The NWC Ministerial Association Retreat for pastors, church ministry staff and spouses is a fall favorite for pausing, and taking time to be renewed and encouraged with fellow colleagues. In an attempt to make this retreat as accessible as possible, we have shifted a number of things including: a more central location, at a later date, as well as beginning on a Sunday evening. This year’s retreat will take place Sunday, Nov. 1 – Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Lake Geneva Camp and Conference Center. We value the ability of our pastors and ministry staff to participate in this unique time together and hope these changes make it possible for many to join us!
This year’s theme is “Come Thirsty, Drink Deeply”. In the midst of pouring out for others, we sometimes neglect pausing for a cool drink for our own souls. We encourage you to come with your spouse or ministry team to experience a time of worship, prayer, rest and attentive listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
This year we will be building our time together around the Ignatian spiritual practice of the Examen. This is a form of prayer with 4 movements which include invitation/gratitude, consolation, desolation and looking forward. Each movement provides space to notice God’s presence and move in response to God’s activity in our lives and stories at present. While the Examen is often practiced individually, it also provides incredibly unique opportunities to listen together in community. We intend to weave these two dimensions together to help us hear from God for ourselves and with one another.
Registration: The cost for this year’s retreat is $354 for an individual room, $307 for a shared room, and $614 for a shared room with a spouse. Housing options include hotel style rooms with 2 queen beds and all rooms with private bathrooms, or there are a handful of houses with multiple bedrooms and shared bathrooms for groups.
We encourage you to grab dinner on our way to the conference location, as the main session will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday night. All meals Monday are provided and we will conclude with breakfast on Tuesday before the final session. Please register by Oct. 21, 2026. Payment can be made via check or online card payment (subject to a processing fee). Detailed instructions for both payment methods will be sent in your confirmation email.
Scholarships: The Ministerial Care and Development team is offering scholarships to help cover registration costs for the retreat. If you need financial assistance, email Matt Braun. We’ve got you covered!
Roommate Request: All parties are asked to request each other on their individual registration forms.
Dietary Restrictions: Please note any dietary restrictions you may have for the cooks at Lake Geneva and they are happy to accommodate any needs.