What is the Coaching for Pastors program?
Who is the program for?
Why a program for coaching?
How does the funding work?
What do I have to do to submit a proposal?
What happens once the grant has been awarded?
How long does a grant last?
Are any matching funds required?
Are there situations where a pastor may apply for more than one coaching grant?
Is there a deadline for submitting proposals?
Are there any reporting requirements?
What else do I need to know?
What is the Coaching for Pastors program?
It’s an opportunity for an SCE coach to walk alongside a pastor as they focus on a topic of the pastor’s choosing. Any topic related to ministry can be explored. It’s important to know that the coach won’t give the pastor the answers but will help him/her discover.
Submitting a grant application doesn’t mean the pastor is unhealthy. Not at all! It means the pastor desires to explore, with a coach, an issue that’s important to him/her.
Upon approval of the proposal, a list of SCE coaches will be sent to the pastor. When the pastor has chosen a coach, the SCE office will set things up—the pastor won’t initially contact the coach. Ordinarily, the coach will work with the pastor for one year.
Who is the program for?
It’s intended to assist pastors of smaller congregations in the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). A smaller congregation is any congregation that has 150 active professing members or less—based on the data in the current Yearbook. If a pastor from a larger CRC congregation (over 150 active professing members) would like to work with an SCE coach, it can be arranged. However, the congregation would be responsible for 100% of the coaching costs. All coaching payments/expenses will be handled by the SCE office. The church will be billed at the end of the coaching period.
In order to receive a grant, the pastor’s congregation is required to ordinarily be active participants in their classis and to contribute at least 10% of their denominational ministry shares.
Pastors in congregations that are established, emerging, or a church plant (recognized by the CRC) are eligible for a grant.
Why a program for coaching?
In 2005, Synod stated that creating and sustaining healthy congregations would be our denominational priority. At that time Synod approved $10 in ministry shares for promoting healthy congregations, with a focus on smaller congregations. The SCE program has been put into place to distribute the allocated ministry shares. Health and renewal are vital to our congregations, both now and for the future. Coaching pastors is one avenue through which healthy congregations can be created and sustained.
How does the funding work?
SCE offers grants to smaller churches that wish to foster health or renewal through the process of coaching for the pastor. Pastors submit proposals to the SCE Implementation Team, which discusses them, shares them selectively for input by others, and considers them for approval.
What do I have to do to submit a proposal?
• Carefully read this entire overview document as it contains valuable information
needed when completing the Coaching for Pastors grant application form.
• Complete the application form – answering all of the questions as requested.
• Confirm that council has approved the proposal.
• Ensure that current Yearbook data has been submitted.
There is a completed sample application on the SCE website to assist you as you work on your proposal. www.crcrna.org/sce
What happens once the grant has been awarded?
A proposal agreement and instructions will be sent to the pastor. The agreement must be signed by both the pastor and the chair of council. The pastor is responsible for implementation of the agreement. The signed agreement and any revisions to the proposal, if required, along with a check for $250 (US/Can) are to be sent to the SCE office within 90 days. Failure to do so will result in the grant being reversed.
The coaching process will begin with the coach conducting an initial assessment—to explore what the coaching will focus on; the current situation in the church etc. Generally this will be done during an on-site/day-long visit by the coach. After this visit monthly phone meetings (or face-to-face meetings if the coach and pastor are near each other) will take place. The coach will prepare reports after each session and will send copies to the SCE office and the pastor. Please note that any confidential matters discussed between the coach and the pastor will not be noted in the coach’s reports or be made public in any way. Confidentiality, when needed, is assured.
At the end of the coaching period, the pastor will submit a brief report and a check for the balance of the church’s portion of the coaching fee. For details on fees click here.
How long does a grant last?
Generally the grant period is one year however since each coaching relationship is unique, this may vary. Extension of the one year period (for up to 3 months) may be requested, in writing to the SCE office, two months prior to the end of the coaching year. The “coaching year” can start at any time during the calendar year.
Applications for a grant renewal (coaching for another full year) will be considered. Ordinarily, first year applications will be given priority over applications to renew.
Are any matching funds required?
Yes. The pastor’s congregation is required to contribute 25% of the coaching cost – up to a maximum of $1,000 (US/Can). While it’s difficult to indicate in advance how much the coaching will cost, generally the contribution required from the church will be less than $1,000 (US/Can). SCE will cover the remaining 75%.
After the grant has been approved, payment of $250 (US/Can) is to be mailed to SCE along with the signed agreements. When the coaching period is over, a final invoice will be sent to the church for any balance owed.
Are there situations where a pastor may apply for more than one coaching grant?
Yes. Applications for a grant renewal (coaching for another full year) will be considered. Ordinarily, first year applications will be given priority over applications to renew.
There’s no required waiting period between grants. However, one grant must be completed before another proposal will be considered.
Is there a deadline for submitting proposals?
Yes. Coaching for Pastors proposals are considered six times a year. The deadlines for submitting them are January 1, March 1, May 1, July 1, September 1, and November 1. We ask that proposals are submitted electronically whenever possible. Receipt of proposals will be acknowledged with an email to the pastor - usually within 24 hours. If you haven’t heard from our office, please call to verify that the proposal was received.
The SCE office will send notice about grants awarded to applicants within one month of the due date.
Are there any reporting requirements?
At the end of the grant year, the pastor will submit a brief report of activities, outcomes, and learning.
Note: Upon approval of a grant, specific reporting information will be sent to the pastor.
What else do I need to know?
We strongly encourage you to contact the SCE office (877-279-9994 X0805 toll free) to discuss your proposal prior to the submission deadline. We’ve found preliminary consultation benefits pastors as they prepare their proposal. It has resulted in stronger proposals.
SCE program funding is approved each year by Synod.
The SCE Implementation Team will utilize the resources of CRCNA agency personnel for assisting churches in grant development, project implementation, and evaluation.
Information in Coaching for Pastors proposals and in reports to SCE may be used by SCE on its website, in its promotional materials, or in its reporting to the Board of Trustees of the CRCNA and/or to Synod. No names will be used. Nothing confidential is ever noted in any reports. No financial information will be shared outside of the SCE offices.
For further information please contact:
Lis Van Harten
SCE Director
at 877.279.9994 X 0805 or sce@crcna.org
