Discipleship Ministries Announces New Certificate in Discipleship Coaching

NASHVILLE, Tenn. February 26, 2025/Discipleship Ministries/ - Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church is excited to introduce the Certificate in Discipleship Coaching, a new initiative developed in partnership with Excellence in Ministry Coaching (EMC3 Coaching). This program is designed to create trained discipleship coaches who can help congregations recapture a spirit of accountable discipleship and effectively develop intentional discipleship systems and pathways.

Empowering Local Congregations

The Certificate in Discipleship Coaching provides a way for individuals to help churches recapture the Wesleyan emphasis on accountable discipleship. The training is designed with a focus on discipleship systems and needs in small to medium-sized churches. However, large churches can also benefit from the focus on relationship-building throughout the training. A key goal of the initiative is to create opportunities for both laity and clergy to become certified as discipleship coaches so that every church has an opportunity for a member to complete the training and support pastoral leadership in creating an ongoing culture of discipleship.

The program is rooted in United Methodist theology and concepts of active discipleship. Discipleship Ministries believes that any church in the Christian family would benefit from a lay member or pastoral leader completing the program, and anyone may enroll. The training is primarily online, and there are in-person training options for districts and conferences interested in hosting larger groups.

Comprehensive Training Approach

Phase 1 training includes twelve hours of instruction. These sessions are available in two formats:

• Virtual Training – Conducted through interactive webinars hosted by EMC3 Coaching.
• In-Person Training – Available upon request by districts, annual conferences, or other hosting groups, using the same content as the virtual sessions.

Certificate and Ongoing Development

Upon completing the required training, participants will receive a Certificate in Discipleship Coaching from Discipleship Ministries. This certificate will be recognized for twelve months after completion of the training, with opportunities to renew the certificate in subsequent years. This Certificate in Discipleship Coaching is a new and unique way for members of a congregation to be equipped for leadership within their local church, with the ability to bring a focus on discipleship into any committee meeting or visioning process.

Discipleship coaches can serve their congregations in a variety of roles, including, but not limited to:

• Developing a culture of discipleship
• Effectively defining discipleship in the congregation’s context
• Offering connectional coaching for newcomers and guests
• Providing guest follow-up coaching
• Coaching individuals as they mature in their discipleship journey.
• Providing ministry and mission coaching
• Offering leadership development coaching
• Providing conflict coaching
• Supporting pastoral and lay leaders in discipleship efforts

By having a congregation member trained in discipleship coaching, churches can enhance spiritual growth, leadership development, and missional engagement, strengthening their communities in ways that reflect transformational discipleship.

This certificate is separate from professional certifications overseen by GBHEM and is not equivalent to becoming a certified coach from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This certificate in discipleship coaching is foundational in terms of basic approaches to coaching practices coupled with discipleship. The certificate of completion for the course is issued by Discipleship Ministries upon confirmation of training requirements from EMC3.

Participant Registration and Fees

Participants may register for training through a EMC3 at the link below:

Register Today!

The twelve hours of training and certificate are available for $150 per person. This includes all course materials, instructors, and access to tools like the Real Discipleship Survey. As Phase 1 of this exciting new program launches, Discipleship Ministries is pleased to offer the course at half price ($75) for the first 500 participants. This discount is currently reflected in the total for registration.

Looking Ahead

This initiative represents a significant step forward in strengthening discipleship within The United Methodist Church. Discipleship Ministries believes every church can become more vital by establishing an intentional discipleship system or pathway for the congregation. By equipping local leaders with coaching skills, Discipleship Ministries and EMC3 Coaching empower churches to build a culture of transformational faith, leadership, and mission engagement.