• Recognizing that every person is a unique creation of God, and we will encourage each student to live into their special calling with passion and intentionality.

• We adhere to and practice the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics.

• We will use the ICF Core Competencies (updated October 2019) and the ICF Definition of Coaching as the basis of our teaching and training.

• We will adhere to the ICF Program Accreditation Code of Conduct.

• We will practice a coaching mindset in our teaching and training and seek to instill that perspective in our students.

• Although we will accept all qualified students, we are specifically interested in equipping leaders in churches, judicatories, and faith-based organizations to use coaching skills in their present and future settings.

• We will assist students to apply a coaching mindset in their present place of service.

SCT 101—INTRODUCTION TO COACHING

8 classes, 16 hours

Option One:  Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 ET/5:30 to 7:30 CT, January 14 to March 4. Instructors:  Ircel Harrison, ACC, and Steve Roper, ACC

Option Two:  Thursdays, 11 to 1 ET/10 to Noon CT, January 9 to February 27. Instructors: Ircel Harrison, ACC, and Beth Kennett, PCC

Participants will learn, as well as practice, basic skills in coaching based on the International Coaching Federation Core Competencies. Topics include ethical practices in coaching, developing a coaching presence, active listening, asking good questions, and cultivating client learning and growth. In-class and out-of-class peer coaching will be provided as part of the learning experience.

No prerequisite training required.

Fee: $695. A deposit of $150 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

REGISTER HERE

SCT 111—A COACH APPROACH TO SUPERVISION

Dates and times for next offering to be determined.

4 weeks, 8 hours

Instructor: Laura Stephens-Reed, PCC

Most pastors enter ministry expecting to do the frontline work of preaching, teaching, and providing pastoral care, with a side of meetings. But once they are in their contexts, they realize that they have significant responsibilities for other full-time or part-time staff. Not all seminaries prepare ministers-in-training to perform those responsibilities well, and there are few supervisory resources available to pastors who lead smaller churches and/or who want to build a collaborative staff culture. This class can equip pastors for the hard, holy work of supervising staff. Participants will learn the basics of coaching and their usefulness in supervision (as well as the limits of coaching in supervision, given the power dynamics of staff relationships), discover their supervision style, and construct their own coach approach to supervision through assessments, discussion around specific aspects of building and supporting a staff, and case studies brought from the participants’ own contexts.

Note that this class is open to those seeking ICF credit toward a credential or credential renewal and to pastors who are not and do not plan to become credentialed coaches.

ICF core competencies addressed in this class include establishing and maintaining agreements, cultivating trust and safety, listening actively, evoking awareness, and facilitating client growth.

Fee: $350. A deposit of $75 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

SCT 201—THE BEING AND DOING OF COACHING

Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 ET/5:30 to 7:30 CT--January 14 to March 4

8 weeks; 16 hours

Instructor: Charity Roberson, ACC

What is the difference between a coach and a mentor, supervisor, or counselor? How does a coach show up in a relationship? Using the ICF core competencies, we will focus on the essence of coaching in your leadership and the essence of being a coach. This class is a deep dive in helping the learner to embody the role of coach that includes demonstrating ethical practice, embodying a coaching mindset, establishing and maintaining agreements, cultivating trust and safety and maintaining presence. This class will focus on the skills of communicating effectively by listening actively and evoking awareness in the client. Participants will learn skills to facilitate and measure client growth.

You will hone your skills as a coach in this class as each session will end in formal observation with feedback of your coaching along with partnering outside of class to practice coaching.

NOTE: This course combines content that was formerly offered as SCT 201 and SCT 202.

Requirement: Participant must have completed at least 16 hours of coach training.

Fee: $695. A deposit of $150 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

REGISTER HERE.

