Facilitators are often asked about the DNA of Renewal Retreats.
What are the essential elements which shape the process and need to be kept in the forefront of the vision for retreats to be sustainable and consistent?
Retreats have the primary purpose of renewal. Retreats maintain a primary focus on spiritual renewal in the personal life, ministry and leadership of participants.
While many other significant elements are present in retreats such as learning, pastoral support, prayer, ministry and friendship, if any of these become primary the retreat will lose its focus and ultimately its effectiveness. A journey toward renewal is central.
Retreats are facilitated around community. Retreats engage transformational support. Retreats provide an environment for encounter with God
Retreats intentionally develop small group community as a high-trust environment for honest sharing and reflective reflection on and discernment of life, ministry and personal journeys. A small group of individuals who share similar challenges and experiences in ministry and leadership is essential to the retreat process where honest self-disclosure is encouraged. A covenant community in which everyone is an active participant allows for significant connections between leaders who are often isolated by the very nature of their ministry. The journey toward renewal is one made with others.
A key value of retreats is personal transformation. Members are encouraged to accept responsibility before God for dealing with issues and pursuing growth. The group in turn expresses appropriate prayerful support and often assists with accountability for action.
Retreat groups ideally are not the primary support processes for pastors or their primary points of development or accountability, however they do have a significant role in assisting members discern the transformation needed in life and to enable them to begin and continue the process of renewal and growth.
Retreats are intentionally in locations which physically dislocate members from normal life and ministry contexts. The schedule intentionally allows significant time set aside for contemplation, meditation, reflection and engagement personally with God and God’s
word.
Many ministers struggle with their own relationship with God outside of ‘doing ministry’. The potential of the retreat process to enable a different and often deeper connection with God should not be underestimated. Participants should covenant not to use this time for parish administration, sermon preparation, phone calls or email. The process is one that requires commitment and discipline for the sake of renewal.
Retreats facilitate the participation and gifted ministry of all members to each other. Retreats provide a safe environment for spiritual affirmation, ministry and prayer support to participants through gifted members of the group serving in community.
A safe space for ministers themselves to be ministered to is rare and needs to be created and maintained with care by the facilitators. Ministers can easily dismiss their own need for prayer, they can attempt to control situations, or be threatened and withdraw when there is the opportunity to minister or be ministered to. Engaging these challenges thoughtfully is important in enabling a group to minister to its members so there can be genuine affirmation, ministry, transformation and even healing.