Ascending and Coming Back Down the Mountain - Conferences

I just got home Sunday evening from a conference called Canada Youth held by the Presbyterian Church in Canada and I think I’m still transitioning back to “real life”.

We all should take the opportunities we find to stay sharp and to remember that we are always learners first. None of us will ever know it all and be able to say there is nothing left for us to learn to do our roles better. Sadly, too many clergy and other church workers forget this.

Not only was the conference a great chance to find out some new information and an awesome privilege to share in the two workshops I led, but it had many other fringe benefits. I got to:
- see good friends who are no longer nearby and talk shop with people who “get it”
- meet new people and learn from their stories
- worship as a participant with a big crowd when normally I’m the one at the front, with the side benefit of learning some new music and approaches
- be away from home and set apart somewhere else to experience God

Yes, sometimes it is often expensive to attend a conference. While churches should be setting aside funds to invest in their leadership this often doesn’t happen. However, sometimes it is really worth it to make the effort to find funding sources or bite the bullet and pay for it yourself. Your spiritual and vocational well-being are important and can soar through opportunities like a conference.

How do you maximize a continuing education experience? Consider the following:

1. Do your research ahead of time to make sure it’s the right fit for you time-wise, cost-wise, location-wise and content-wise. Who is leading it? Do they fit closely with your own theology so that you won’t be distracted by constant challenges to your beliefs and approach to ministry? American events often reflect their context of ministry which is much different from a Canadian context. How far are you willing to travel and how does this impact the cost? Will this meet at least some of your needs? How easily can you get the time off to go?

2. Find out as much as you can about where you are going so that you plan and pack well. If you’re going to maximize your time there, you don’t want to be racing out to find a supermarket or mall to find things you didn’t realize you needed. Prepare your heart and mind as well as your spirit. Use travel time there to transition and unplug from worries at home and to build anticipation for what is coming. Pray for God to show you what you need and to speak through what you will experience.

3. Know yourself and how much to take in before you reach your limit. This can take practice to hit it right. Some people are thrilled to stay up late talking with new friends and happy to catch up on sleep back at home. Others know they need to punch out early to have time to absorb the content and get lots of rest to be ready for the next day. Take the opportunity to spend time in a prayer or spirituality centre or worship space as part of your day. Don’t fill your schedule so chock full of content that you are exhausted.

4. Decide how much this opportunity is a chance to a) hobnob and make connections for potential employment or partnerships, b) network and make friends doing the same work as you, c) reconnect with old friends and/or d) focus on yourself and be recharged. Use your free time wisely to do these things so that you don’t arrive at the last day disappointed that it hasn’t happened.  

5. Take advantage of the resources available. You will forget things, so take notes or gather handouts or powerpoint slides and/or arrange for access to online content, podcasts or other recordings of presentations so you can revisit what you have learned. If there is a bookstore of relevant resources or displays, check them out. For some people (like me) it is dangerous to go to the bookstore. Set limits ahead of time on how much you can spend and prioritize what is most important to purchase there. Saving on shipping costs alone can make it worth buying at a conference rather than online at home.

6. Coming home, allow yourself time to process the event including any highs and lows. These experiences can be highly emotional for lots of reasons and can allow for healing, self-understanding and transformation. Don’t just stuff that in a box and move on to the next thing, but take time to contemplate it. Share with a good friend what you have experienced. Do some kind of transitional activity to help you return to normal life, whether that is just unpacking and doing laundry or sorting through your handouts or having a special meal or organizing your photos.

Take advantage of the great work of people who provide opportunities that nourish and grow you as a leader of children and youth. Remember that your calling to this work is important and vital, and that you are also necessary to the life of your congregation. Part of self-care is replenishing at the well. May you find rejuvenation when you do!