Human systems are complicated, and churches are no exception. At their best, they draw out excellence in their people. At their worst, they become stuck --undermining and sabotaging even the most well-designed plans for change. Tending the Fire helps clergy “think systems” in their congregations and their personal lives, so they can lead change that lasts.

They can:

• Understand anxiety’s effects on churches

and individuals

• Be a healthy, non-anxious leader

• Manage complicated emotional relationships

• Avoid overwork and “underwork”

• Recognize and handle sabotage

• Discover the “next right steps” for their

churches and themselves.

Director / Retreat Leader

Rev. Barbara Lemmel is an ordained elder in the New England Conference of the UMC. She has served congregations in Vermont and upstate New York, facilitated conference re-structuring,
and offers programming and spiritual guidance to churches and pastors. Barbara studied Family Systems Theory with the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center in Chicago and the Center for 
Pastoral Effectiveness in New Orleans. She has led Tending the Fire retreats for clergy, laity and judicatory leadership since 2003. Barbara also offers one-on-one leadership coaching and
coordinates the Parish Consultants of the New England Conference UMC. For more information, visit www.tending-the-fire.com or email barblemmel@mac.com.

 

 

"Tending the Fire" is a three part program as noted below:
Participants must attend all three sessions.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Session 1 - Opening Intensive: April 30 - May 2, 2019  (Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI)
Session 2 - Deepening Retreat: June 4-6, 2019 (Edwards House, Framingham, MA)
Session 3 - Sending Retreat: September 24-26, 2019 (Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT)

This scheduled program is now part of the “Together We Thrive: Nurturing Pastoral Leadership” initiative, a collaboration of the TA1 Conferences of the United Church of Christ, The New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, that is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.


Cost per person for the three part retreat is $600.00.  Overnight accommodations are available at each location.  Please visit the registration page for more information.

For more information please visit www.tending-the-fire.com.