Rev. Timoth - Professional Certified Coach

“We all have within us a deep wisdom, but sometimes we don’t know we have it.” 

~ Shakti Gawain


Some of the most rewarding experiences since adopting our three children have been the moments of sheer joy that come when witnessing our children accomplish something on their own. It could be as simple as learning to tie their shoes or something more complex such as Middle School math. 


With each occasion there comes a moment of decision on behalf of the parent. Do I tie my child’s shoes for them? Or, knowing they have been shown how to tie them before… do I help to empower them to use what they already know to accomplish it themselves?  


Perhaps you already know the answers to these questions. Many times we do. Many times we can draw on the wisdom we already posses in order to navigate a task or a challenge that is presented to us. 


So we encourage the child to do it themselves. And we celebrate their accomplishments with them. I absolutely love these celebrations as a parent. And in many ways, this is also the experience I enjoy now as a trained Professional Coach.

Now, you may be wondering; “What is a Professional Coach?”


Several years ago I was introduced to the field of Professional Coaching as part of a clergy leadership program. As a pastor serving alongside a church during a time when the landscape seems to be constantly shifting, I found coaching to be a most beneficial resource for my work and ministry. 


Exploring various aspects of ministry with my own coach, I was able to gain a broader perspective of what was at play. I was able to bring to the surface the wisdom that I already possessed as a tool to navigate various ministry challenges. And when I would find myself “stuck” on a particular issue, it was coaching that assisted in bringing me through and setting me on a healthier course toward success.



The experience I have had has been so incredibly rewarding that I have now undergone the training to become a coach myself thanks in large part to the Together We Thrive grant-funded training initiative. And now, I am able to incorporate the coaching techniques into my ministry as well as use them as a tool to help others. 


In a time such as this, as our churches are seeking to meet the needs of our communities in the midst of significantly challenging times, coaching is proving to be an excellent resource for many pastors, ministry staff, church leaders and congregations. Navigating life beyond the past three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, coaching provides the much-needed exploration into the gifts, skills and experience present in our churches that will only benefit the journey forward. 


With many churches concerned for what the future holds in regard to declining membership or aging properties, coaching can again assist in the visioning and decision-making processes necessary to move forward. And as our congregations are considering new ways to be church in the world today, coaching can serve as an invitation to explore and wonder together, as well as to determine next steps toward achieving their goals. 


Coaching is extremely multi-faceted and proves to be overwhelmingly beneficial to us as individuals, teams and churches. 


Val Hastings, founder of Coaching4Clergy and the visionary behind the clergy coaching program offered through Together We Thrive speaks of coaching in this way:


As a coach, I help people get the results they want by bringing out the best in them. I’ll also explain that coaching isn’t about fixing people or solving problems, rather coaching is a developmental or discovery based process. Similar to athletic coaches, we further develop the skill and talent already inherent in the people we coach.


To that I would add… Coaching is one way to bring to the surface the wisdom we already possess, though we may have forgotten is there. As a coach, I am here to assist you in being the best “you” you can be.


Since beginning the training in 2019, I have been able to add coaching skills to my “tool kit” for use in the shared work in which I now engage with you here at First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. It has become an integral part of the work that I do. 


As part of the agreement with the Together We Thrive grant program, I have provided “give back” coaching hours within the Southern New England Conference of the UCC, as a way of saying thank you for the funding I received as well as an opportunity to live into the covenant we often speak of within our denomination. And now that those hours are complete and I have received my Professional Coach Certification (PCC).


I share all of this with you as an invitation for when you may be seeking ways to navigate various aspects of their own life, finding yourself in need of that deeper wisdom.


I would like to extend this opportunity to you, members and friends of First Congregational Church, UCC. If you have something you would like to work on that might benefit from coaching, let me know and we will set up a time to meet… even if only as an opportunity for you to experience what coaching is like. There may be something in regard to your employment, your parenting, your faith… or other aspects of your life you would like to explore in coaching. The possibilities are endless… and you hold the key to their success.


Blessings and Peace,

Rev. Timoth Sylvia email