Mentor vs Coach

I recently had a discussion about the difference between a mentor and a coach.  I have tended to use the two terms interchangeable thinking that "coach" was just a new term for what used to be called a mentor.
After a discussion with Beata Rydeen who is a life coach, I have changed my mind.  A mentor is usually someone older and more experienced who can guide and assist a person beginning a career.  A coach walks along side a person but may not be in the same work field.  A coach asks questions and listens carefully.

When I first began my first paid position in a congregation, I knew that I could benefit from the wisdom of  Charlotte Erlandson, even though I was already 40 years old with a master degree in pastoral ministry.  i asked Charlotte to be my mentor for one year.  I meet with her monthly and we discussed issues in congregational ministry - particularly faith formation ministry.  My call at the time was as a Youth and Family Director who also preached once a month, was the assisting minister at worship each week, and provided resources for the Sunday School program.  I was working toward being commissioned as an Associate in Ministry in the ELCA.  The time I spend with her was invaluable.  She warned me about pitfalls and asked me to observe her at a committee meeting.  We talked about relationships of a spouse with parishioners when you work on a staff, of how parishioners will criticize the pastor when he or she go on vacation to triangle you into a problem, and how to build up leaders on your ministry teams.

Now I am working with Beata as a "coach" and it is very different.  It is not therapy but looking more deeply at who I am and how I function. There is not a focus on improving at specific skills related to my position but a large thinking about who I am, what is important to me and how I am make better use of my skills and talents.
I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to experience both a mentoring relationship and a coaching process.