This post is for my mom

It's hard to explain what I do for a living, so these numbers might help.

My mom was a high school teacher and then an assistant principal. Most people know what educators do, though I’m sure there’s a lot of complexity that those of us outside the field have no idea about.

I became a minister, and a lot of people wonder what clergy do outside of those highly visible moments like preaching and teaching. My mom knows, though, because she is interested and has asked my spouse (also a minister) and me a lot of questions over the years.

Then I moved out of serving one church into assisting many through clergy and congregational coaching. My mom is still interested in my work, still asking questions, but it’s much harder to explain my ministry. It’s not as clear-cut as teacher or even a bit fuzzy like pastor. It’s completely blurry because 1) I work from home, where I create my own rhythm and structure and 2) a lot of things fall under the umbrella of my coaching practice. And so, to help fill in some of the details for my mom, here is a snapshot of my work in 2024.

Photo is of the first page of my 2024 planner.

• Coached the leaders of 6 congregations/parishes on an ongoing basis on clarifying vision, overhauling lay leadership structures, revamping staffing, getting a new pastoral team on the same page, and helping two churches become a team ministry with shared clergy

• Held 208 one-on-one coaching sessions with clergy

• Had introductory sessions with 30 pastors and lay leaders about whether coaching would be a good fit for their/their churches’ needs

• Guided emerging coaches through 42 mentor coaching sessions

• Taught 5 multi-session coaching classes on personal coaching, coaching and positive psychology, and a coach approach to supervision

• Led 6 one-off learning labs on the International Coaching Federation’s core competencies

• Facilitated 2 pastor retreats, 1 online and 1 in-person

• Wrote 70 articles

• Took my final 2 Doctor of Ministry classes

• Started my Doctor of Ministry project, reading dozens of books, interviewing 6 ministers, leading 2 cohort gatherings, and having many conversations about my project with those who might be interested and those who could help

• Participated in a number of meetings about advocating for women in ministry, becoming a better coach trainer/mentor coach, using coaching to help churches in transition, and numerous other topics

I hope this helps, Mom. I love you!

Do you have remaining professional development funds for 2024? Today is the last day you can take advantage of my round-up coaching special for clergy. You can also buy a subscription to this Substack. It provides you with weekly theological reflections, practical ministry tips, and original resources, and there is a bonus post each month just for paying subscribers.