The Center for Congregational Health

What The Center for Congregational Health does

The Center for Congregational Health (CCH), founded in 1992 and headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a non-profit ministry of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's FaithHealth Division that provides consulting, coaching, and interim ministry services to faith communities and their clergy. Its service portfolio is organized around three pillars — Consulting (strategic planning, team building, conflict reconciliation, governance restructuring), Coaching (one-on-one and small group sessions for ministers and lay leaders delivered by phone, video, or in person), and Interim Ministry (a searchable database of trained Traditional and Intentional Interim Ministers plus Transition Consultants) — supplemented by multi-level training programs in Intentional Interim Ministry, Consulting, and Coaching, some aligned to International Coach Federation competencies.

CCH's underlying technology is a proprietary consulting methodology rather than a software platform. The Five Focus Points Framework (Heritage, Mission, Leadership, Connections, Future) structures interim engagements, and the Congregational Thriving Research methodology combines organizational psychology tools with congregational practices. The Intentional Interim Minister training curriculum exceeds 85 hours of classroom plus fieldwork and has been adapted by trainers worldwide. The organization operates AIIM (Association for Intentional Interim Ministry), an annual membership community at $50/year that maintains a password-protected database connecting churches with trained interims.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across training tuition (Transition Consultant Training $1,545; Art of Consulting $1,950 or $500-$1,200 grant-underwritten; Coach Training $650/module; Interim Ministry Training $1,240-$1,740), consulting and coaching fees, unit-priced webinars/workshops ($25-$50), and grant income, notably from Lilly Endowment's Thriving Congregations Initiative. Go-to-market combines direct website contact forms, denominational referrals (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Baptist General Association of Virginia), residential and virtual training events, and thought-leadership content via blog, newsletter, and webinars. Since 1992 the Center has trained over 2,600 interim pastors serving congregations across the United States and four foreign countries, and Beth Kennett succeeded founding director Rev. Dr. Chris Gambill on July 13, 2025.

Name

The Center for Congregational Health

Legal name

Center for Congregational Health, Inc.

Website

https://healthychurch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Center for Congregational Health is a non-profit ministry of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist that delivers consulting, coaching, and interim ministry services — plus structured training programs — to faith communities, clergy, and denominational bodies, having trained over 2,600 interim pastors since 1992.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Congregational Consulting & Faith-Based Training

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB), Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Congregational consulting
• Interim ministry training
• Clergy coaching services
• Faith community development
• Pastoral transition support

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston-salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training Programs: Revenue from training programs including Interim Ministry training, Coach Training, Consultant Training, and Transition Consultant Training. Programs offered in various formats (residential, virtual) with different price points.
2. Consulting Services: Fees for professional consulting services to congregations facing challenges and opportunities. Contact-based engagement model.
3. Coaching Services: One-on-one and small group coaching services for ministers and lay leaders. Various formats including phone, video-conference, and in-person.
4. AIIM Membership: Annual membership dues of $50 for Association for Intentional Interim Ministry, providing access to database, resources, and ongoing professional development.
5. Events and Workshops: Shorter workshops on topics like conflict management, leadership development, and congregational thriving. Pricing varies by program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for Congregational Health delivers professional consulting, coaching, and interim ministry services to faith communities and their leaders, complemented by multi-level training programs (Transition Consultant, Intentional Interim Ministry, Consultant, and Coach Training). The organization also operates AIIM, a professional membership association for trained interim ministers.

Product overview

The Center for Congregational Health offers a suite of services for faith communities and their leaders, organized into three core areas: Consulting Services (strategic planning, team building, staff development, governance restructuring, and conflict reconciliation), Coaching Services (professional coaching for ministers and lay leaders via one-on-one and small group sessions), and Interim Ministry Services (Traditional Interim Ministers, Intentional Interim Ministers, and Transition Consultants). Supporting these direct services are multiple training programs including Transition Consultant Training (4-day intensive), Intentional Interim Ministry Training (5-day classroom plus fieldwork), Consultant Training (5-day classroom plus fieldwork), and Coach Training (multiple levels aligned with ICF competencies). The organization also operates AIIM (Association for Intentional Interim Ministry), a membership program for trained interim ministers. Services are delivered through in-person and virtual formats with searchable databases for finding consultants, coaches, and interim ministers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AIIM (Association for Intentional Interim Ministry): A professional association for intentional interim ministers that promotes excellence, provides accountability, and maintains integrity for those engaged in ministering to faith communities during pastoral transitions.

Products and services

• Consulting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,600 interim pastors trained and serving congregations since 1992
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Cooperative Baptist FellowshipflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026CCH exhibited at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's General Assembly and served as advocate level sponsor for Baptist Women in Ministry. CCH welcomed conversations with leaders navigating challenges in congregational life.
• Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (FaithHealth Division)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCH is a ministry of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's FaithHealth Division. This parent relationship provides institutional backing and integrates CCH's congregational health work with the broader FaithHealth mission of promoting health in faith communities.
• FaithHealth Division (Clinical Pastoral Education program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegral collaboration with FaithHealth's Clinical Pastoral Education program and CareNet Counseling for ongoing workshops, seminars, and training opportunities.
• Pinnacle Leadership AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer Summit Coach Training equipping coaches using ICF standards. CCH refers to Pinnacle for coach training programs and Pinnacle's credentialed practitioners teach courses. ICF-accredited training hours.
• Interim Ministry Network (IMN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in training and developing consultants to work with faith communities. Joint training programs offered, member discounts provided for both organizations.
• Baptist Children's Home (Thomasville, NC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining facility host for residential programs including Consultant Training and Interim Ministry Training. CCH uses the Family Resource Center on the Baptist Children's Home campus for multi-day intensive training.
• Arkansas Baptist State ConventionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSponsoring organization for Interim Ministry training events in Arkansas. Convention provides venue and subsidizes costs for member pastors.
• Baptist General Association of VirginiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner providing $100 scholarship for BGAV pastors attending Interim Ministry training.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Interim Ministry Network (IMN): National nonprofit dedicated to training and supporting interim ministers across denominations. Most direct comparable — both organizations deliver interim ministry training, maintain professional networks, and partner in curriculum delivery (CCH explicitly partners with IMN).
• Pinnacle Leadership Associates: Faith-focused leadership coaching and coach training organization aligned with ICF standards. Direct comparable on the coaching side; partner in delivering CCH's Summit Coach Training with reciprocal referrals.
• Transforming Center: Faith-based leadership development organization providing coaching, retreats, and resources for pastors and church leaders. Comparable in mission (clergy thriving and congregational health) and in delivery model (coaching + training).
• Holy Cow Consulting: Faith community consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, conflict management, and congregational analytics for churches and dioceses. Comparable as a church-specific organizational consulting peer with similar service offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Alban Institute (now Leadership Education at Duke Divinity): Long-established faith-based consulting and research organization serving congregations and clergy. Comparable as a wider-portfolio incumbent with overlapping consulting and leadership development offerings for mainline Protestant churches.
• Faith & Leadership (Duke Divinity): Digital magazine and resource hub from Duke Divinity for faith leaders. Adjacent peer publishing comparable content on congregational thriving, leadership transitions, and church health.

Emerging players

• Center for Parish Development: Faith-based consulting and research organization primarily serving Evangelical Free Church of America congregations. Comparable as a smaller, denomination-tied consulting body focused on congregational vitality and pastoral transition.
• Lake Institute on Faith & Giving: Faith-based research and educational institute focused on generosity, stewardship, and congregational finances. Comparable as a faith-and-organizational-health peer serving denominational and congregational clients.
• Clergy Coaching Network: Faith-based coaching network focused on clergy leadership development. Comparable as a smaller peer targeting the same coaching-for-clergy use case with similar coach training offerings.

Regional players

• CareNet Counseling: Faith-integrated counseling network based in North Carolina, part of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Directly comparable as a sibling organization under the same FaithHealth Division, with overlapping workshop/training collaboration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@healthychurchorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/healthychurch.org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Center for Congregational Health