2025 Pastoral Resilience Retreat Overview
Welcome
We are excited to host you for the second Pastoral Resilience Retreat and Cohort. On this page, you will find the information you need to get ready for your travel to Chicago. This guide will provide a general schedule for the retreat and information about transportation, lodging, and things of that nature.
Our goal for this retreat is to equip you with new tools to develop your own resilience and to provide a respite from the daily demands of ministry.
The Goal of the Cohort
The goal of this cohort is to help pastors develop resilience by equipping them with tools for developing Inner Strength, Professional Competencies and cultivating the relationships that will sustain them.
This cohort uses as its guide the life of Jesus fused together with adaptive principles to develop practices for resilience.
Resilience - Retention - Renewal
The Framework
The Cohort begins with a three-day immersive in-person retreat on October 19-23, 2025 in Chicago. Then Meets monthly for four months on zoom. Each pastor will have access to the online Master Class "Develop Pastoral Resilience" in which they will engage with tools at their own pace. The pastor will be assigned a smaller group of four for monthly masterminds. Optional One-on-one Coaching will be available.
The Cohort is designed in three modules.
Module 1
STRENGTHENING YOUR INNER LIFE
The foundation for resilience begins with one’s inner life. Laying the right foundation is essential for resilience. Areas of focus in this cohort include the following:
- Managing Your Own Reactivity
- Define your “Spring back into shape”.
- Develop a Rule of Life
- Learn Self-Differentiation
- Learn to Develop Inner Peace
- Discover Your Personal Values
- Define your Personal Mission and Deeper Calling
- Cultivate Self-Awareness by Utilizing Assessments such as StrengthsFinder, Myers-Briggs etc.
- And much more
Module 2
A COMPETENT OUTER LIFE
Confidence comes from being equipped with the proper tools to lead in a rapidly changing world. This module helps a pastor grow their adaptive capacity and leadership. These skills include:
- Grow Your Adaptive Capacity
- Learn the Skills to Reorient Your Church
- Learn the Skills of Reframing Your Challenges
- Learn to Listen
- Learn to Lead Your Organization in Loss
- Learn to Experiment
Module 3
A LIFE-GIVING COMMUNAL LIFE
The need to have relationships that sustain you personally and strategic relationships with those you lead. The in-person retreat will have a licensed therapist on site for one-on-ones if the pastor chooses to schedule one. The following are relationships that will help you develop resilience.
- Personal Relationships Where You Can be Yourself
- Learn to build Strategic Relationships with Those In Your Church
- Learn to Manage Conflict
- The Importance of Mentorship and Coaching
- The Role Colleagues Play
Schedule
Sunday, October 19
Everyone Arrives
6:30 PM - Group Dinner
Monday, October 20
9 AM - 12 PM - Morning Session
12 PM - Lunch Together (Meal Provided)
12:45 PM - 4 PM Afternoon Session
6 PM Communal Dinner (Provided)
Tuesday, October 21
9 AM - 1:30 PM - Morning Session
1:30 PM - Lunch Together (Meal Provided)
2 PM - 6 PM Solo Time
6 PM Communal Dinner (Provided)
7 PM Activity
Wednesday, October 22
9 AM - 1:30 PM - Morning Session
1:30 PM - Lunch Together (Meal Provided)
2 PM - 6 PM Solo Time
6 PM Communal Dinner (Provided)
7 PM Retreat Wrap-up Activity
Thursday, October 23
Travel Home
Important Information
Cost
This retreat and cohort are completely free for you to attend, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. We’re especially grateful to Verscare, our primary sponsor, for making this opportunity possible. This year, we’re also pleased to welcome AdventHealth as an additional sponsor.
Travel to Chicago
After you confirm your participation in the cohort, our Special Events Coordinator, Gianna, will reach out to you by email or text to coordinate your travel to Chicago..
Airport Transportation
You will be picked up from the airport by one of our team members. You will be provided their phone number so that you can text them when you land. They will come in to baggage claim to make it easier for you. We will also provide transportation to the airport when you depart.
Hotel
The retreat and lodging will be at the Hampton Inn & Suites in the River North Neighborhood of downtown Chicago. We will meet daily in the Sullivan Room (Located on the Second Floor).
Hampton Inn and Suites River North
33 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 832-0330
Sunday Night
The retreat officially begins on Sunday night. We will eat dinner together as a group. One of the central tenets of resilience is having friends as a support system. We hope to model healthy friendships during our dinner time.
Solo Time
On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, you will have Solo Time. During this period, your time is your own. We will provide exercises for you to help you along your journey. This is not homework, nor will you be asked to show your work. You can stay in your room or roam the city.
Meals
The hotel provides a complimentary hot breakfast. We will provide lunch daily and eat together in the conference room. Each evening, we will share communal meals at a local restaurant to give you a taste of the city. The goal is for you to engage with other colleagues and develop friendships in a relaxed environment.
Dress Code
We encourage business casual. Keep in mind that we may be taking photographs for promotional purposes. If you prefer not to be photographed, let us know.
Exercise
The hotel has an indoor pool and fitness center if you would like to work out. We may organize a group run outside if there is enough interest.
Free Counseling
One of the features we are proud to offer during your time in Chicago is a free counseling session.
Our Sponsors
Resilient University is grateful for our sponsors, who believe in the vital importance of our work, and without their help, could not provide this retreat.
