The Academy of Artful Leadership helps gifted leaders continue to grow through hosted conversations around key themes in ministry, peer learning, and individual coaching. The outcome is greater clarity and calculated movement toward transformational congregational leadership.
The Academy utilizes a “coach approach” process, which means that instead of relying on instruction from a teacher or prescriptions from a consultant, a coach helps to mine the expertise and internal wisdom of congregational leaders. This “coach approach” process helps leaders discern the God-sized things that need to happen, develop a plan to get there, and celebrate with them when they do.
Roy Howard has served as a pastor, social worker, human rights advocate, counselor and group facilitator since 1978. He is currently a trained coach with the International Coaching Federation, a certified facilitator for Healthy Congregations, and a pastor with thirty three years experience. He is trained in family systems theory and has led several pastor groups in this method. Over the years Roy has applied his skills in a variety of settings with individuals as well as groups and congregations. His deep call is to be a generative person, facilitating the growth in practical skill and spiritual depth in those who work with him. In recent years, he has added his Enneagram knowledge to his coaching, counseling and group consultation.
He is a graduate of Florida State University (MSW), Emory University Candler School of Theology (MDiv) and Wesley Theological Seminary (DMin). Roy is currently completing training to be an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation. He enjoys bird-watching, hiking and long distance pilgrimage walking having completed the Camino de Santiago and the Camino Primitivo. Roy is married, with two adult daughters and a beloved dog Patrick.
Rev. Chris Holmes, PCC, has been coaching church leaders across many denominations since 2008, with over 1000 hours coaching laity, clergy, denominational leaders and bishops. In the United Methodist Church he leads the coaching team working with new district superintendents and directors of connectional ministry, as well as several conference leadership cabinets.
Chris authored, along with George Howard, the Coach Approach Skill Training (CAST) for ministry, which is an approved training program of the International Coach Federation. CAST has now trained over 1000 church leaders in the basic and advanced skills of coaching for ministry. He also is co-creator and faculty for Auburn Seminary’s coach training and author of The Art of Coaching Clergy, as well as many articles on coaching.
As a founding member of the Maryland Chapter of the International Coach Federation, Chris served as President from 2012-2014. Prior to coaching, he pastored churches for 26 years and served as District Superintendent of the Annapolis District in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Chris and Margaret have been married for over 35 years, have three grown children. Chris is an accomplished watercolor artist.
Contact Lynda Otte
Holmes Coaching Group
614-245-8813
lynda@holmescoaching.com