Naomi García, is a member of the Michigan Conference staff. An aspiring disciple rarely satisfied with the latest take on how The Holy One calls, moves, shapes, beckons, equips, comforts and companions; shuttling between the discipline of mind and the art of soul. Naomi is a facilitator intrigued and longing for inclusive inclusion; Consultant negotiating the wide spaces between meddling and staying home; Mediator stirred by the courage of truth-telling and re-discovering the edges of compassion; Coach channeling Curious George and Hiccup.
Deep listening, focused questioning, creating new awareness, challenging assumptions, moving toward action steps, accessing resources and following through are fundamental tools of a coach. Learning the skills to coach others can also help you grow in your own life, relationships, leadership abilities and ministry
How to Become a Coach
The Michigan Conference partners with Coaching4Clergy, an Accredited Coach Training Program through the International Coach Federation (ACTP - ICF). Courses are delivered in a combination of live, online classes (Zoom) and on-demand (asynchronous) courses.
See below for more information about each level of coaching and upcoming courses!
Basic Coach Training is 12 hours live by Zoom to get a taste for coaching and learn basic skills. You’ll be able to coach immediately.
Professional Coach Training
Michigan Conference coaches are highly trained, meeting instruction requirements of Professional Certified coaches. These requirements begin with five introductory courses on-demand (asynchronous) online (24 hours total), plus four quarters of courses (taken in any order). Each quarter (titled Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall) combines five live Zoom classes and four or eight hours of on-demand video courses (depending on the quarter).
Once you’ve completed these courses, you may be deployed as a coach for the Michigan Conference if you and the lead coach agree you are ready.
If you are interested in pursuing an ICF coaching credential (such as ACC, PCC or MCC), there are additional requirements, such as Mentor Coaching and logging the required hours of coaching experience. Mentor Coaching is not required of Michigan Conference coaches. Prerequisites for Mentor Coaching are the five introductory courses plus two quarters.
Basic Coach Training
Basic Coach Training is a starter class for those with no previous coaching experience who want to get started. A great place to "try on coaching" with no further obligation. Multiple sessions with multiple breaks. Live, virtual via Zoom. $30 registration. No prerequisite. Multiple breaks. Instructor: Naomi García
2022-2023 Basic Course Schedule
Thursdays, June 9 - June 30, 2022, 4:30-7:30 pm CT / 5:30-8:30 pm ET, four 3-hour sessions
Wednesdays, Oct. 19 - Nov. 2, 2022, 4:30-7:30 pm CT / 5:30-8:30 pm ET, four 3-hour sessions
Tuesdays, May 2-16, 2023, 8:30 am-1 pm CT / 9:30 am-2 pm ET, four 3-hour sessions
Asking the right questions is an essential part of being a coach. Basic coaching skills can dramatically improve your effectiveness, increase a leader’s impact in the faith community and the local community, and prepare ministry leaders to effectively coach each other in partnerships with peers. It is ideal for supporting friends, followers, leaders, helpers and supervisors. Basic Coach Training is for everyone engaged in life, decision-makers, and both paid and unpaid leaders. A coach-approach to life enhances ministries and relationships.
Participants in Basic Coach Training frequently discover new avenues of creativity in planning and problem-solving. Basic Coach Training is part of the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church strategy to create a coaching culture in our organizational and relationship systems.
Basic Coach Training is not required of Michigan Conference coaches or to complete coach training. However, Basic Coach Training counts toward any International Coach Federation (ICF) credential.
What to Expect
Basic Coach Training learners are equipped to start coaching immediately with budding confidence and competence. Participants learn and practice coaching theories and techniques through live virtual instruction, small group interaction and coaching practice demonstrations and feedback loops. Learner coaches being to craft their own coaching skills and style by
sharpening listening skills
honing the art of asking powerful questions
using artful language and direct communication to nurture the one-being-coached toward new awareness
coaching and being coached.
giving and receiving feedback.
networking and collaborating with other coaches.
In twelve (12) hours learners will:
Gain a strong understanding of coaching and the distinction between coaching and therapy, consulting and mentoring.
