Pastor Cohort

This cohort is designed for pastors who want to move beyond simply working for God and rediscover what it means to be with God. Using With God Every Day: A Flexible Framework for Spiritual Practice as a shared resource, participants will explore their spiritual lives, reflect on the ways ministry can shape—or crowd out—their relationship with God, and develop a sustainable daily practice rooted in relationship rather than obligation.

The goal is not to give pastors one more thing to do. It is to create space to notice where God is already present, attend to their own souls, and practice being with God without feeling the need to produce something in return.

The Central Invitation: Before you are a pastor, you are a person loved by God. Before you do anything for God, you are invited to be with God.

Cohort Details & Support

·       When: Four Fridays at 12:00 p.m. Central Time.

·       Where: Online via Zoom. The host will provide the meeting link.

·       Recordings: Sessions will be recorded. Participants will receive information about how recordings will be shared and accessed.

·       Individual spiritual direction: Participants may schedule a free individual spiritual direction session during the cohort. Details and scheduling can be coordinated with the facilitator.

·       After the cohort: Participants may explore ongoing spiritual direction and continued connection with other pastors for mutual encouragement, reflection, and ministry support.

Because spiritual direction depends on trust and personal sharing, participants should understand that group sessions are recorded. Please avoid sharing details you would not want included in a recording, and confirm with the facilitator how recordings will be stored, who can access them, and whether any portions involving sensitive sharing can be paused or excluded.

Guiding Principles

·       Presence before productivity. Spiritual practices are invitations to relationship, not another ministry assignment to complete.

·       Honesty before appearances. Participants may acknowledge dryness, distraction, exhaustion, doubt, joy, or longing without needing to sound like the pastor they are expected to be.

·       Curiosity before correction. Listen for God’s movement rather than fixing one another or offering unsolicited advice.

·       Flexibility before formulas. Daily practice may look different according to personality, season of life, responsibilities, and spiritual needs.

·       Grace before guilt. Missing a practice is not a spiritual failure. Returning to God is itself an invitation.

Group Spiritual Direction Covenant

·       Confidentiality: What is shared stays in the group, except where safety or legal obligations require otherwise. Remember that the group is recorded; follow the facilitator’s guidance about recording and sensitive sharing.

·       Listening: Listen to understand and discern, not to prepare a response.

·       No fixing: Resist giving advice, offering solutions, or comparing spiritual experiences.

·       Spaciousness: Silence is welcome. No one is required to speak.

·       Nonjudgment: There is no ideal pastor’s spiritual life to perform for this group.

·       Attentiveness: Ask, “Where might God be present in this?” rather than, “What should you do about this?”

·       Freedom: Participants may pass on any question or practice.

Facilitator’s role: Hold space, guide the rhythm, protect silence, and help participants attend to their experience of God. The facilitator is not responsible for producing a breakthrough or solving another pastor’s struggles.

Four-Week Overview

Prep Weeks —

You will need the following materials: With God Every Day: A Flexible Framework for Spiritual Practice and a journal

Week 1 — The Pastor and the Person

Notice the difference between being with God and working for God. Reflect on identity, calling, and the pressure to be spiritually productive.

Week 2 — Making Room for Presence

Notice what helps or hinders attentiveness to God. Explore daily rhythms, distractions, and spiritual practices.

Week 3 — When Being with God Feels Difficult

Make room for dryness, resistance, grief, and longing. Release performance and explore the freedom of coming to God as you are.

Week 4 — A Rule of Life for Real Life

Choose a flexible, sustainable way of returning to God. Reflect on what you have discovered and establish a personal rhythm for the season ahead.