Cultivating Faithfulness Clergy Cohort

By Dawn Taloyo, Director of Pastoral and Congregational Health, PacNWC

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.” (NASB)

The first Pacific Northwest Conference “Cultivating Faithfulness Clergy Cohort” (CFCC) began in late September with a retreat at Cascades Camp. We were blessed with sun and a camp all to ourselves. The quiet space was not empty space, however! We were enriched with God’s Word, an inspiring article by Henri Nouwen, great conversation as we learned one another’s stories, and generous time to connect with God.

The purpose of the CFCC is to provide restful and listening spaces among colleagues for the purpose of sustaining and renewing one’s call to Christ and devotion to ministry. Guided readings, monthly spiritual practices, and quarterly retreats, assist us in our listening.  I have heard over and over how this came at just the right time for these colleagues, now friends.  Our monthly online video calls keep us connected as we share about life and the fruit of our practices, and then pray for one another.

I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to pilot this cohort, as I learn and adapt from my experience with the Fuller Formation Groups. In my experience, sharing life with others who “get it,” as well as purposefully creating space for practices and retreats that help me abide in Christ, have been essential in remembering Whose I am and why I do what I do. I am grateful for grants from the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence fund, as well as our PacNWC Ministerial Association, that has made this opportunity available and affordable.