Wednesdays, 2 to 4 ET/1 to 3 CT, January 15 to February 5

4 classes, 8 hours

Instructor:  Laura Stephens-Reed, PCC

Have you discovered that you love to coach and that you want to do it more? Have you decided to build a coaching practice, but you're not sure how to go about it? This class will help participants establish a mindset and practices needed to design a sustainable business. Topics include understanding the three roles of an entrepreneur, identifying a coaching purpose and niche, setting up useful habits and systems, marketing, establishing fruitful coaching relationships, managing time effectively, goal setting, and tracking finances.

Requirement: Participant must have completed at least 16 hours of coach training.

Fee: $350. A deposit of $75 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

REGISTER HERE

SCT 302—COACHING TEAMS: COMPETENCIES

Dates and times for next offering to be determined.

4 weeks, 8 hours

Instructor: Ircel Harrison, ACC

Participants will learn how to apply coaching skills to working with teams. How can one use coaching skills for team development, learning, accountability, and adding value? Participants will:

• Learn the difference between a group and a team and key characteristics of each.

• Learn how to use a coach approach in leading a team.

• Identify team coaching skills.

• Be introduced to the practice of serving as a coach for a team according to ICF Team Coaching Competencies.

The ICF Core Competencies and the ICF Team Coaching Competencies will provide the structure for the course. Resource is The Coaching Leader: Coaching Groups and Teams (available here); purchase not required.

Requirement: None

Fee: $350. A deposit of $75 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

REGISTER HERE.

Thursdays, 2 to 4 PM ET/1 PM to 3 PM CT, February 6-27—8 hours

Instructor: Beth Kennett, PCC

Group coaching involves any group of individuals, whether they know one another and differ in their needs and ultimate aims. In group coaching, the focus is on the individual and the growth of the individual. The synergy of the group is used to support the individual group member. In this course we will explore practices in working with and coaching groups and with what groups you may be interested in engaging. We will function as a group and experience group coaching.

Fee: $350. A deposit of $75 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

Requirement: Participant must have completed at least 16 hours of coach training.

Register here.

SCT 305—USING ASSESSMENTS AND TOOLS IN COACHING

Dates and times for next offering to be determined.

4 weeks, 8 hours

Instructor: Charity Roberson, ACC

How do you help a client to gain new perspectives? How does your personality as a coach shape the way you experience the world, including your clients? How can you effectively use tools and assessments in coaching while keeping the process client centered. This class will provide tools for coaches to understand themselves more clearly and train them to use these tools with their clients. Participants will receive assessments using the five-factor model of personality, the enneagram, conflict styles, and tools for clarifying values. This class is designed to help the coach grow in their understanding of themselves while learning how to use these same tools with clients.

Requirement: Participant must have completed at least 16 hours of coach training.

Fee: $350. A deposit of $75 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

REGISTER FOR 305

SCT 306—COACHING WITH COMPASSION: A STRATEGY FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT

Dates and times for next offering to be determined.

4 weeks, 8 hours

Instructor: Ircel Harrison, ACC

Using Helping People Change (available from Amazon and other online vendors) as a resource and applying ICF core competencies, participants will learn a process of coaching leaders to create and pursue a plan for intentional change. Practice and feedback will further develop coaching skills. At the end of the course, participants will be able to: practice the Coaching with Compassion model for leadership coaching; understand a model for intentional change; complete exercises that facilitate developing a personal vision, identifying one’s values, developing a personal learning plan, and practicing self-management; learn to use these exercises in a coaching relationship; and consider ways to use coaching with compassion in an organizational setting.

Fee: $350. A deposit of $75 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

Requirement: Participant must have completed at least 16 hours of coach training.

REGISTER FOR 306

SCT 308—COACHING FOR RESILIENCE

Dates and times for next offering to be determined.

