*Ever wonder what, who, and where God is in ministry – or even the nature of this relationship because you have so much to do -24/7--- that feels like 30/10?

*Ever wonder what happened to the sweet little lady who helped you so much in getting started in your church and now won’t speak – and you can’t figure out what happened?  Or to the deacon/elder/bishop who seems downright hostile?

*Ever wonder how – in the name of all things holy - you will know when to leave or how to stay in your parish? Or when to retire and how, to where, doing what?

*Ever wish that really sexy parishioner were not quite so – especially when there is so much stress at home and you are not sure you are really appreciated there?

Mission                                             

It is the mission of the Clergy Leadership Education and Coaching Center to assist clergy, spiritual leaders, ordained and lay ministers of all faiths and their families, in being authentic, principled, peaceful, and healthy in all their relationships by providing training opportunities and professional coaching in the concepts and application of Bowen Family Systems Theory.

This center, a private practice, is owned by its sole proprietor, the Rev. Mary Catherine (Kitty) Bass, M.Div., MSW, LCSW.  Ordained as a community minister for integrative spiritual direction and ministry for earth, she offers confidential, professional services as a coach, integrative spiritual director, and supervisor for the application of Bowen theory.  Her practice is not affiliated with any religion, denomination, nor is she so supported.  Her work, therefore, addresses the functioning of emotional systems, the same for all religions.  Her practice does not discriminate according therefore to religion, race, creed, age, orientation, or gender.

Clergy Coaching      

All humans are “regulated” by their emotional system, which regulates physiology and intellectual functioning as well. The emotional system, however, is regulated by our belief system. A coaching relationship offers a context for that exploration, for learning about emotional process in self, family, and congregation.

Coaching is a one-on-one or small group or spouse/family, confidential, professional relationship that focuses on understanding without judgment, in a neutral, non-anxious environment, the exploration of how the spiritual is integrated in mind, body, and emotional functioning.

The coaching relationship focuses on individual responsibility for principled actions through offering a setting for discovery through the Presence of listening, questions, for the goals and work the minister decides is the individual right course of action.

Bowen theory provides the principles for understanding how each of us is regulated by our emotional system, the function of this process in our lives, in our human family and how this process is applicable to congregations as well as to society. The CLE&CC practice offers the following coaching opportunities for clergy to address:

  1. Personal concerns regarding health, well-being and stress management
  2. Family relationship issues including sessions with spouse, significant other and family members
  3. Congregational challenges including changes and moves, professional development, retirement, pastoral care, and church business issues, and 
  4. Integrative Spiritual Direction.  

Coaching, in the context of one’s family system, focuses on the individual needs, beliefs, personal faith and its unfolding in the person seeking a coaching relationship. Its focus is not diagnosis and treatment as in psychotherapy, nor is it mentoring, with the close personal relationship of a specific religious leader or pastor.

Coaching does not offer the evaluation and suggested solutions of consultation. Rather, coaching offers sacred space, time, a non-anxious atmosphere with one person, the coach being present to the other, listening, asking questions as one clarifies one’s journey through life and clergy ministry. Such an atmosphere offers an opportunity for spiritual direction to be discerned, goals accomplished, stress reduced, and for thinking with clarity to occur. All work between sessions and the outcome is the responsibility of the person seeking the coaching experience.

Call 910-289-2401 or email Kitty at marycb@intrstar.net  to schedule sessions in person either in Magnolia, or in Wilmington and for fee schedule. Following the first session, sessions may be scheduled by phone. (Availability of Web cam sessions is in process)