coaching

THE AUBURN COACHING INSTITUTE

Our Mission

The Auburn Coaching Institute (ACI) works with religious leaders and organizations to develop resilient leaders who create and enhance vision, and actualize mission and values.

At its founding almost two hundred years ago, Auburn Seminary focused on the formation of church leaders “hardy” enough for life on the frontier. Today we are responding to a new religious frontier and a host of challenges and opportunities for leaders and their ministries. With the support of Lilly Endowment Inc. and other foundation and individual supporters, Auburn has developed an array of programs and services to bring professional coaching and leadership skills to the work of religious leaders.

Our Leadership

The Auburn Coaching Institute is comprised of:

Nationally recognized coaches and coach facilitators
Active church professionals, ordained and non-ordained
Trainers and consultants experienced in working with religious leaders, churches and denominations
Seminary faculty and administrators

The Coaching Team includes:

Rev. Laurie J. Ferguson, Ph.D.

Coach and psychologist

Director of Coaching, New York Sabbatical Institute (2002-05)

Instructor in Coaching and Pastoral Leadership, Auburn Seminary

Rose Miller

Coach and consultant

Instructor, William Alanson White Institute

Fellow and Instructor, Aresty Institute of Executive Education, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Fellow and Conference Director, A.K. Rice Institute for the study of Social Systems

Harry Shallcross, Ph. D.

Coach, spiritual director, and licensed psychologist

Consultant, Health and Human Services, public and private corporations

Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University, School of Continuing Education

Rev. Robert Tomlinson

Coach, consultant and licensed psychoanalyst

President and Owner, The Quality Consortium, Inc.

Co-Executive Director, New Horizons Associates

Faculty member, American Management Association

Rev. Frances Unsell

Coach, Consultant, and licensed psychoanalyst

Founder, The Development Center, Darien, CT

Program Facilitator, The Grubb Institute

Instructor in Coaching and Pastoral Leadership, Auburn Seminary

The Leadership Team includes:

Lisa Anderson, M. Div., M. Phil.

Education Programs Associate, Auburn Seminary

Rev. Laurie J. Ferguson, Ph.D.

Coach and psychologist

Director of Coaching, New York Sabbatical Institute (2002-05)

Instructor in Coaching and Pastoral Leadership, Auburn Seminary

Rev. Katharine Henderson, Ed.D.

President, Auburn Seminary

Rev. Frances Unsell

Consultant, coach, licensed psychoanalyst

Founder, The Development Center, Darien, CT

Program Facilitator, The Grubb Institute, US

Instructor in Coaching and Pastoral Leadership, Auburn Seminary

Rev. J.C. Austin

Director of the Center for Church Life

Auburn Seminary

Coaching Philosophy and Principles

Excellent leadership, though it might be identified in individual leaders, is decidedly not an individual matter. Excellent leadership practices involve, and positively impact, the whole community.

At the ACI, we invite and promote leadership that takes up its role within a broader context and series of relationships. Leaders who work with the Auburn Coaching Institute are accepted as individuals with particular gifts, unique styles of ministry, and significant contributions to make to, and with, communities of faith and the broader communities and contexts within which they serve.

Our approach involves both a horizontal and vertical dimension. The vertical dimension involves coaching to depth and recognizes that for all leaders, and certainly religious leaders, moving from a deep awareness of one’s own self and values is primary. The horizontal dimension allows the leader, with his or her coach, to assess needs, set goals, and develop the stewardship of time and resources to meet or surpass organizational goals.

A third element that we emphasize is hardiness or resilience, defined as a quality that can be nurtured in persons and in communities. Hardy leaders are committed, seek challenge, and take responsibility for their personal and professional lives.

Attention to all these elements is critical for developing lifelong “incarnational” learners. The ACI supports leaders who learn, adapt, and grow and, in turn, lead others—individuals and organizations—to do the same.

Click the link to see a PDF File of our "Guiding Principles"

Click the link to see a PDF File of "A Theology of Coaching for Pastoral Excellence"

Our Programs

The Auburn Coaching Institute includes four distinct program areas:

The Comprehensive Coaching Program is a six-month coaching and leadership development program for clergy and professional lay leaders which includes two three-day residential conferences (to reflect on the goals and challenges of ministry, engage leadership theory and practice, and begin individual work with a professional coach) and twice-monthly individual coaching sessions. The residential conferences for the 2009-10 program year will be at the Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY, October 26-28, 2009 and April 26-28, 2010. For further information click here, apply now

Coaching for individual leaders and teams. We work with leaders and leadership teams in a variety of settings—judicatory, academic, congregation-based—in the areas of leadership development, goal-setting, and practical strategies. Contract and structure are designed based on your stated needs and goals. Our model for coaching is client-driven. There is no pre-set agenda or formula for success. Rather, building on the philosophy and principles outlined above, you work together with your coach to set agenda and identify strategies that best meet your goals.

On-site Training for leadership teams. For judicatories, ministry staffs, and others interested in engaging coaching models and skills to focus and enhance their work. Contracted and customized for your organization’s needs.

Classes and workshops on coaching and leadership skills, held at Auburn. These are distinct offerings for clergy and other religious leaders which may serve as a follow-up to other work within the Auburn Coaching Institute or as stand-alone experiences. Particular offerings are posted on the Auburn website under “Program Highlights.” Monthly email updates, with the latest program information are also available. The 2009-10 offerings will be posted shortly.

Program Partnerships. We have partnered with denominational and other institutions to provide coaching for church leaders involved in particular church transformation and development programs.

For Further Information

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