🧭 Life Coaching and Ministry Coaching Parish Plan
🧭 Life Coaching and Ministry Coaching Parish Plan
Purpose
This worksheet helps a legacy or plateaued church design a clear, accountable, and practical Life Coaching and Ministry Coaching Parish.
A coaching parish is a defined ministry assignment where trained Christian leaders provide encouragement, listening, prayer, Scripture reflection, goal support, and next-step discipleship within appropriate boundaries.
This plan supports Topic 10: Life Coaching, Ministry Coaching, and Relational Care Ministries, which includes life coaching, ministry coaching, boundaries, referral awareness, confidentiality, and CLI training pathways as part of church revitalization.
1. Parish Vision Statement
Write a one-sentence vision for your coaching ministry.
Our Life Coaching and Ministry Coaching Parish exists to:
Sample Vision Statement
Our Life Coaching and Ministry Coaching Parish exists to help people take faithful next steps in Christ through listening, encouragement, prayer, Scripture reflection, wise questions, and accountable support.
2. Who Will This Coaching Parish Serve?
Check all that apply.
☐ Church members
☐ Visitors and newcomers
☐ Young adults
☐ Married couples
☐ Engaged couples
☐ Parents
☐ Widows and widowers
☐ Grieving people
☐ Ministry volunteers
☐ Elders, deacons, or board members
☐ New believers
☐ People discerning calling
☐ People rebuilding after failure
☐ People struggling with anger
☐ People seeking life direction
☐ Community members outside the church
☐ Other: ______________________________________
Priority Group
Which group should your church begin serving first?
Why?
3. What Kind of Coaching Will Be Offered?
Check the ministry areas that fit your church’s current capacity.
☐ Basic Christian life coaching
☐ Spiritual growth coaching
☐ Prayer rhythm and devotional habit coaching
☐ Marriage preparation coaching
☐ Marriage encouragement coaching
☐ Parenting encouragement
☐ Calling and purpose discernment
☐ Ministry volunteer coaching
☐ Leadership development coaching
☐ Anger growth and peace-building support
☐ Grief encouragement
☐ Life transition support
☐ New believer next-step coaching
☐ Reconnection to church and discipleship
☐ Other: ______________________________________
First Coaching Focus
Our first coaching focus will be:
4. Define the Ministry Scope
Complete this sentence.
Our coaching ministry provides:
Our coaching ministry does not provide:
Suggested Scope Statement
This coaching ministry provides Christian encouragement, listening, prayer with permission, Scripture reflection, goal clarification, habit support, discipleship next steps, and ministry formation. It does not provide licensed counseling, trauma therapy, legal advice, medical care, financial planning, emergency response, or crisis intervention.
5. Coaching Ministry Boundaries
Mark each boundary your church will adopt.
☐ Coaching ministers will not diagnose mental health conditions.
☐ Coaching ministers will not treat trauma clinically.
☐ Coaching ministers will not give legal advice.
☐ Coaching ministers will not give medical advice.
☐ Coaching ministers will not give financial advice.
☐ Coaching ministers will not handle abuse allegations privately.
☐ Coaching ministers will not promise unlimited confidentiality.
☐ Coaching ministers will not meet in secretive or unsafe settings.
☐ Coaching ministers will not create emotional dependency.
☐ Coaching ministers will not pressure decisions with spiritual authority.
☐ Coaching ministers will refer when a situation is beyond their role.
☐ Coaching ministers will serve under oversight.
Additional Boundaries Needed
6. Confidentiality Statement
Write the statement your coaching ministers will use before coaching begins.
Our confidentiality statement:
Sample Confidentiality Statement
“What you share in coaching will be treated with respect and privacy. I will not share it casually. However, confidentiality has limits. If there is danger to you or someone else, abuse, self-harm, harm to others, or a situation where reporting or outside help is needed, I may need to involve appropriate support.”
7. Referral Awareness Plan
Coaching ministers should refer when the need goes beyond coaching.
Situations Requiring Referral
Check all your church will name in the coaching policy.
☐ Abuse or suspected abuse
☐ Domestic violence
☐ Suicidal thoughts
☐ Threats of harm to others
☐ Serious addiction
☐ Severe depression or anxiety
☐ Trauma symptoms
☐ Medical concerns
☐ Legal questions
☐ Financial crisis requiring professional guidance
☐ Child safety concerns
☐ Vulnerable adult concerns
☐ Criminal activity
☐ Emergency danger
☐ Marriage crisis involving possible harm
☐ Other: ______________________________________
Local Referral Resources
List trusted local resources.
Pastor / Elder / Ministry Overseer:
Licensed Counselor / Counseling Center:
Medical Provider / Clinic:
Domestic Violence Resource:
Addiction Recovery Resource:
Emergency / Crisis Contact:
Legal Aid / Professional Referral:
Financial Counseling Resource:
Other:
8. Coaching Minister Qualifications
Who should serve as a coaching minister?
Check desired qualities.
☐ Mature Christian character
☐ Faithful church involvement
☐ Humility
☐ Teachability
☐ Prayerfulness
☐ Emotional maturity
☐ Good listening skills
☐ Respect for confidentiality
☐ Boundary awareness
☐ Willingness to refer
☐ Willingness to serve under oversight
☐ Completion of assigned CLI training
☐ Local endorsement or recommendation
☐ Background check if required by church policy
☐ Other: ______________________________________
Potential Coaching Ministers
List possible coaching ministers in your church.
