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.

The Art of WellBeing is designed for leaders in ministry who wish to optimize personal wellbeing so that positive energy and creativity are supported and sustained, even in times of disruption and turbulence.  Group process and individual coaching sessions make use of inquiry and response to generate greater self-awareness and clarity about each participant’s overall wellbeing—spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational.   Each will discern and make choices which best fit their current ministry context and season of life.  By the end of the course, participants are able to design a personalized WellBeing Action Plan (aka Rule of Life for WellBeing)  that is specific and measurable, courageous and realistic. The result of disciplined small steps practiced over time creates a transformative path.

Topics Covered

•  The Practice of Receptivity: Creating small habits for restoration & renewal
• The Practice of Body Care: What needs to change in your patterns of eating, sleeping, & moving?
• The Practice of Connection: Simple ways to strengthen relationships with family, friends, & wise guides
• The Practice of We: The importance of community, hospitality, & the kindness of strangers in a sometimes lonely world
• The Practice of Creativity: Re-imagining the ordinary with playfulness, curiosity, & courage
• Crafting a Rule of Life: Creating awareness about rhythms, habits, patterns, responsibilities, & season of life
• The Power of Purpose: Identifying deeper meaning & gaining clarity about how life purpose contributes to overall wellbeing
• Practicing a Rule of Life: The transformative power for wellbeing of small steps, consistently chosen, over time

Vicki Loflin Johnson has been coaching laity, clergy, and judicatory leaders in ministry since 2015. A devoted life-long learner and teacher, she delights in the way the coaching process unleashes deeply creative and authentic transformation for all leaders who understand work as ministry. With coaching, she has found a natural fit and dynamic next step for her long-time passion of partnering with individuals and groups for discernment, decision, and action. During the COVID pandemic, and in response to her special interest in holistic wellbeing of body, emotions, spirit, and relationships, she created and piloted The Art of WellBeing as an invitation for gifted leaders to flourish in ministry.

More About Vicki:

• Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coach Federation
• Associate Trainer, Coach Approach Skill Training
• Transitional Interim Ministry Specialist
• Journey Partners Graduate (2-year training & certification in spiritual direction)
• 30 years of ministry experience in a wide variety of settings—small & middle sized churches, Clergy Couple Co-Pastorate, Associate Pastor, District Superintendent, & nine years as senior pastor of a growing, community-focused downtown church
• Yoga Instructor, 200-hour E-RYT
• Master of Divinity, Emory University, preaching focus with Fred Craddock
• Doctor of Divinity, Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., Leadership and Spirituality Focus with Lovett Weems, Thesis: Cultivating Resilience: Leadership Practice in Crisis and Transition
• Enjoys pilgrimage travel, healthy cooking, reading historical fiction, hiking, and snowshoeing
• Married to Roger with 7 children and 9 grandchildren

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ART OF WELLBEING

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.