches Missional Vitality; or in personalized conversation on topics, opportunities, and challenges you choose to coach around. Contact these mission priorities or your Conference staff for help locating a trained coach in your Conference, or visit this Coach Directory to get started.
Sustaining Pastoral Excellence offers grant funding for credential Covenant pastors, missionaries, and chaplains to discover and apply coaching for their own lives and ministries. Remember: coaching fosters discovery, insight, and action and promotes the kind of clarity that leads to hope.
