Western Seminary

Chad Hall, P.C.C., Th.M.

Chad Hall is a Professional Certified Coach who has applied coaching in a variety of contexts as a church planter and pastor, as a denominational consultant, and as an executive coach within a successful software company. He enjoys coaching ministry leaders, teams, and individuals preparing for coaching credentialing. In 2009, he joined Western Seminary as Director of Coaching after teaching as an adjunct coaching professor since the program began in 2005.

Chad is the co-author of Coaching for Christian Leaders: A Practical Guide (2007, Chalice Press) and more than thirty articles on topics related to ministry leadership, coaching, church and culture, and postmodern ministry. He is currently completing a coaching book for ministry leaders addressing spiritual growth.

Chad is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College (B.A.), Duke Divinity School (M.T.S.), and Princeton Seminary (Th.M.). He is also a graduate of The Coaches Training Institute, a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), a member of the International Coach Federation, and serves on the board of Christian Coaching Magazine. He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife Holly and their three young children. Chad can be reached at chall@westernseminary.edu.

Linda Miller, M.C.C., D.H.L.

Linda Miller believes that successful organizations are supported by strong internal dynamics. Before becoming a coach, Linda worked for 12 years in the behavioral science field, specializing in building productive and collaborative relationships typically dealing with major sources of conflict. Today, Linda is known as an executive coach and facilitator. Her clients include leaders and teams from Alltel, Black and Decker, Boeing, Deloitte, Disney, Duke Energy, Franklin Templeton, KPMG, Newell Rubbermaid, Nissan, Otsuka, and WD40. She has delivered coach training at career resource centers affiliated with Thunderbird, the University of Washington and USC's MBA programs.

Currently, Linda serves as an Executive Coach and Global Liaison for Coaching with The Ken Blanchard Companies. She is a founding recipient of the Master Certified Coach designation from the International Coach Federation and has served on their board.

In the not-for-profit arena, Linda and her husband have served on several church staffs, and Linda has coached a number of senior pastors and denominational leaders. In June 2009, Linda was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Western Seminary based on her contribution to the Christian coaching community.

Linda lives and golfs in Phoenix, AZ with her husband. They have two married daughters.

James Warrick, A.C.C., M.A.

Steve Stratos, D.Min.

Steve Stratos brings a wealth of experience both as a Pastor and Coorporate Executive. For over 25 years Steve has been involved with a variety of  local churches as church planter, senior, associate, and interim pastor. He has also been involved as a consultant with the local church helping them to make transitions in leadership and the developing of strategic plans. He loves to help people and has a passion for creating healthy churches. He also provides coaching for staff and guests of the Portland Rescue Mission.

Steve attended Middlebury College, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary where he received an MDiv., and Western Seminary where he received his Doctorate of Ministry.

Steve  is both Senior Consultant of Wellspring Group,  http://www.wellspring-group.com and VP of Business Development at Qmedtrix www.qmedtrix.com  . He also functions as coach to the Qmedtrix Executive Team. He enjoys creating compelling and productive cultures within organizations. He consults with senior leaders – and their teams – regarding how to build and encourage healthy work environments, especially where the businesses are going through significant transition. Steve also has a passion for helping people move in the right direction through coaching.

He is a gifted communicator speaking to the hearts and minds of business leaders. His understanding of a values-driven style of leadership empowers others and brings greater productivity. Steve has considerable cross-cultural organizational experience.
He is also certified and is an expert in Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) technology – both in terms of that tool’s usefulness with individuals as well as team.

Has been married to Leslie for 38 years and has 4 adult children and two grandchildren. Steve loves to play basketball whenever and wherever he can.

Bill Copper, ACC

Bill Copper, ACC, is director of the Hollifield Leadership Center, which is a ministry of the Baptist State Convention of NC, where he also directs the Valwood Christian Leadership Coaching program. Bill has received certification from the National Association of Church Business Administration and frequently writes, speaks, and coaches around areas of business management for non-profits. He also provides coach training for churches, judicatories and various organizations. Bill lives in Lenoir, NC with his wife and three sons.

Paul Thome

Paul grew up in the Sacramento area of California and earned a B.A. in Speech Communications at California State University Sacramento.  He attended Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and Scribe School at Peninsula Bible Church under the direction of David Roper and the late Ray Stedman. He spent over twenty-seven years in full-time ministry as a pastor in two local Sacramento area congregations, and also served as an adjunct professor for Western Seminary's Sacramento Campus.

Paul’s passion in coaching is to help people find and discover their full, God-given potential as human beings by engaging them in powerful conversations about their values, goals, dreams, and intentions. He currently offers personal and professional coaching through LEDR Coaching and Training.

He  has been married to his wife Sherri for thirty-four years. They have two married adult children and four grandchildren.