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Coaching in the SWWA Synod
What is coaching?
Coaching: Coaching is a relational alliance that leverages the art of deep listening, powerful questions and intentional exploration to produce awareness, change, and transformation for the client. In coaching, the client has agency, is the one naming the goals, designs action plans to meet those goals, and does 80% of the talking. Faith-based coaching (from a Christian lens) looks at each individual as beloved of God, believes that person has been specifically gifted by God, and helps the person discover how they are being invited by God to use these gifts in God's work of loving and healing the world.
How might one use coaching?
Coaching can be used for a myriad of opportunities, including but not limited to:
- Personal leadership growth
- Navigating conflict
- Discerning one’s call (to or from a church/institution)
- Accompaniment through times of transition
- Congregational/organizational transformation
Some specialty focused areas include:
- support during times of grief and loss
- support for Mission developers/redevelopers
- Stewardship coaching
- Clergy women/ group work
How much will coaching cost and how often do you meet?
The cost of coaching can vary anywhere from $50-$150 depending on the experience of the coach. Some congregations will help to cover the cost. (If you need help to offset some of the cost of coaching please reach out to Stefanie DeZarn (Synod Administrator) at stefanie.dezarn@swwasynod.org.
You will determine with your coach how many sessions you would like and how often to meet.
We hope you will find coaching to be a support to you in your role as either a Rostered or Lay leader.
Meet our Coaches in the SWWA Synod (placed in alphabetical order)
Charissa Carroll
Hi, I’m Charissa Carroll, a trained Life & Grief Coach who has experienced my own journey with grief, loss, and major life transitions. In my practice at Oliver’s Daughter, I provide a gentle, grounded, and human approach to coaching. Offering compassionate and soulful guidance so you can navigate grief, find support, and be seen. Together we will uncover and discover what is meaningful for you through conversation, deep listening and powerful questions.
Email: daughterofoliver@gmail.com
Website: www.Oliversdaughter.com
Sigi Helgeson, M. Div. M. Ed.
As a pastor with over 35 years of experience, I know first-hand the joys and struggles of ministry. I have served in multiple settings, in several congregations of all sizes, solo, on a staff, as a hospital chaplain and as a mental health counselor. I am excited to share with you the benefits of coaching as a way to care for yourself and your congregation.
It is a joy for me to walk alongside you as a coach. I am here to support your process with compassionate listening and powerful questions. Whether you are sorting through congregational conflict or navigating a transition, I look forward to hearing the wisdom you bring and share both the joy and pain of growth.”
David Hively
I am David Hively, a coach dedicated to empowering clergy and non-profit leaders in the critical work of leading with courage, authenticity, and impact. Currently, I serve on the pastoral team at Messiah Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington, and on the ELCA Coaching Ministry team. I operate from the core conviction that God is always in the business of making things new, and I love helping the Church use the power of emerging technology to share the life-changing Gospel.
My coaching lens is radically empathetic, drawing on deep experience as a redeveloper, part of a clergy couple, an adoptive parent, and a parent of a child with special needs.
I partner with you to quiet the institutional noise of "how it’s usually done" and explore how to lead from a place of generosity and compassion. My goal is to help you disrupt patterns of scarcity and co-create a leadership style that is resilient, sustainable, and truly your own.
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Mark Johnson
Hi, my name is Mark Johnson. I am an International Coaching Federation certified coach and have completed ELCA Level 2 Federation certified coach at the ACC Level. With 25 years training in stewardship, faith formation, and mission development, and 27 years experience as a pastor of smaller congregations, and interest and training in coaching going back to 2006, I look forward to coaching clients outside my congregational setting both individually and as teams.
I have also worked as a coach and coach trainer for both ELCA coaching and Luther Seminary’s FaithLead. I currently serve as pastor at Family of Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, Washington. I have served on both my synod’s congregational revitalization teams and ELCA teams in other synods.
I have passion, interest and experience helping transforming congregations. Throughout my time in ministry I have worked with Kennon Callahan’s material, Eric Law’s material, Family Systems Theory analysis of congregations, and was part of the Southwestern Washington Synod’s Imagine project for revitalizing congregations.
I am a second generation third career pastor. My wife and I have three adult children and eight grandchildren. I look forward to working with you to discover and fulfill God’s call in your life and in your community.
Molly Knutson-Keller
Molly Knutson-Keller is a life coach and Enneagram coach who supports people in living with greater self-awareness, clarity, and connection. She brings over 25 years of experience as an ELCA pastor, serving in parish, prison, and campus ministry.
Molly loves going deeper with people through 1:1 coaching. Through both individual coaching and group facilitation, she helps individuals and communities strengthen communication, deepen self-understanding, and care for the whole person—mind, body, heart, and spirit.
She lives in Olympia, Washington, with her partner, Doug. They delight in their two adult children and adore their two dogs.
Email: hello@mollykkcoaching.com
Website: www.mollykkcoaching.com
Becky Oswald
Hi! My name is Becky Oswald, a certified grief coach, grief educator and the owner of Journeys Grief Coaching, LLC. I'm dedicated to providing empathetic, compassionate and open-hearted grief support. With experience supporting children, teens, and adults in grief, I am committed to equipping both those who are grieving and those supporting them. My personal life experience of multiple losses has inspired my mission to foster authentic mourning in our grief avoidant culture. I am a remarried widow, mother of three and mom to one beautiful doggy.
Email: journeysgriefcoaching@gmail.com
Website: www.journeysgriefcoaching.com