7 Reasons Why You Should Have An Annual Planning Retreat For Your Church
The bulletin needs finishing
Someone’s asking about tables for the potluck
The sink in the church kitchen is leaking again
…And your inbox is full of half-answered emails.
So much of ministry is lived in the swirl of the immediate—reactive, necessary, busy. And sometimes meaningful, yes. But often it leaves little room for the chance to ask: Where are we actually going?
That’s where the idea of a planning retreat comes in - we’re not talking about a long weekend of spreadsheets and strategies. We’re talking about stepping away—literally—from the building and the bulletin and the “Sunday is always coming” cycle. We’re talking about gathering a few thoughtful, trusted leaders from your congregation, and giving yourselves the gift of time and space to ask important questions
Becoming Ourselves with AI A conversation about change, faith, and possibility
Thanks to some additional funds from the Lilly Grant Foundation, we’re hosting monthly webinars are several important topics between now and November.
Transitions in Church Ministry
The summer can be a time for transitions. Some of our recent grads from our theological seminaries are in the process of discerning the people to whom they are being called by the Spirit. It is an exciting time and an anxious one too. We see you - if this is you. And we are here for you if you need a listening ear.
Let me offer a few pearls as you travel this road… and end with a nugget for those who aren’t going anywhere but who might like a fresh start where they are already planted.
Resources for Church Administration & Management
Whether you’re a part-time volunteer juggling bulletins and birthday cards, or a full-time administrator navigating cloud storage, scheduling apps, and a phone that won’t stop ringing, your ministry keeps the whole church moving. You may not be preaching or leading Sunday school, but your work is what allows others to gather, give, serve, and feel connected.
On the Road with Ministry Forum Summer 2025
In celebration of Ministry Forum's 500th email subscriber, Director John embarked on a 10-day road trip through Northern Ontario and Winnipeg to preach, connect with ministry leaders, and witness their diverse contexts. Highlights included preaching at St. Andrew’s in Thunder Bay, visiting the Anamiewigummig (Kenora) Fellowship Centre with Yvonne Bearbull, and engaging with Indigenous ministry leaders in Winnipeg. The journey was both pastoral and personal, underscoring the beauty and challenges of ministry in remote and urban areas, and affirming the importance of connection, collaboration, and continued support for those serving across the church.
Annual Planning for Ministry Forum 2025
Our Ministry Forum Team committed to doing some Annual Planning last month. Over two consecutive Mondays we stepped away from our screens and spent a little time in nature at our “FIRST CHOICE” for all of our Ministry Forum retreat needs - Crieff Hills Retreat Centre.
Summer Playlists 2025
Some are fun and poppy for backyard meals or road trips. Others lean into gentle folk or thoughtful instrumentals, ideal for reflection or focus as you work, write, or simply rest. We hope these playlists are a gift to our Ministry Forum community—small offerings of sound and spirit that accompany you in this season of growth, movement, and grace.
Soul Work for Better Leadership
A book I read recently brought the importance of this intentionality into focus for me. Ruth Haley Barton’s Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry reminds ministry leaders that we need to take time in solitude to nourish our very souls.
Paying Attention to the Quiet: Mindfulness and Ministry
In our fast-paced world, ministry leaders often find themselves swept up in the “adrenaline of busyness.” Consider how mindfulness practices—like meditation apps (Headspace, Calm, Lectio 365) and prayer—can help us notice and tend to our inner life. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is simply stop, breathe, and listen to what our souls are trying to say.
Trauma-Informed Practice: Fundamental Concepts for Complex Workplaces
Thanks to some additional funds from the Lilly Grant Foundation, we’re hosting monthly webinars are several important topics between now and November.
How to Practice A Flourishing Ministry | Duke Clergy & Religion Research Collaborative
What does it actually mean to be well in ministry? The team at Duke’s Clergy & Religion Research Collaborative explores this question in their Fully Alive resource—a guide to cultivating deep, sustainable well-being in ministry.
Trauma-Informed Preaching
In our churches today, we preach to congregations where people are carrying untold burdens — personal pain, communal grief, generational wounds, every type of trauma. The pulpit is not immune to these realities either. Preachers bring their own scars, questions, and unresolved tensions into the sacred task of proclamation.
Knowing this, how do we preach in a way that acknowledges trauma without re-opening wounds?
How can our sermons participate in healing without bypassing the brokenness?
Reading in Community: ICS’s Summer Read, On Tyranny
If you’re like our team at Ministry Forum then summer is a time to slowing oyur pace, catch up on good books, and reconnect with the deeper questions that shape our faith and practice. That’s why we want to highlight an offering from our neighbours at the Institute for Christian Studies (ICS): their 2025 Summer Read, featuring Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.
Just do ONE thing.
Years ago, when I was on an Inter-mission (if you don’t know what that is… check it out here!) I discovered that I would be OFF for 100 Days. So for those 100 Days I committed to doing just one thing. Each day I’d have one thing I wanted to accomplish - it could be visiting somewhere, fixing something around my home, completing a task from start to finish - but it was always just ONE THING and when it was done. The rest of the day was my own to simply be. It was an amazing way to approach this intentional time away from my ministry context. Just do the one thing!
Inter-mission: People are asking, so let’s talk about it!
More and more ministry leaders are talking about it —some are exploring the possibility, others are making plans, and many are asking: Could I take one too? At Ministry Forum, we’ve returned to this topic often—not just because it’s timely, but because we’re deeply passionate about it. We believe in ministry that is sustainable, grounded, and spiritually whole. And Inter-mission can be a powerful part of that journey.
Celebrating Sara Traficante: A Year of Listening, Leading, and Lifting Voices
Sara has been a deeply thoughtful and grounding presence in our community. She brings a combination of professionalism, warmth, and spiritual depth to everything she’s been a part of here at Ministry Forum. Sara really cares about people and working alongside her has been a constant reminder that faithful ministry is always relational at its core
Creative Ways: Insights from our Interns
As the academic year concludes, we’ve asked Sara and Rachel, our Ministry Forum interns to share their reflections and take aways from Creative Ways 2025.
Celebrating Rachel Kennedy-Proctor: Hope and Bold Leadership for the Future Church
Whether preaching, podcasting, or mentoring youth, Rachel models the kind of leadership that listens deeply and speaks prophetically—never shying away from the tough questions but always pointing us toward hope. We’ve been encouraged by her wisdom, challenged by her insights, and inspired by her heart for the Church’s future.
General Assembly 2025: Reflections and Take Aways
We celebrated the PCC’s 150th General Assembly with gratitude and hope. Key highlights included the “Narratives of Hope and Possibility,” new calls to prayer and action, and a renewed commitment to communication and change.
Recap: Creative Ways 2025
On Sunday, June 1st we hosted Creative Ways 2025 as a space for ministry leaders to explore how the Church can respond faithfully and creatively to today’s complex needs. This year’s gathering focused on justice, housing, reconciliation, and prayer—rooted in real stories and courageous leadership.