4 weeks, 8 hours

Instructor: Laura Stephens-Reed, PCC

We live in a world marred by divisiveness, exhaustion, and trauma. To move through it with a sense of wellbeing, we must develop resilience. In this course we will define what resilience is (and isn’t) and what the barriers are to it. We will then cover concepts related to resilience – authenticity, agency, and self-care – as well as a range of tools that can bolster each of these constructs. This class will prepare coaches to help their coachees explore both their being and their doing through the ICF Core Competencies of cultivating trust and safety, maintaining presence, listening actively, and evoking awareness. The course material will provide coaches with frameworks for working with coachees in building resilience and allow coaches to stock their toolkits for furthering their own resilience.

Requirement: Participant must have completed at least 16 hours of coach training.

Fee: $350. A deposit of $75 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

Register here.

Thursdays, 1 to 3 ET/2 to 4 CT, March 20 and 27

2 classes, 4 hours

Instructor, Laura Stephens-Reed, PCC

For a client to get the most value from a coaching session, there must be a clear agreement established at the beginning of each call and a fully formed action plan at the end that hearkens back to that agreement. In this class we will explore in depth the various aspects of both bookends, the reasons why they are important, and different ways they might be expressed. We will also engage in coaching practice so that participants can get real-time feedback on their openings and closings. This course is open to all coaches and is particularly recommended for those working toward an ICF credential, as the two core competencies we'll focus on (3: establishes and maintains agreements and 8: facilitates client growth) are key to passing a performance evaluation.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Tuesdays, 2 to 4 ET/1 to 3 CT—January 7 to February 25—16 hours

Instructor, Beth Kennett, PCC

Participants will both coach and provide feedback for others based on the ICF Core Competencies. Participants will receive written feedback on at least three coaching conversations, and further develop their own identities as professional coaches.

Requirement: Participant must have completed at least 32 hours of coach training.

Fee: $695. A deposit of $150 holds your spot. Remainder can be paid monthly.

REGISTER HERE.

Level 1 accredited providers administer a final performance evaluation in a formal testing environment. The final performance evaluation must contain an actual observation of coaching at least one half-hour (30 minutes) to one hour in length which is graded as a final performance evaluation.

The student will submit a recording and transcript of an actual coaching session. Please see “Summit ACC Performance Evaluation Tips” on Basecamp or here for guidelines.

The cost of a Performance Evaluation is $225. Student will receive a copy of the written assessment.

Prerequisite: The student must have completed ten (10) hours of mentoring coaching with Summit Coach Training.

For additional information, please contact Laura Stephens-Reed.

Click HERE for Performance Evaluation Tips.

REGISTER HERE.

COACHING SUPERVISION GROUP

Monthly January to April 2025

Two Options—Choose the one that fits your schedule: 

Monday Group, Noon to 1:00 pm ET/11:00 am to Noon CT—January 13, February 10, March 10, April 7

Tuesday Group, Noon to 1:00 pm ET/11:00 am to Noon CT—January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8

Facilitator:  Ircel Harrison, ACC.

• Summit Coach Training (SCT) will offer a coaching supervision group as a pilot project beginning in August 2024 and will be evaluated at the end of this offering.

• The group will meet for 60 minutes once a month for four months.

• There will be no charge for this group.

• The group will be open to any SCT coach in training or Pinnacle Associate.

• Each participant must have at least one active coaching client.

• Participants will receive credit for one CCE unit (core competencies) from SCT for each hour of attendance. Up to ten CCEs in coaching supervision can be used for credential renewal (see below)

Benefits:

• Provides ongoing practice reflection for both SCT coaches in training and Pinnacle associates who are involved in coaching.

• Offers SCT the opportunity to assist new coaches in their professional development.

• Models the importance of coaching supervision for the coaching practitioner.

• Exhibits SCT’s commitment to on-going support for coaches in training and new coaches.

• Offers CCEs that can be used by ICF credentialed coaches for credential renewal.

To register, click HERE.

Dates to be determined.

Mentor Coaching for an ICF Credential consists of coaching and feedback in a collaborative, appreciative and dialogued process based on an observed or recorded coaching session to increase the coach’s capability in coaching, in alignment with the ICF Core Competencies.