9. CLI Training Pathway
What training should each coaching minister complete before serving publicly?
Required CLI Courses or Training Steps
Optional Next Steps
☐ Christian Leaders Alliance recognition pathway
☐ Ministry Coach pathway
☐ Life Coach Minister pathway
☐ Local church commissioning
☐ Mentor review
☐ Elder/deacon/board review
☐ Soul Center ministry connection
☐ Other: ______________________________________
10. Oversight Structure
A coaching ministry should not operate alone.
Who Will Oversee This Ministry?
☐ Pastor
☐ Elder
☐ Deacon
☐ Church board
☐ Ministry director
☐ Trained mentor
☐ Soul Center leader
☐ Outside ministry advisor
☐ Other: ______________________________________
Name of overseer or oversight team:
Oversight Rhythm
How often will coaching ministers check in?
☐ Weekly
☐ Twice per month
☐ Monthly
☐ Quarterly
☐ As needed for urgent situations
☐ Other: ______________________________________
What Will Oversight Review?
☐ General ministry health
☐ Boundary questions
☐ Referral needs
☐ Safety concerns
☐ Training progress
☐ Scheduling and meeting practices
☐ Confidentiality concerns
☐ Spiritual health of coaching ministers
☐ Ministry fruit and next steps
11. Safe Meeting Practices
Where and how will coaching conversations happen?
Approved Meeting Locations
☐ Church office
☐ Visible church meeting room
☐ Public coffee shop
☐ Online video meeting
☐ Phone call
☐ Home setting with church-approved guidelines
☐ Other: ______________________________________
Meeting Guidelines
☐ Meetings will be scheduled, not secretive.
☐ Meetings will avoid isolated or unsafe settings.
☐ Youth or vulnerable adult meetings will follow church policy.
☐ Digital communication will be appropriate and accountable.
☐ Coaching ministers will not create ongoing dependency.
☐ Coaching ministers will know when to end or refer a coaching relationship.
☐ Meeting frequency and duration will be defined.
Standard meeting length: ______________________________________
Standard number of sessions before review: ______________________
12. Intake Questions
Use simple questions before beginning coaching.
What brings you to coaching at this time?
What would you like to grow in or work on?
Are there any urgent safety concerns we should know about?
Are you currently receiving counseling, medical care, or other professional support?
What kind of support are you hoping this ministry can provide?
Do you understand that coaching is not counseling, legal advice, medical care, or crisis response?
Are you comfortable with the confidentiality statement and its limits?
13. Coaching Session Pattern
A simple coaching session may follow this pattern.
Opening
Welcome
Brief prayer with permission
Review purpose of meeting
Listening
What has been happening?
What feels heavy, unclear, or important?
What progress or struggle has appeared since the last meeting?
Discernment
What do you sense God inviting you to notice?
What Scripture may speak into this situation?
What is one faithful next step?
Action
Identify one or two practical steps
Clarify accountability
Name support needed
Closing
Summarize next step
Pray with permission
Schedule follow-up if appropriate
Refer if needed
14. Sample Coaching Questions
Use questions that encourage reflection rather than control.
What are you hoping will change?
What have you already tried?
Where do you feel stuck?
What is one small faithful step you can take this week?
What habit would help you grow?
What Scripture has been meaningful to you in this season?
Who else should be part of your support system?
What would obedience to Christ look like in this situation?
What is within your responsibility?
What is outside your control?
What support do you need?
When should we pause and involve someone with more expertise?
15. First 90-Day Launch Plan
Month 1: Clarify and Prepare
☐ Write coaching parish vision statement
☐ Define coaching ministry scope
☐ Identify oversight
☐ Identify potential coaching ministers
☐ Choose required CLI training
☐ Create confidentiality statement
☐ Create referral list
☐ Review safety and meeting practices
Month 2: Train and Pilot
☐ Begin CLI training pathway
☐ Meet with oversight leader or team
☐ Practice coaching conversations
☐ Review referral scenarios
☐ Select one low-risk pilot coaching focus
☐ Prepare intake questions
☐ Clarify documentation practices
Month 3: Begin Small and Review
☐ Begin limited coaching ministry
☐ Hold oversight check-in
☐ Review what is working
☐ Review boundary questions
☐ Update referral list
☐ Adjust meeting practices
☐ Decide whether to continue, pause, or expand slowly
16. Ministry Review Questions
After 90 days, review the coaching parish.
Did coaching ministers stay within their role?
Were any referral situations handled wisely?
Were confidentiality practices followed?
Did oversight happen consistently?
Did coaching connect people to prayer, Scripture, worship, discipleship, or community?
Were coaching ministers spiritually healthy and supported?
What needs to be improved before expansion?
Should this ministry continue, pause, or expand?
17. Final Coaching Parish Summary
Our Coaching Parish Vision
Our First Ministry Focus
Our Coaching Ministers
Our Oversight Plan
Our Training Plan
Our Referral Plan
Our 90-Day Next Step
Final Encouragement
A life coaching or ministry coaching parish can help a legacy church become personal, practical, and missionally alive again.
But coaching ministry must be humble.
It listens without controlling.
It encourages without pretending to be counseling.
It prays without pressuring.
It supports without creating dependency.
It refers when needs go beyond the role.
It serves under wise oversight.
A revitalized church does not need to become a large church before it can care.
It can begin with one trained person, one safe conversation, one faithful next step, and one renewed witness to the love of Christ.