What is the Coaching for Churches 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 congregation may apply for more than one coaching grant?
Is there a deadline for submitting proposals?
Are there any reporting requirements?
What are the practices SCE has identified as essential to congregational health?
What are the ten characteristics of a healthy congregation as identified by the CRCNA Board of Trustees?
What else do I need to know?
What is the Coaching for Churches program?
It’s an opportunity for two ministry leaders in the congregation to work with an SCE coach focusing either on:
1. Leadership coaching: This gives assistance to ministry leaders as they guide the congregation.
(e.g. staff development; developing leaders; enhancing the leadership team; conflict resolution)
2. Process coaching: This gives assistance in helping the church sort out its current reality of
ministry and identifies one to two priority areas to focus on. (e.g. vision for the church; new
outreach ideas; budget planning/challenges; discernment process – who are we?)
The ministry leaders will be both the pastor and one other leader OR if the church is currently without a pastor, two leaders.
Submitting a grant application doesn’t mean a congregation is unhealthy. Not at all! It means that it desires to explore, with a coach, ways in which to renew or refresh its vision and/or its ministries.
Upon approval of the proposal, a list of SCE coaches will be sent to the grant coordinator. When a coach has been chosen, the SCE office will set things up - the pastor/ministry leader won't initially contact the coach. Ordinarily the coach will work with the pastor and one ministry leader for a period of one year.
Who is the program for?
It’s intended to assist smaller congregations in the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). A smaller congregation is any congregation that has 150 adult professing members or less—based on the data in the current Yearbook.
In order to receive a grant congregations are required to ordinarily be active participants in their classis and to contribute at least 10% of their denominational ministry shares.
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 ministry leaders 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. These congregations 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 churches grant application form.
• Complete the application form – answering all of the questions as requested.
• Designate one of the ministry leaders as the coordinator; if the proposal names two ministry
leaders, one of which is not a pastor, both must be a professing members of the congregation.
• 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 coordinator. The agreement must be signed by both the ministry leaders to be coached and the chair of council. The coordinator 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 determine 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 church are near each other) will take place between the ministry leaders and the coach. The coach will prepare reports after each session and will send copies to the SCE office, the participating ministry leaders, and the Home Missions Regional Leader. Please note that any confidential matters discussed between the coach and the ministry leaders 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 grant coordinator 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. Congregations are 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 at the beginning of the grant. When the coaching period is over, a final invoice will be sent to the church for any balance owed.
Are there situations where a congregation 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 churches proposals are considered twice a year. The deadlines for submitting them are March 1 and September 1. We ask that proposals are submitted electronically whenever possible. Receipt of proposals will be acknowledged with an email to the coordinator - 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 for the March 1 deadline by April 1 and for the September 1 deadline by October 1.
Are there any reporting requirements?
At the end of the grant year, the coordinator will submit a brief report of activities, outcomes, and learning.
Note: Upon approval of a grant, specific reporting information will be sent to the coordinator.
What are the practices SCE has identified as essential to congregational health?
1. Prayer—pray in every way and with as much participation as you can. Confess your sins. Thank God for
his gifts. Pray for each other. Pray for enemies. Intercede for your community, your country, and the
world. And especially, listen--listen for what God has to say to you. Then look at the other
nine characteristics of a healthy congregation for where you may need to change.
2. Developing a sense of purpose—and sacrifice for it; as you go forward, don’t try to do everything;
do what God has gifted you to do and what suits your context.
3. Looking outward—discover how God can use you for his loving purposes in your community and in
the world
What are the ten characteristics of a healthy congregation as identified by the CRCNA Board of Trustees?
1. Proclaim God’s Word with power and integrity
2. Assemble for worship in joyful awe
3. Receive the gospel promises in the sacraments
4. Nurture and teach members for discipleship
5. Center congregational life in prayer
6. Commit to evangelistic growth and church planting both locally and globally
7. Promote genuine loving fellowship
8. Advocate justice for the poor and the powerless
9. Encourage servant (or shepherding) leadership
10. Practice mutual accountability
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 the ministry leaders 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 churches 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
