CHASKA, MN (April 22, 2016) — Covenant pastors gathered in Chaska, Minnesota, last week for fellowship, training and professional development as part of the Coaching of Pastors (CO-OP) program. The group consisted of current CO-OP coaches as well as potential future coaches.

The three-day retreat’s purpose was to cast a fresh vision for CO-OP and to strengthen the skills of current and future coaches with training sessions led by Heidi Wiebe, CO-OP general director; Russ Carlson, CO-OP management team; and John Wenrich, director of Congregational Vitality.

CO-OP is a ministry of the ECC’s Start and Strengthen Churches mission priority. Churches that participate in the congregational vitality journey are encouraged to enroll their pastors in CO-OP, but pastors who are not formally “walking the vitality pathway” are welcome to apply as well. CO-OP uses an 11-step process to match coaches with pastors who desire to improve their strategic ministry planning.

While many Covenant pastors have strong spiritual and relational gifts, it is estimated that only about ten percent are naturally gifted in strategic ministry thinking and planning. The CO-OP ministry seeks to strengthen the strategic skills of our pastors to better serve our churches. Pastors in the program can utilize a coach over a 12 to 18 month period to be better equipped as strategic leaders.

To learn more about CO-OP and to access an application, click here.