Spiritual Life Ministries
Pastoral Skills Building Retreat
Camp Christian
January 13 – 15, 2026
For all ministers (ordained, commissioned, licensed, authorized)
in the Ohio Region, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
and the Heartland Conference (United Church of Christ)
The full Retreat begins with lunch on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 and concludes after breakfast on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Please note, there is an option for Wednesday only attendance and also an option for attending the full retreat without lodging. We hope that you can attend as much as you are able.
We are planning this retreat around a workshop format. Each day we will offer several workshops - one or two workshops may be offered twice depending on interest. You may want to attend workshops, you may want to spend time in conversation with a colleague, your regional minister or conference minister. You may want to rest, read, walk.
What does your spirit need?
We will also offer worship, meditation, and yoga. Evenings will offer more time for one-on-one or small group conversations as well as games - or go to bed early.
What does your body need?
The cost of the retreat is $175 for those who want a room in the lodge (shared bedroom; bathroom down the hall) and $150 for those who sleep in the bunk rooms (shared bathrooms in each cabin area). All rooms are heated. We expect that the 20 lodge rooms will reserve quickly. The deadline for registration is January 3rd, but if we do not have at least 40 people registered by December 1st, the program may need to be postponed.
PLANNING TEAM
The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brill, CALM Consulting & Coaching
The Rev. Dr. Luke Lindon, Senior Minister, UCC, Medina
The Rev. Brian Shields, Transitional Interim Minister, Community Christian Church, North Canton
LEADERSHIP TEAM
(In addition to the above planning team members)
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Blodgett, Independent Consultant
Edward Boyte, The Listening Group
The Rev. Allen Harris, Regional Minister, Christian Church in Ohio
The Rev. David Long-Higgins, Conference Minister, Heartland Conference, UCC
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The Spiritual Life Ministry of the Christian Church in Ohio
The Regional Spiritual Life Ministry meets at least once a year in person to plan for
Retreats at Camp Christian and to discuss possible new ministries for the Spiritual Life of Ohio. We also meet at the Minister's Retreat in February and have had some phone conference calls.
We feel we are expanding the programs at camp for creating community and giving new opportunity for ministers and laity to deepen their
Christian Spirituality. We hope and pray that God will bring in all of this, Transformation of body, mind and spirit. It is an effort to reach out beyond those we have been able to touch through the Ministers' Retreat to include other ministers and the laity of the church in Ohio and beyond.
