Lombard Clergy Retreat (LCR) 2027, Epworth By The Sea retreat center, St Simons Island, GA

Learn and Grow

Two featured guest speakers - Dr. Darla Deardorff from Duke University and Dr. Barbara Laymon from the Bowen Center,  plus the LMPC executive director, Rev. Jay Wittmeyer- will foster your personal and professional development. Lectures will help you grow your resilience, effectiveness, non-anxious presence, and stave off burnout not through quick-fixes or flashy techniques but through deepening your understanding of yourself.

Process and Connect

Each day also includes time to connect with other clergy from diverse backgrounds. Breakout groups will enable you to process presented materials with like-minded individuals. Small group sessions (also known as Family of Origin groups) will help you dig into the ways your past may be affecting your present ministry.

Restore and Renew

The Clergy Retreat also provides time to restore and renew. You can choose how you spend your free time: alone or with others, delighting in the beautiful natural surroundings, engaging spiritual practices, connecting with colleagues, taking a long nap.

Participants are also invited to bring spouses/partners/family members with them. While activities will not be organized for these guests, the retreat center offers an idyllic location to relax and the surrounding area has many activities. 

Schedule

• Wednesday 1:00 - 4:30 pm: Welcome and first presentations, first meal together is dinner
• Thursday 9:00am through 4:30pm:  Guest lecturer
• Friday 9:00am - 4:30 pm: Morning presentations and afternoon coaching sessions in small Family of Origin groups
• Weekend plans - we will survey registrants and facilitate as much or as little as you want to do, in company or in silence.  It is important to book museum visits and boat tours ahead of time, whether you wish to do this alone or with some fellow participants, as February is the start of tourist season on the barrier islands of Georgia.  We can help to coordinate transportation and make group bookings based on survey results 4-6 weeks in advance of the event.  Additional fees will apply for such activities and transportation.
• Monday 9:00am - 4:30pm:  Guest lecturer
• Tuesday 9:00am to noon:  Final presentations and farewells.  Our last meal together is Lunch on Tuesday.

If there is interest in coordinating transportation from Jacksonville, FL; Savannah, GA or the Brunswick, GA local airport on Wednesday morning or Tuesday afternoon, we can offer this.  Registrants will receive follow-up emails to guage interest in this before booking flights.  Additional nights may be added on weither end of the retreat, depending on availablility.  These additional nights do NOT include food service.

** Please note the following regarding cancellations, fees and refunds:

• Cancellations made within 3 weeks (21days) of arrival date will result in forfeiture of $50 per person to Epworth.  Registration fees may be refunded or transferred to another LMPC event with $100 service fee.
• Cancellations made within 2 weeks (14 days) of arrival date will result in forfeit of the first night charge per person to Epworth.  Registration fees may be refunded with a $300 fee or transferred to another LMPC event with a $100 fee.
• Cancellations made within 3 days (72 hours) of arrival date will result in forfeit of all charges for room, board and taxes per person to Epworth.  LMPC Registration fees will not be refunded.

Registration assistance is available.  To apply, please email admin@lmpeacecenter.org and request an application.