Develop core coaching skills that can be incorporated into the local church setting.
Receive a combination of coaching theory and practice.
Observe LIVE coaching.
Learn a Five-Step Coaching Model.
Professional Coach Training
Professional Coach Training is for learners to grow coaching skills.
This in-depth training develops leader effectiveness by empowering others to unlock their potential. Coaching is about bringing out the best in individuals, teams, and organizations. Instead of fixing or solving problems, coaching is a discovery-based process for sustainable results. Similar to athletic coaching, coaches build on the skills and talents already inherent in the ones being coached. However, professional coaching sessions always end with movement toward a specific next step. Learner coaches observe coaching, learn the principles of effective coaching, collaborate and share with co-learners, and put these lessons into practice!
Michigan Conference learner coaches meet the instruction requirements for the second tier of an International Coaching Federation credential.
Professional Coach Training is composed of three parts. All three steps are required to be deployed as a Michigan Conference coach.
Asynchronous Introductory Courses (24 hours), on demand: Five coaching introductory courses (24 hours total), at learner’s own pace. May be completed alone or at the same time as the initial quarter enrollment. Access to asynchronous courses is provided through the learning portal of coaching4clergy.com (or, its parent body, coaching4todaysleader.com.) Paid registration includes set of three textbooks in digital form. No experience required. No prerequisite. All 5 courses (24 hours total): $75
MiConference asynchronous course credit dependent on completing a 500-word reflection essay for each course.
4 quarters include 5 weekly 4-hour live Zoom courses plus one or two 4-hour asynchronous courses on demand (depending on quarter). Zoom courses include multiple breaks -- schedules over typical mealtime include an additional 30-min meal break.
No prerequisite for courses. No particular order is required. Quarter titles represent content; not weather season in which the quarter is scheduled.
Each quarter $525
Completing these four quarters meets the instruction requirements for the second-tier of the ICF credential, the Professional Certified Coach (PCC).
Take Quarters in any order. Quarter titles represent content; not weather season in which the quarter is scheduled.
2022-2023 Course Schedule
SUMMER Quarter
2022: June 13-July 11 (Mondays, 9 am-1:30 pm CT / 10 am-2:30 pm ET) plus 2 asynchronous courses
**Funding assistance may be available through your local congregation, ministry settings and district ministries
Mentor Coaching Course
Prerequisite: Completion of five introductory asynchronous courses plus any two quarters of Coach Training.
Meets the Mentor Coaching instruction requirements for an International Coaching Federation credential. It is not required, though highly recommended, of Michigan Conference coaches.
Mentor Coaching is a powerful way to further develop and hone your coaching skills and competency. It focuses on the coach’s readiness for a coaching practice as either an internal coach in an organization or an independent coaching business. Mentor coaching provides guidance in the following areas:
Professional Development
Building and developing a coaching practice
Incorporation of coaching/coaching methods into current setting
Feedback on your coaching skills
Improve/enhance your coaching competence
Personal Development
Strengthen personal foundation
Be mentored toward a coaching practice
Group Mentor Coaching Course format:
2 group sessions per course. Multiple breaks. Live, virtual via Zoom.
Each course includes two group sessions plus four 1-on-1 sessions.
2022-2023 Course Schedule
Thursdays May 5, 2022 and May 12, 2022. 9:00 am-1:30 pm CT / 10:00-2:30 pm ET
Tuesday January 18, 2023, and January 25, 2023. 11:00 am-3:00 pm CT / Noon-4:00 pm ET
Cost: $350.
Includes:
8 hours of group mentor-coaching
Everyone coaches. During the 8 hours, one coaches, one is coached, others observe. Everyone receives and gives feedback including the mentor-coach. The give-and-take of feedback conversations helps solidify the coach’s style and confidence.
Missing up to one hour of a group session is permitted to fulfill a mentor coaching requirement.
4 individual mentor-coaching sessions with the lead coach, an approved Coaching4Clergy mentor-coach.
Each individual mentor-coaching session is 45 minutes in length.
