2025 Pastors' Gathering: An Examen

The 2025 Pastors Gathering took place at Niagara Falls, Ontario, on October 27-29.  After I checked in to the hotel where the gathering took place, I remember pulling up a chair next to the window and just sat there staring, mesmerized by the amount of water falling over the edge of the Falls.

The next day I walked down to the Table Rock Welcome Centre and found a spot next to the edge of the falls where I recorded a video and sent it to my mother.  She texted back, “You’re too close Tim!! Your mother wants you to move further away!”

Our plenary speaker, Sean Nemecek, presented on ministry burnout. During a special breakout session with the chaplains, Sean provided further insights and led discussion on institutional burnout and how chaplains can serve not only those in their care but also co workers and leaders in organizations that are experiencing burnout.

I realized that I personally have been experiencing emotional burnout and now had some language and concepts to help unpack the impact of personal grief and the loss of relationships as approximately 1/3 of endorsed chaplains have left the CRC. 

When one is experiencing burnout, it is hard to have much energy outside of trying to maintain a semblance of the status quo.  One’s perspective can get fixed on all that is wrong in the world and walls go up for protection. If this goes on for a while, a change in perspective is one of the steps that can lead to healing.

The spiritual practice of the examen of gratitude has helped me to see goodness and cultivate thanksgiving when experiencing burnout.  It is a shift in perspective to acknowledge that even in deep felt grief, there is still much to be grateful for.

So here is my 2025 Pastors Gathering examen:

       I am grateful for my Thrive co workers who put so much into the Pastors Gathering and it truly was a wonderful experience.

       I am grateful for time together for worship and to hear Sean and the time that chaplains could get together for our training.

       I am grateful for my military chaplains as we reflected on the continuing impact of our service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

       I am grateful for my mother’s love and concern and that she still wants to keep me “safe.”