Western Seminary Center for Lifelong Learning
Course Descriptions

Coaching Ministry

Note: Course syllabi for most courses may be found on the WSCLL student website: www.wscll.net/Syllabi/

MCS 500E – Coaching for Change. Jane Creswell / Linda Miller. This course will provide an overview of the theory and skills of coaching. Time will be spent developing basic skills utilized in a coaching relationship. Focus will be given to coaching people through differing types of change including pro-active change, transitions, and transformations. The course will integrate biblical and theological rationale and reflection in understanding coaching in relationship to disciple making. Cohort distance course. 2 credit hours.

MCS 502E – Establishing a Dynamic Coaching Relationship. Jane Creswell / Linda Miller. This course will focus on creating a dynamic coaching relationship by understanding how to develop a professional coaching relationship. Focus will be given to increasing credibility through communicating awareness of intent and impact. The coach will also build the skills of helping the person being coached (PBC) orient around areas of strengths and high performance patterns. This course will also introduce the coach to establishing a coaching practice and ethical issues in coaching. 1 credit hour.

MCS 503E – Change, Transition, and Transformation. Jane Creswell / Linda Miller. This course enables you to coach people through change – proactive change, transition, and transformation. Instruction includes how to identify the differing stages of the process, models to help people navigate change, and how to assist people through obstacles and barriers. 1 credit hour.

MCS 504E – Coaching as a Learning Catalyst. Jane Creswell / Linda Miller. In the coaching relationship the coach is a learning partner in the person being coached’s (PBC) growth. This class will provide information on different learning styles, cognitive preferences, and learning processes that reflects how the brain works in order to generate powerful results in the person being coached. Skill development focuses upon incorporating the knowledge of learning into coaching questions, statements, and listening. 1 credit hour.

MCS 505E – The Language of Coaching. Jane Creswell / Linda Miller. Coaching focuses on language as a basis for creating awareness and understanding, both of which lead to change. This class explores the different uses of language, including distinctions, metaphors, stories, formulas and other language formats that are effective when coaching. 1 hour.

MCS 506E – Jane Creswell. Jane Creswell / Linda Miller. This course will focus on understanding the key elements of personal coaching. Focus will be given to five critical areas that personal coaching often addresses: goals, tolerations, needs, values, and standards and boundaries. Focus will be given to applying these personally as well as to using them when coaching others. In addition, participants will begin to think in terms of a “future story” for themselves and for persons being coached. 1 hour.

MCS 507E – Coaching Teams. Jane Creswell / Linda Miller. Almost everything we do in the life of the body of Christ is done with more than one person involved. This course distinguishes coaching individuals from coaching groups or coaching teams. The skills and models are different for each of these. We will focus on how to be a highly effective coach of teams in a church or other ministry setting. 1 hour.