Pastor Wellness Retreat
With Roy Howard and Becca Niemeyer
September 20 - 24, 2026
We live in unprecedented times – division, isolation, spiritual hunger paired with institutional skepticism in particular leave a mark on what it means to lead communities of faith. We believe in a God who works resurrection through the darkest seasons – we invite you to discern a way forward in your personal and ministerial life as a community exercise. Join us for a retreat full of rest, play, and spiritual renewal. We’ll have space to explore the wonders of nature, and time to intentionally collaborate around the evolution of pastoral practice for contemporary culture and congregational reality.
General scope of our time:
Practicing Curiosity: We’ll read a couple books in advance to help us launch conversation. These readings will center around the realities of doing ministry in today’s world, and the work it takes to cultivate collegial and collaborative church culture.
Core Books: These books are meant to inspire and catalyze our conversations together as well as nourish our inner lives (participants purchase their own copies):
Everything Could Be A Prayer – Kreg Yingst offers 100 meditations accompanied by woodcut images on saints and martyrs of the Christian faith. We will explore some of these during our time together. Check out his work @psalmprayers
What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience – Tish Harrison Warren is an Anglican Priest and published author, well versed in exploring the intersection of Christian faith and societal realities. This book offers an exploration of spiritual deepening in an age of distraction, and we hope it will spark conversation for how we ground ourselves in God, as well as invite others to the same idea.
Supplemental Content: We will communicate about podcasts and articles that are also sparking the imagination about faith in today’s world. These elements will not be required reading/listening, but will enhance our experience together.
Play: Let’s laugh, explore, have fun, and relax. Our property and location are stunning in the fall – we hope you delight in these woods as well. All recreational activities are optional, and any hikes will be at the level all interested parties feel comfortable with.
Requirements: One hour zoom a month ahead of our retreat, sometime early Sept. (time TBD depending on participants availability), and required reading (see above).
Limited scholarships available. We encourage Pastors to inquire with support in their tradition (denominational entities, etc) to explore possibilities to help offset the cost if your church cannot support the entire cost. Email Becca to inquire about additional scholarship options.
If you have to cancel within 10 days of the event, no refund will be issued. If you have to cancel 11 or more days before the event, you will be issued a refund minus an administration fee of $50. If ICEC has to cancel the event due to extreme weather or any other reason, you will have the option to hold your payment in credit for a future event or stay, or to receive a refund.
*Our kitchen can accommodate special diets/allergies with advance notice, but to do this service requires a 15% increase to the meals for the person(s) needing the special diet since our retreats are kept to a small level of participants. This is simply to cover food costs. Select and identify your needs at registration and our Food Services Director will follow up with any questions.
About the Leaders
Roy Howard
Roy Howard has been in pastoral ministry for 35 years. He recently served for 19 years as the Lead Pastor of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in N. Bethesda, Maryland. He is a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation and has a vital ministry coaching pastors around the country and leading retreats for pastors and […]
Learn more about Roy HowardBecca Niemeyer
Becca grew up in Seattle, WA and has never ventured far from the PNW for too long. She graduated from UW with a BS in Public Health, and went on to receive her MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2011. She returned to WA to direct a college ministry in Pullman working with college students […]
Learn more about Becca NiemeyerCategory : CFCC Programs and Events