Six Ideas for Your Next Church Retreat
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These Six Ideas for Your Next Church Staff Retreat are intended to help your church community reconnect, inspire and re-invigorate their missions and message.
Let’s face it, getting together for some much-needed face time and togetherness with church leadership and members is not just a promising idea, but it is imperative to fellowship.
As we recover from the pandemic and recognize how our church organizations have changed the way we gather like holding worship services online, it is a wonderful time to regroup and strategize.
Though some of us are worshipping in person again, we most likely need to assess and confirm that our church body and staff are intact, remain motivated, and are inspired to lead our church’s mission.
Because many of us may feel isolated and are adapting to a new lifestyle after the pandemic it is important for churches to take extra steps to foster a sense of belonging.
One way to foster a culture of inclusion and create a sense of belonging is to organize an off-site retreat to gather, reconnect with one another, and plan for the future. With leadership and staff retention at the center of focus in 2022 by human resource departments across the USA, and with church membership on the decline, losing valuable staff is something we want to prevent.
In a survey by Willis Towers Watson, North American employers said they can “expect challenges in attracting and retaining talent to continue through 2022.” In fact, 67% of employers are having having trouble retaining employees up from just 16% the previous year.
Keeping our church leadership and staff happy and motivated will be essential in 2022 as the world continues to shift and adjust to what we all hope will be the year after the pandemic. That is why many churches and nonprofit organizations alike are creating and updating their employee retention plans and/or consciously deciding how to strengthen their community after challenging and isolating times.
Many churches attract people who like to be part of a deeply connected community, and while the pandemic may have upset that reality, we need to focus on retaining church leadership and staff to continue to grow.
These Six Ideas for Your Next Church Staff Retreat are intended to help your church community reconnect, inspire and re-invigorate their missions and message.
Idea #1
Gather the Community
First, make an effort to recognize those in your church community who contribute to your church and include them in the guest list. Here are a few suggestions:
Volunteers
Board Members
Staff
Leadership
Group Program Leaders
Cleaning and Facility Staff
Idea #2
Re-group, Update, and Motivate
There is a sense of needing to re-group after the pandemic due to the ways worship, education, and meetings have changed. Making new and revised plans based on what we have been through and what we have learned will need to continue to be re-vamped as life unfolds post-pandemic.
In a group setting, inviting others to share their challenges and successes fosters an environment of making things better for the future. Strategize about what has worked, share your successes, and use them to move forward.
Idea #3
Agenda and Activity Planning
We asked our resident minister and trainer to put together her favorite weekend retreat agenda as a free download so you can share it with your church leaders. With the goal in mind of reconnecting make sure there is plenty of time for relaxing and enjoying one another's company.
Our expert says the biggest mistake is not leaving enough time for activities and camaraderie. Some new facilitators and trainers tend to pack the schedule with too many activities, but it is important to build in time for relaxation, causal conversations, and the freedom to enjoy a spontaneous idea.
Here are a few ideas for fun bonding activities below to slot into your agenda, being mindful to choose the appropriate activity for your group.
Singing around a campfire
Talent Show
Treasure Hunt
Make You Own Ice Cream Sundae’s
Karaoke
Idea #4
Kick Off Seasonal Planning
Take advantage of the slower winter months by using the time to gear up for the rest of the year's seasonal planning. By planning a retreat early in the year, you may gain worthy insights for the rest of the year. Going through your church's seasonal calendar together during an off-site retreat is a wonderful way to brainstorm and share ideas about Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas and special summer education opportunities. Planning in advance like this lets you see the big picture while working together.
With our leaders the flow of ideas can produce something really special for our church community.
Idea #5
Location Location Location
One way to make a church staff retreat special is to find a location that has experience hosting church groups.
Check out these camp and retreat centers to find one near you: Applegate | Blazing Mountain l Camp Arroyo l CGC | Craigville l Crystal | Highlands | Lodestar | Loch Leven
Idea #6
Importance of the Icebreaker
One of the techniques for starting an off-site retreat with the right tone is making sure the opening icebreaker is a good fit. An icebreaker is a warmup exercise intended to help people relax and begin to get to know each other better, as they start the process of forming themselves into a team environment. Here are a few we like:
Distribute these questions or put them up on the wall and let people choose which question they would like to share with the group.
What memory still makes you laugh when you think about it?
What event or activity is coming up in the next few months that you are looking forward to?
What would you cook if you really wanted to impress someone?
If you could possess one unique superpower, what would it be?
What is the most creative thing you have ever done?
What is one trip you have never taken but would really like to do one day?
Of all your birthdays which one is your favorite and why?
If you could get a front row ticket to your favorite concert, who would it be and who would you take with you?
A sample retreat agenda is below or download, print, and use this guide to customize your next staff retreat.
A G E N D A
Day 1
4:00PM Arrive and Settle In
6:30PM - Introduction Speech, Re-group, Update, Motivate
7:00PM - Dinner in Dining Hall - Menu
8:00PM - Karaoke | Group Activity
9:30PM - Closing Circle
Day 2
8:00AM - Breakfast
9:00AM - Icebreaker Activity
9:45AM - Group Activity | Discussion Future Planning
11:00AM - Free Time
12:00PM - Lunch in Dining Hall
1:00PM - Free Time or Optional Activity
2:00PM - Group Activity | Discussion on Future Planning Continued.
6:00PM - Dinner in Dining Hall
7:00PM - Meditation | Prayer Time
8:00PM - Make your own Ice Cream Sundaes
9:30PM - Closing Activity
Day 3
8:00AM - Breakfast
9:00AM - Group Activity | Discussion Future Planning Action Items
10:00AM - Free Time
12:00PM - Closing
12:30PM - Lunch
2:00PM - Departure
Free Time Activities Ideas
Craft Art Circle
Archery
Pool Time
Share Stories on Swinging Patio Chairs
Gaga Pit
Forest Bathing (Walking in Nature)
Horseshoes
Watercolor Painting