PASTORAL COHORTS
Binding pastors together for the long and weary road of gospel faithfulness.
“This past week was truly fantastic! I think it will be a sort of Ebenezer I go back to regularly in my mind. I love those guys and they love me. I felt known and seen by a fantastic group of pastors… Thank you so much for putting it all together! It was truly wonderful!”
Pastor Keaton Paul
“This morning I woke up with so much gratitude and joy in my heart, so much rest and relief in my body and so much expectant hope. Y’all have done an amazing job in providing a safe and healing space for us… I simply wanted to say thank you!”
Pastor Adam Coppock
“The recent retreat to Scottsdale with the group was a sweet time of fellowship, vulnerability, and care that I have not experienced in years… I pray these cohorts can be the start of a beautiful ministry to the pastors of the PCA.”
Pastor Luke Wolfe
Why Pastoral Cohorts?
Pastoral ministry is a unique calling that often intersects with life’s hardest moments – and it’s not meant to be done alone. Our cohorts help pastors build supportive relationships, develop rhythms of rest and renewal, and navigate leadership challenges together. These connections are vital for long-term ministry health and resilience.
Our cohorts provide a trusted circle of fellow pastors for support, encouragement, and growth. Each cohort meets twice a year for two years at in-person retreats (Spring and Fall), led by a trained facilitator. These retreats offer rest, good food, outdoor refreshment, and deep connection. Between retreats, monthly video calls help pastors build resilience, share experiences, and pray together.
How to Get Started
1. Reach out to learn more about our cohorts
Fill out the interest form below to explore what it looks like to join a cohort. We’ll follow up with details, next steps, and how to get connected.
2. Download all the details
Learn more about what to expect in our pastoral cohorts including the time commitment, cost, and what you need to ask of your session. You can download those details here.
3. Speak with your Session for support
We want Sessions to support and send the pastors. We sincerely believe that Sessions intend to care for their pastors, but they need help figuring out how to do that. We have a separate explainer for you to present to your Session that you can download here.
4. Fill out an application
If you or a pastor you know is looking for a space to be encouraged, renewed, and reminded that you’re not alone in ministry, we’d love to have you join us. Please fill out an application, as we have limited spots available. Applications for 2026 cohorts are open to Lead/Senior or Solo Pastors until the end of October 2025.
Learn More About Pastoral Cohorts
FAQ’s
Who can participate in a cohort?
Age and stage are important for grouping pastors in a cohort. We want you to be in a cohort with other pastors who understand your experience without you needing to explain it to them. They get you.
This round of cohorts is open to Senior/Lead Pastors and Solo Pastors.
How long are the pastoral cohorts?
There is a two-year commitment. But we desire that the Lord Jesus would knit these cohorts together so that they cannot think of do gospel ministry apart from this band of brothers.
When do the pastoral cohorts start?
Our next round of cohorts will start in January of 2026. In-person retreats will be in February/March and October of 2026.
How often do pastoral cohorts meet?
Twice a year for an in-person retreat in a beautiful setting. And then monthly over Zoom.
How large are the pastoral cohorts?
Deep relationships are essential to our cohorts. Cohorts consist of 5-7 pastors each. We also believe that age and stage are important. We keep cohorts open only to Senior/Lead/Solo Pastors at the moment.
How do I get into a pastoral cohort?
Contact us at wellbeing@genevabenefits.org. We will answer any questions and provide information on costs. We will give you details to share with your elders and guide you through the application process.
How can I pay for the pastoral cohort?
We believe that the local church should care for its pastor’s well-being. We will provide you with information to share with your Session and are available to answer any questions they may have. We have found that most Sessions want to ensure their pastors are cared for and are willing to cover the costs. At the end of the day, it is more cost-effective to support a pastor’s well-being than to replace him after burnout.
How can I get a downloadable version of all the cohort information?
A PDF version is available for download here. It includes all the details covered on this page for easy offline access.
How can pastors thrive on the long road of ministry?
Watch this webinar to hear Rev. Jon Medlock provide a helpful framework for ministerial wellbeing, along with insight from his research into the wellbeing of PCA pastors.