The key to good leadership is consistent communication. Your church staff and lay leaders likely have regular meetings and keep in touch via email, and that is what keeps your community strong. Occasionally, however, you need a little more time together. You can use a leadership retreat to hash out more complicated issues or simply distribute responsibilities more evenly. The first step to a successful event is a solid plan.

Choose a Theme

Brainstorming a theme for your church leadership retreat may give you flashbacks of planning the prom in high school. The reason a theme is so important, though, is that it gives your whole plan a firm foundation. Just like you wouldn't plan a meeting solely for the sake of having a meeting, you also don't want to ask people to put aside time for a retreat that has no real purpose. Finding that overarching guide leads you to your theme for the event.

Ask yourself and your team why this retreat is necessary. You may want to come up with ideas on how you can connect better with the congregation. Helping the staff learn good self-care habits may be your main agenda. Get a head start on planning service projects for the upcoming season at a retreat. Most churches have at least one pressing issue that they need to address, and that issue can serve as an organizational tool for your time together.

Select Attendees

A common mistake that many event planners make is creating a guest list that is too broad. While you certainly don't want to leave anyone out who needs to be present, keep in mind the specific work you'll be doing and whether each person on the list needs to be part of the conversation. For example, if your theme is improving the relationship between the pastor and the congregation, you probably want to limit the invitees to the main leadership group of the church, such as the deacons or church council. This allows you to handle potentially sensitive topics with a smaller group of people so that you can have more productive conversations.

Find a Location

Once you know who will be attending, you should start scouting for good locations. If it is a small group, someone's home may be a frugal and cozy choice. A larger group, however, requires more space, particularly if your retreat is going to last several days. You not only need ample room to meet but also must take into account the solitude and free time that attendees will need to balance potentially intense group work. 

Set the Agenda

Finally, create an agenda that allows you to accomplish your goal. Break down the theme into smaller topics, then assign each one adequate time on the itinerary. Keep in mind the person leading each session so that the same speaker isn't guiding two discussions back-to-back. This gives those in charge of the work a break.

A retreat agenda shouldn't be all business. Include intentional opportunities to build each other up or have fun. In fact, the more serious your main theme is, the more breaks you need to take. There are several things you can do to lighten the mood and help attendees relax:

• Scavenger hunt
• Karaoke
• Board games
• Hiking
• Trivia competition
• Campfire

A church leadership retreat is an opportunity to get away from everyday responsibilities so that you can focus on the next best step for your faith community. No matter how well you communicate on a regular basis, the occasional reset is necessary. By putting sufficient thought into planning a successful retreat, you can create an event that is both productive and refreshing for all who attend.