Programs for Pastors

Re-Discovery Retreats

Dr Blakemore leads groups of pastors each year in retreats and conferences focused on the task of thinking theologically about ministry.

Experience has shown that for the average pastor the daily demands of ministry and the stresses of life often consume his or her attention. Through no fault of their own pastors often find themselves feeling burned out and lacking focus in ministry.

Each Re-Discovery Retreat is tailored toward helping pastors reflect upon one or two major doctrinal claims of the Christian faith (Ex. The Trinity or The Atonement or The Incarnation). The purpose of each retreat is not, however, simply to revisit these doctrines in the abstract. Rather, at a Re-Discovery Retreat pastors are enabled to think through together what these doctrines mean for day to day ministry.

Also, each retreat is built around worship as a key element to the experience, because ultimately theological reflection should be an act of worship and worship should be deeply theological (in the sense of truly contemplating God).

Groups can contact us to schedule an event or receive more information.

Millennium Pastors of Excellence

This is a year long program of theological exploration and spiritual renewal especially geared for pastors of local churches. The program consists of the following components.

Pastors seeking to find a new focus and purpose in ministry are invited to experience:

  • A four-day renewal retreat led by Steve Blakemore, the Executive Director of TMF, and one of the scholars who are part of the Third Millennium Fellows Program. This experience is provided for a group of pastors from a common regional location who desire to experience this renewal together. The retreat is focused on theological reflection on the core doctrines of the Christian faith and the implications they have for the Church's ministry in the 21st century. The experience is interactive and dialogical and offers participants a chance to reflect with one another about how to grasp more deeply than ever the meaning of doctrines such as the Incarnation, the Atonement, the Church, and the Trinity. Far from being an exercise in esoteric reflection, the retreat experience will push participants to think through how these doctrines must inform the practical aspects of pastoral leadership in the local church. Corporate worship and times of fellowship are the centerpiece of the experience.
  • In follow-up to the retreat, TMF covenants with the participants to provide over the next 12 months after the retreat a "day-apart" experience each quarter in which the Executive Director returns to spend a day in prayer, conversation, and practical theological reflection with the participants.
  • For ongoing enrichment, TMF also will provide a "Book-of-the-Month" reading list for participants and an opportunity to join one another in online discussion of each month's selection.
  • At the end of the 12 month involvement together, the group will be offered the chance to gather on a "day-apart" for a time of worship, prayer, and re-commitment of life in the service of God.

This experience can be utilized to fulfill any continuing education credits that a pastor's denomination or church might require.