By Rev. Dr. Travis Guse
Having been an ICF-certified coach inside and outside the world of the Church for many years now, I’ve noticed something interesting – not a lot of pastors and ministry leaders engage in coaching. Now, I have coached a number of pastor and church workers over the years, and they found deep value in what coaching provided them. However, there are many professional church workers who have just never tried coaching or who are suspicious about it. I want to share a few thoughts on why many don’t avail themselves to coaching and why they should consider engaging a coach:
Why Many Pastors & Church Workers Don’t Engage in Coaching
1. A Culture of Self-Reliance in Ministry
Many pastors are formed (implicitly or explicitly) to believe:
- “I’m the one who helps others – I shouldn’t need help.”
- “If I were stronger spiritually, I wouldn’t struggle like this.”
This creates a quiet resistance to being coached. Coaching requires humility and vulnerability – two things that feel risky when you’re expected to be the “spiritual leader.”
2. Confusion About What Coaching Actually Is
Coaching is often misunderstood as:
- Consulting (“Tell me what to do”)
- Counseling (“Fix my problems”)
- Mentoring (“Give me your wisdom”)
Because of this, pastors may think:
- “I already have that.”
- “I don’t need another program.”
But coaching is different – it’s about facilitating discovery, alignment, and action, not giving answers.
3. Time Poverty and Overload
Most pastors live in a constant state of:
- Urgency
- Interruptions
- Emotional demand
Coaching can feel like:
- “One more meeting”
- “Another thing on my calendar”
Ironically, the very thing that could create clarity and margin is often avoided because of the lack of it.
4. Fear of Exposure
Coaching surfaces:
- Misalignment
- Burnout
- Hidden struggles
- Identity questions
Many leaders quietly wonder:
- “What if I don’t like what I discover?”
- “What if this reveals I’m not doing as well as people think?”
So, avoidance becomes a form of self-protection.
5. Theological Misunderstandings
Some pastors subtly believe:
- “The Word & Sacraments, along with prayer should be enough.”
- “Relying on coaching might mean I’m not trusting God.”
But this creates a false divide between:
- Spiritual formation
- Practical growth tools
In reality, coaching can be a means through which God works when viewed through the lens of Luther’s teaching on vocation
6. Lack of Exposure or Modeling
Many pastors have:
- Never been coached
- Never seen coaching modeled well
- Never been invited into it in a compelling way
If it’s not part of their formation, it rarely becomes part of their practice.
Why Pastors & Church Workers Need Coaching
1. To Re-anchor in Identity (Not Just Role)
Ministry easily distorts identity:
- “I am what I produce.”
- “I am what people think of me.”
Coaching helps leaders return to:
- Their ultimate identity in Christ
- Their unique identity of God’s workmanship, gifting and design
Without this, burnout and insecurity grow.
2. To Create Space for Reflection (Which Ministry Rarely Allows)
Pastors spend most of their time:
- Speaking
- Responding
- Leading
They have very little time for:
- Processing
- Reflecting
- Listening deeply
Coaching creates intentional space to better:
- Discern God’s leading
- Notice patterns
- Make wiser decisions
3. To Move from Reaction → Intention
Without coaching, many leaders live in:
- Reaction mode
- Crisis management
- Survival leadership
Coaching helps shift toward:
- Clarity of calling
- Intentional leadership
- Purpose-driven action
4. To Address Burnout at the Root (Not Just Symptoms)
Most solutions to burnout are:
- Behavioral (take a day off)
- Temporary (short breaks, vacations, sabbaticals)
Coaching goes deeper into:
- Identity misalignment
- Boundary issues
- Emotional health
- Internal narratives
This aligns closely with holistic care of one’s heart, soul, mind, and body.
5. To Increase Leadership Effectiveness
Coaching strengthens:
- Self-awareness
- Emotional intelligence
- Decision-making
- Managing conflicts
- Communication
Which directly impacts:
- Staff health
- Congregational culture
- Mission clarity
Healthy leaders create healthy systems.
6. To Become Multipliers, Not Bottlenecks
Many pastors and ministry leaders unintentionally become:
- The center of everything
- The answer for everyone
Coaching helps leaders:
- Empower others
- Ask better questions
- Develop people instead of just directing them
This is essential for sustainable ministry.
7. To Align Calling with Actual Life
There’s often a gap between:
- What a pastor believes they’re called to
- What their daily life actually reflects
Coaching helps bridge that gap:
- Clarifying priorities
- Aligning time and energy
- Living vocation more fully in all stations of life
The Deeper Reality
At its core, resistance to coaching is often about this tension: “Can I be both a leader and someone who is still being formed?”
The Gospel answer is yes.
- You are already secure in Christ
- And you are still being shaped
Coaching simply creates intentional space for that ongoing formation process to occur.
Ultimately, coaching is not a sign that a pastor is failing – it’s a commitment to faithfully steward their calling with greater clarity, health, and intentionality. Interested in finding out more about coaching or engaging a coach yourself? If so, check out the Lutheran Coaching Network’s directory of coaches to find out more and connect with one of our network’s amazing coachesfor a conversation to help you discern if coaching is right for you.