Purpose

Mentoring provides professional assistance in achieving and demonstrating the levels of coaching competency and capability demanded by the desired credential level.

Mentor Coaching should take place over an extended time (three-month minimum) in a cycle that allows for listening and feedback from the Mentor Coach while also allowing reflection and practice on the part of the individual being mentored.

Each participant will receive a minimum of 10 hours of mentor coaching.

Group Description:

• Group size:  maximum 8 participants

• Six one-hour monthly meetings as a group (6 group meetings)

• Four individual meetings with each participant, within a 12-month period (we will review two recorded sessions and analyze together).

• If a participant prefers to do individual mentor coaching, that is an option at an increased fee structure for a minimum of 10 hours.

Fee:  $1500 (for SCT participants)

Register Here

Students may complete SCT 101 (16 hours), SCT 201 (16 hours), SCT 401 (16 hours), and 16 hours at the 300 level (electives) and receive the Summit Coach Life Coach Certificate. These hours can be used to apply for the ACC (Associate Certified Coach) credential through the International Coaching Federation.

Students who wish to receive a Level 1 Certificate must have completed at least 64 hours of coach training, ten hours of mentor coaching, and an approved performance evaluation of a coaching session. Level 1 has built into the program the education hours, mentor coaching and performance evaluation required to earn an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Credential. Someone who has completed this program can submit their program certificate and coaching experience hours to ICF in the credential application. Once the application review process is complete, the candidate completes the ICF Credentialing Exam. The cost and time in the application process is reduced.

Students wishing to take an a la carte approach will receive a certificate of completion for each course successfully completed to use for ICF certification or for coach-specific continuing education hours.

Beth Kennett is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentialed by the International Coach Federation (ICF) and is an ordained minister with standing in the United Church of Christ. Beth is the coordinator of coaching services at the Center for Congregational Health; and has experience as pastor, educator, denomination staff, and conflict management facilitator; and has worked in the areas of Faith and Vocation and leadership development training.

Beth holds a Master of Divinity degree, as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music education and Flute Performance, with continuing education in a variety of topics including the Workplace Big 5 Personality Assessment, Advanced Coach Training, Conflict Management and Mediation, Intentional Interim Ministry, and Facilitating Difficult Conversations.

Beth serves as Director of Education for Summit Coach Training.

Outside of work, Beth enjoys an array of activities from creatively playing with textiles to make new things by knitting and sewing, enjoying playing music with friends, and engaging in training and competing in track and field events in the Senior Games.

Ircel Harrison is an ACC credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation and a Certified Professional Life Coach with the Professional Christian Coaching Institute. He has over 1000 hours of experience coaching individuals and groups in several settings. He is Associate Supplemental Professor of Missional Theology for Central Seminary (Shawnee, KS) and has taught coaching classes there. Ircel is certified to administer several assessments, including the Peoplemap, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Disc Personality Profile, the Innovator’s DNA Assessment, and the Social+Emotional Intelligence Profile.

Ircel is co-author (with Mark Tidsworth) of Disciple Development Coaching©, author of The Coaching Leader: Coaching Groups and Teams, and a frequent contributor to Christian Coaching Magazine. He is an affiliate member of the Institute of Coaching and a member of Christian Coaching Network International.

Ircel serves as Program Manager for Summit Coach Training.

When not teaching or coaching, Ircel spends wonderful times with grandchildren, reads, walks the neighborhood, and supports Nashville SC soccer.

Charity Roberson is an ACC certified coach with the International Coaching Federation. Charity has over 500 hours of individual and group coaching experience. Charity is also a certified consultant with the Center for Congregational Health.

She is an ordained Baptist minister serving in multi-vocational ministry with experience in the pastorate, young adult ministry, denominational work including leadership development, conflict management and transitional ministry. Her doctoral work focused on women and issues surrounding gender in ministry leadership. She is certified to administer the Workplace Big 5 Personality Assessment and is a published author.

