Shifting: From “Academic Advising” to Mentoring and Coaching

It is a privilege when someone invites Winebrenner Seminary into their spiritual journey. This invitation often follows a spiritual discernment process that helps the learner move forward as they follow Jesus into his mission field. Last week’s post explores the significance of this conversation.

As a learner moves forward in their academic journey they will occasionally encounter something unexpected. Sometimes these unexpected events are external to Winebrenner, such as a family crisis, health concerns, or a financial challenge. They also could encounter something internal to Winebrenner such as difficulties with a particular course, uncertainty about a schedule for an upcoming trimester, or challenges finding a good rhythm with a particular instructor.

Any of these occurrences could have a major effect on the individual’s spiritual journey. It’s at this point of intersection between the spiritual journey of the person and the academic journey of the student collide.

This series challenges the often-narrow view taken by seminaries and other academic organizations that focus primarily on the success of the person as a student. The name “academic advising” can limit the imagination when it comes to assisting someone in their spiritual journey, regardless of whether it has any direct influence over how they the person performs in a course.

The goal is to create space for someone to thrive in their spiritual journey. It’s encouraging to hear stories from faculty, staff, and administration about their conversations with students that result in new self-awareness or clarity about some concern or decision. Unfortunately, unless we are really intentional about the focus on discipleship, the items that are viewed as external to the classroom can become “extra” conversations and the focus can regress to concerns related almost exclusively to the classroom.

In many ways, this pushes the coaching emphasis of advising to the foreground. Assuming the posture of a coach or mentor can better serve both students and those who guide them in their spiritual journeys.

• Brent C. Sleasman, President