Faculty for Coach Training
Laurie J. Ferguson
Laurie J. Ferguson’s vocational calling is to work with leaders who are seeking to transform themselves and their organizations in a time of difficult challenge. Focusing on building resilience and creating adaptive skills, she uses coaching, consulting, facilitation, and teaching to help people move forward in new ways. She brings a biblical and theological lens, along with training in organizational and personal change theory and group dynamics.
Dr. Ferguson has over thirty years of experience as a Presbyterian pastor, and is a licensed clinical psychologist. She is certified as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation. She has been coaching for over 18 years, and founded the first coach training program at Auburn Seminary. It is now housed at Columbia Seminary. She started the Loaves and Fishes coach training to enable more faith leaders to access training, and is committed to expanding the role of coaching for faith leadership and growth.
Dr. Ferguson received her M.Div. from Princeton, and her Ph.D from Adelphi University. She is a member of Hudson River Presbytery and lives in Rockland County, NY. More information is on her website: lauriejferguson.com.
Chip Low, PCC, ACTC, CMC
Chip is a Professional Certified Coach with Advanced Certification in Team Coaching through the International Coach Federation, a Certified Mentor Coach and Coach Trainer. Chip uses his coaching extensively, including as the Leadership Faculty and Conference Leader for CREDO (PCUSA) and as a Stewardship Coach for the Presbyterian Foundation. He trains and mentors coaches through Loaves & Fishes in preparation for ICF certification. Along with his 24 years as an ordained Presbyterian pastor, he coaches individuals and teams on a variety of topics including leadership formation, leading through transition, strategy development and implementation, working as groups and teams, financial leadership and development, and personal and professional transition. Through his company Compass Coaching LLC, Chip works with clients in religious, non-profit, and business settings and enjoys powerful conversations, engaging helpful resources, and developing actionable plans with clients that create lasting change and forward movement in clients’ desired directions. Find out more about Chip’s coaching and contact him at www.compasscoaching.net.
Revered Shelley Stanley Smith
Shelley is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Certified Mentor Coach (CMC). She is endorsed by the United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry as a Life Coach Chaplain. She earned her Master of Divinity degree at Palmer Theological Seminary, St. David's PA.
As a clergy member of the United Methodists of Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, she is appointed to extension ministry as a Leadership and Life Coach Chaplain.
Shelley provides career and life coaching for individuals, groups, and teams. She especially supports clergy and congregational leaders of various denominations as they develop strategies for ministry, leadership, or conflict resolution. Shelley provides coach training for ICF accredited training programs and mentors coaches in developing ICF core competency skills for certification.
Additionally, she provides professional and missional development coaching for participants as she collaborates with various seminary leadership programs and congregational mission projects.
As a clergy member of the GNJUMC, Shelley has served as the Senior Pastor at First United Church of National Park, NJ and the historic Ferry Avenue United Methodist Church, Camden, NJ. She serves in a number of leadership roles, including the Annual Conference Secretary.
“A note inside one of my kitchen cabinets reminds me: ‘God can dream a bigger dream than I can dream for myself.’ Coaching affords one the inspiration, motivation and courage to take the action necessary to realize those dreams."
She can be reached at www.shelleysmith.coach.
Janice Fitzgerald
Janice Fitzgerald is certified as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coach Federation and as a Certified Mentor Coach (CMC). She coaches highly motivated ministry leaders, denominational leaders and leadership teams and enjoys providing both individual and group mentor coaching.
A Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA), she earned her D. Min. degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, M.Div. from Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School, an M.S. in Pediatric Nursing from the University of Rochester and a B.S. in Nursing from SUNY Plattsburgh. Janice also completed Path 1 training with the United Methodist Church preparing her to coach leaders of new worshiping communities.
After a fulfilling career as the Nurse Manager of a pediatric intensive care unit, Janice began a second career in pastoral ministry and has been a Transitional Pastor for more than twenty of her years in ministry serving churches in the PC (USA), the United Church of Christ and the Reformed Church in America. She concurrently served as the Mediation Coordinator for the RCA’s Regional Synod of Albany for several years.
Princeton E. Abaraoha
Princeton E. Abaraoha is an Executive and Professional Coach supporting managers, executives, and professionals when they need to show some measure of grace in a stressful situation relating to their career, job, leadership or in personal situations.
Princeton holds a Master of Science, Leadership Organizational Development (MSLOD), Master Business Administration (MBA), Master of Divinity Degree (MDiv), is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and a Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching, University of Texas at Dallas.
Princeton is a long-time clergyman spanning over 40 years with global experience. He has over 17 years’ experience in the real estate and mortgage industry. In many years as a clergy he acted as a change agent, moving individuals, teams and organizations from a stagnant place to new ways of thinking, by facilitating the unleashing of individuals and groups potential to reach meaningful and important goals.
Princeton is the owner of EPA Coaching Resources. He lives in Arlington, Texas with his spouse and have three adult children (Obinna, Daniel and Esther).
Jihyun Oh
Deepening Curiosity, Growing Imagination, and Guiding Transformation
toward courageous integration of identity and purpose.
This is Jihyun's "why" for coaching.
She believes that situations of transition or crisis offer opportunities for growth if we can stay curious and imaginative. These opportunities help us to become more fully who we are meant to be. She is passionate about helping people discover their newly emerging selves... and then put action behind that discovery.
Jihyun is an ICF-trained coach, IDI Qualified Administrator, and Presbyterian minister based out of Louisville, Kentucky and Atlanta, GA.
Grace Kim
Grace is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and an ICF-certified coach (ACC). A native of South Korea, she finds her journey in ministries and leadership in churches as well as in 1001 New Worshipping Communities has been shaping not just her identity but also molding her own leadership style.
In addition to her ministerial responsibilities, Grace brings her insights on multi-layered, ever-changing community dynamics into her coaching. She wants to help leaders uncover and nurture their distinctive qualities within their communities, acknowledging that leadership is a dynamic and evolving journey.
Grace is particularly passionate about coaching leaders in multicultural settings. It is her joy walking alongside them as they navigate through the complexities of internal and external assumptions, fostering an environment where embracing one's cultural identity and vocation is not just encouraged but celebrated.
Grace received her M.Div. from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA, and an M.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Business. She lives in Bristol, TN with her husband and they have two young adult children.