Questions to ask before choosing a lead pastor coach

1. What experience do you have that is relevant to my situation?

Listen for specifics: the kinds of leaders, churches and seasons the coach has worked with, and what they learned there. A famous name or a large client list tells you less than a clear account of similar work.

2. How do you work with a pastor to set goals?

A strong answer puts the pastor in charge of the goals and describes how progress becomes visible: a short written plan, regular check-ins, a way to notice when the goals need to change.

3. How will we decide whether this is a fit?

Good coaches expect an introductory conversation and are comfortable saying when they are not the right person. Be wary of pressure to commit before both of you have had time to decide.

4. What information is shared with a sponsoring board?

The answer should match what you would expect from a written agreement: progress on agreed goals, at agreed points, with the pastor's knowledge. The coach should also explain the limits of confidentiality plainly.

5. What is outside your scope?

Coaching is not counseling, therapy, legal advice or crisis care. A professional coach knows where their work ends and can describe when they would suggest another kind of help.

6. How are fees, length and review points agreed?

Fees and scope should be clear before the first session, in writing, along with how either side can pause or end the engagement.

7. Which credentials do you hold, and where can I check them?

If a coach names a credential, ask who issued it and how to confirm it. On Lead Pastor Coach, a credential appears on a profile only with its issuer and the date we checked it.

Record your own answers to these questions after each introduction. Comparing notes side by side makes the decision clearer.