Soul care is at the center of pastoral ministry. Yet, in recent months, the challenges faced by pastors in caring for and nurturing the spiritual lives of others has been overwhelmingly difficult and challenging. Many pastors find themselves spiritually depleted and exhausted, wondering about their ability to live into their vocation in such turbulent times. Tending to one’s spiritual life is essential for living into a vibrant, meaning filled vocation of ministry.

CBFNC's Helping Pastors Thrive program invites all pastors and staff ministers to gather for a time of rest and renewal with a community of peers September 10-12, 2023 at the tranquil St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, NC.

The retreat is designed to offer opportunities for worship, spiritual practices, holy conversations with colleagues and time for quiet and rest. It will NOT include intense educational programming, content about things happening in CBF or CBFNC life or prognostications about post-pandemic church. Spouses are welcome to attend.

In this five-week study participants will explore a workable approach to conflict via the framework of conflict transformation, as opposed to “conflict resolution.” Conflict Transformation is an approach with a deep reach, offering both solutions and possibilities for social change. It aids leaders deal with immediate crises, but also address long-term change.

Using the breakthrough work of John Paul Lederach, an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of conflict transformation, participants will apply a specific framework to the task of conflict transformation. Lederach is recognized for his work on conflict transformation at multiple levels: person-to-person, factions within communities, to warring nations. His conflict transformation approach is about not simply “How do we end something not desired?” but “How do we end something destructive and build something desired?”

This course is provided by Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA