Rev. Dr. Fields is a transplant to the Bay Area of California from Philadelphia. After completing the Level 1 International Coaching Federation training while serving as a pastor, she had an epiphany regarding coaching as a tool for pastoral care and counseling, preaching, and leadership development and has used coaching strategies consistently. Celestine is an ordained minister who has been serving as the Associate Conference Minister in the Northern California-Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ since February 2023. Her work centers around race, racial justice, and racial reconciliation, she became curious how group coaching could transform the conversations about race into a vision of who we could be as the human family. Celestine has completed the course work for the Level 2 Professional Coach Credential with International Coaching Federation. With a history trauma and continuous racial trauma, she found recovery from compulsive eating, bulimia, and racial trauma in 12-step programing. She practices trauma-informed coaching and sponsoring with people in recovery.
More about Celestine: She has a Master’s in Divinity and a Doctorate in Ministry from Lancaster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. Her dissertation was, Black Pastor, White Church: Using Applied Positive Psychology as a Mission-Driven Strategy to Build and Sustain Multicultural Congregations. Her master’s in divinity focused through the lens of the Holocaust, preaching, and teaching the Hebrew Bible responsibly. Rev. Dr. Fields received the Rhoades Award for Bible Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in 2012. Partnering with congregations in transition, Celestine has a certificate in Applied Positive Psychology, training in Transitional Ministry, and Appreciative Inquiry to assist them make decisions regarding mission, vision, and purpose. She is pursuing credentials to become a Certified Trauma Professional through PESI. In her free time, she enjoys writing, podcasting, lifting weights at the gym, rucking, hiking, biking, being in and around water, and basking in the sun.
Fun Stuff I’ve Done: Square dancing in front of the statue of President Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
Stuff I Love: Writing, podcasting, renting an Airbnb with ocean view, running my dog on the beach, weightlifting, hiking, biking, and basking in the sun.
Still Yet to Do: See the Northern lights, Ride the Eurail through Europe, go sailing, and take an Alaskan cruise.
Favorite Accomplishments: Kite boarding in the San Francisco Bay. Driving a 48ft school bus, I converted to a tiny house, from Kentucky to Pennsylvania.
Guiding Philosophy: Compassion begins with self.
My Motto: Everyone is worthy of love.