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Bishop Alan Scarfe to Serve as New Clergy Companion Coach

by the Rev. Canon Patrick Funston

Bishop Bascom is gathering newer clergy on August 19 to launch a new initiative aimed at enhancing the formation of recently ordained clergy. Bishop Alan Scarfe, the resigned ninth bishop of the diocese of Iowa, has been retained by Bishop Bascom to serve as New Clergy Companion Coach. The product of several months of discernment and conversation with her advisors, the New Clergy Companion Coach will spend the next year walking alongside recently ordained clergy supporting their development as ordained leaders of congregations.

This coach initiative in an experiment built on a strong foundation of post-ordination support and formation in the diocese of Kansas. This year’s successful launch of the Thresholds in Leadership program for new-in-call clergy builds on Clergy Conversations and Fresh Start before it (for more information on Thresholds, see Canon Patrick’s article in this issue of The Harvest). Individual mentoring relationships are formalized through canonical process and develop naturally through the giftedness of individual priests and deacons. However, there are not as many opportunities for more intentional reflection on sticky issues of leadership and clerical identity. 

The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe

In this context and with this mission, Bishop Bascom has brought Bishop Alan Scarfe. Bishop Bascom says, “for all clergy, the first years of ministry are challenging with demands that tap the array of canonical areas of leadership. There are almost always some gaps in studies and preparation and also strengths and weaknesses based on personality and previous life experience. The ordained life is truly a ‘profession’ for it is a vocation that can integrate endless growth and development. With a recent surge of new clergy in the Diocese of Kansas, approximately a quarter of our parishes will soon be led by newer priests or deacons and the time is ripe to strengthen how we support and continue to form our newest clergy.”[1] The New Clergy Companion Coach will work with these recently ordained leaders.

In this new role, Bishop Scarfe will meet regularly with twelve priests and deacons who are serving as clergy leaders of congregations. In addition to regular calls or Zoom meetings with individual clergy, Bishop Scarfe will, over the course of the year, make an on-site visit to each parish. Further, Bishop Scarfe will support the formation ministry of Canons Funston and Senuta by attending Thresholds in Ministry.

“We’re excited to have Bishop Scarfe join us as we care for and form new clerical leadership for the Church,” said Canon Patrick Funston. “His broad experience will help us create a dynamic environment of mutual learning as we all grow in our ministry.” Canon Funston is currently engaged in a program of leadership coach formation at the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita, Kansas, and plans to bring those competencies to his ministry as Canon to the Ordinary.

The August 19 launch of the coaching program will include time at Upton Hall for the newer clergy to hear and make plans for their formation with Bishops Scarfe and Bascom and Canons Senuta and Funston. Later, all present will join Bishop Bascom and her husband, Tim, at their home for a celebratory tea party.


[1] From coach job description in Scarfe’s MOU.

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