Outside of work, Charity enjoys kayaking, cycling, and traveling.

Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed attempts to be faithful to this call primarily through coaching clergy and congregations across the ecumenical spectrum. She has been credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and as a Certified Mentor Coach. An ordained minister since 2002, she has served congregations in a variety of settled and interim roles, including pastor, associate pastor, and minister with age-specific groups. She is affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists and holds Ministerial Standing in the Alabama-Northwest Florida Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and she is a member and contract employee of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In addition, Laura has been on staff and consulted with congregations in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church and has coached pastors in seventeen denominations. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee and her Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at Lexington Theological Seminary.

Laura lives in Newport, Alabama, with her husband Matt, a United Methodist pastor, and their eight-year-old son. She loves going to the playground, reading, watching tv and movies, and cheering on SEC football teams.

Rev. Steve Roper is an ACC credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation and is a Pinnacle Leadership Associate. Steve believes strongly in the value and potential of every person. This value has informed and guided his 4+ decades of ministry experience. He seeks to help others understand their own giftedness and build upon their potential. Helping clients explore their own unique, next,best steps in life provides focus to his coaching. Steve has served local churches as a staff member, both Baptist and United Methodist. However, it has been his 32 years at a denominational level, working on College and University campuses, that has formed much of his career interest in assisting and nurturing Next Generation leaders.

Fees for all courses are clearly provided on the Pinnacle Leadership Associates website. Students may pay the full fee when registering or pay a deposit. A deposit holds a student’s place in a course--$150 (16-hour course) or $75 (eight-hour course). The balance may be paid monthly but must be paid before the conclusion of the course. Credit will not be offered, and certificate of completion will not be provided if student does not pay his/her fees within 30 days of end of course.

If a student withdraws prior to the first day of a class, all funds paid will be refunded. The student may choose to have any fees paid transferred to another course as a deposit or payment. If a student withdraws after class begins, fees will not be refunded, but the student may enroll in an equivalent class without cost.

Disciple Development Coaching: Christian Formation for the 21st Century by Mark Tidsworth and Ircel Harrison

Disciple Development Coaching© is a highly relational process designed to empower all Christians to find their places in the world. It also locates the responsibility for the church's mission in the hands, hearts, and minds of all disciples. The coach and the disciple ask, listen, explore, design, commit, and support in a shared experience that has a natural move back and forth. The book explains the biblical, historical, and psychological roots of coaching and the steps in the DDC model.

Disciple Development Coaching: Christian Formation for the 21st Century (Korean Edition) by Mark Tidsworth and Ircel Harrison

Disciple Development Coaching© is a highly relational process designed to empower all Christians to find their places in the world. It also locates the responsibility for the church's mission in the hands, hearts, and minds of all disciples. The coach and the disciple ask, listen, explore, design, commit, and support in a shared experience that has a natural move back and forth. The book explains the biblical, historical, and psychological roots of coaching and the steps in the DDC model.

The Coaching Leader: Coaching Groups and Teams by Ircel Harrison

How effective are you in leading groups and teams? In The Coaching Leader: Coaching Groups and Teams, Ircel Harrison provides the resources for a leader to effectively apply coaching skills in these settings. Helping the leader to leverage the synergy in the gathering, these skills allow the whole to become much more than its individual parts. When effectively facilitated, groups and teams can accomplish great things. Coaching leaders help make this happen.

This resource explores how the Pinnacle Disciple Development Model© and its six movements—ask, listen, explore, design, commit, support—can be used with groups and teams, as well as their various permutations—task forces, study groups, ministry teams, and committees. The primary goal is to encourage, empower, and mobilize individuals to work together in a common cause.

Illustrations and reflection questions help in applying the ideas and skills to the leader’s own situation. The Coaching Leader is a valuable resource for both individual and group study.