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