We live in unprecedented times - division, isolation, spiritual hunger paired with institutional skepticism in particular leave a mark on what it means to lead communities of faith. We believe in a God who works resurrection through the darkest seasons - we invite you to discern a way forward in your personal and ministerial life as a community exercise. Join us for a retreat full of rest, play, and spiritual renewal. We’ll have space to explore the wonders of nature, and time to intentionally collaborate around the evolution of pastoral practice for contemporary culture and congregational reality.
Registration for this event closed August 1st. We still have limited space. If you would like to see about joining us ‘last minute,’ contact Becca.
Cost: $800* (includes all meals and overnight private accommodations), capped at 10 participants.
Limited scholarships available. We encourage Pastors to inquire with support in their tradition (denominational entities, etc) to explore possibilities to help offset the cost if your church cannot support the entire cost. Email Becca to inquire about additional scholarship options.
*Our kitchen can accommodate special diets/allergies with advance notice, but to do this service requires a 15% increase to the meals for the person(s) needing the special diet since our retreats are kept to a small level of participants. This is simply to cover food costs. Select and identify your needs at registration and our Food Services Director will follow up with any questions.
Retreat begins Sunday September 28th with dinner, and ends Thursday October 2nd after brunch. Any questions, please contact Becca!
“New leadership is needed for new times, but it will not come from finding more wiley ways to manipulate the external world. It will come as we … find the courage to take an inner journey … to become healers in a wounded world.”
General Scope of our Time:
Centering in scripture: We’ll make space to listen to God together, study scripture in conversation with one another, and carve out time for silence and personal processing.
Practicing Curiosity: We’ll ask you to read a couple books in advance to help us launch conversation. These readings will center around the realities of doing ministry in today’s world, and the work it takes to cultivate collegial and collaborative church culture.
Core Readings: These two books will be launching points for our conversation, intended to engage spiritual renewal as Pastors, and ignite the imagination of what church looks like moving forward:
The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr
Future-Focused Church by Powell, Mulder & Chang
Supplemental Content: We will communicate about podcasts and articles that are also sparking the imagination about faith in today’s world. These elements will not be required reading/listening, but will enhance our experience together.
Play: Let’s laugh, explore, have fun, and relax. Our property and location are stunning in the fall - we hope you delight in these woods as well. All recreational activities are optional, and any hikes will be at the level all interested parties feel comfortable with.
Requirements: One hour zoom a month ahead of our retreat, sometime early Sept. (time TBD depending on participants availability), and required reading (see above).
Facilitators:
Roy Howard has been in pastoral ministry for 35 years. He recently served for 19 years as the Lead Pastor of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in N. Bethesda, Maryland. He is a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation and has a vital ministry coaching pastors around the country and leading retreats for pastors and congregations. He is now serving as Pastor for Discipleship at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg Maryland. During May-June he will serve as Minister-in-Residence at the Community Church of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Becca Niemeyer has been in pastoral ministry for over 15 years, first with College Students and Young Adults in Pullman, WA and then in Bellingham, WA. She’s served as Associate pastor at First Presbyterian church of Bellingham, and currently serves at Quincy First Presbyterian Church. She is passionate about helping all people share God’s good news amidst the mess and questions of our real lives - fostering spiritual conversations about the realities of God with folks both inside and outside the church.