Past Retreat Topics and Schedule*

(Future retreat dates coming soon)

 Download PDF of schedule.
*Schedule subject to change

Main Session Descriptions

Life Together in Christ: A Vision for Transforming Church (Ruth Haley Barton)
In this session we will cast vision and explore the Biblical foundations for ordering our life together around the priority of transformation in Christ’s presence—for the glory of God, for the abundance of their own lives and for the sake of others.

A Practicing Community: Living from the Center Out (Ruth Haley Barton with panel)
People change incrementally over time in the context of spiritual practices that open us to God.  In this session we will explore the role of spiritual practices in transforming communities and consider key practices that take place in solitude, in community, and in the world Jesus loves.

A Sabbath Community: Living in Shared Rhythms of Work, Rest and Renewal (Ruth Haley Barton)
It is hard to be like Jesus when you are exhausted!  A transforming church is a community that honors God by ordering their life together around sane rhythms of work and rest—with particular emphasis on sabbath-keeping as a communal discipline.

A Worshipping Community: Reclaiming Sunday Services as a Primary Transformative Experience (Rory Noland)
In this session we will cast vision and provide Biblical and theological rationale for weekend services to be a transformative experience and describe major components of Transforming Worship services.

A Reconciling Community: Participating in God’s Heart for Shalom in Our World (David M.Bailey)
The practices of reconciliation, justice, and shalom are formational issues. In this session, we will explore a framework for integrating these practices into the lives of our communities and institutions. 

A Discerning Community: Pursuing God’s Will Together (Ruth Haley Barton)
According to Romans 12:2 one of the most significant outcomes of our transformation is an increasing capacity to discern and do the will of God—alone and together. In this session we will explore the preparation needed for leadership groups and entire congregations to become communities that discern and do the will of God.

A Missional Community: Integrating Formation and Mission in the Church (BJ Woodworth)
"Only through an inner spiritual transformation do we gain the strength to fight vigorously the evils of this world in a humble and loving spirit." – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In this session we will explore what it means for a church community to be in God for the world, discerning the shape of missional community out of deep spiritual transformation.