SIM News

Walk Into the Future NYC Discernment Retreat

01/23/26

Day 1: Conversations That Matter

We began with World Café, a practice centered on meaningful conversation. Through shared dialogue, ideas and themes emerged that deepened mutual understanding and expanded each participant’s worldview.

“Speak to me and awaken me. Lead me toward what is true and real, and of you.”

Day 1 concluded with #PrayersForTheChurch—our collective longings for the church and for the journey we were beginning together.

Day 2: Storytelling & Holy Listening

Day 2 opened in a widened circle with the Covenants of Presence, an intentional ritual—similar to the Baptismal Promises—that grounded us in mutual commitment for this deep discernment work.

We then moved into storytelling and holy listening, exploring:

Blue Post-it notes: experiences of listening for truth

Green Post-it notes: helping others discern the sound of the genuine in themselves

Yellow Post-it notes: reflections from journals and shared observations

Together, we created a gallery wall of insight and memory—inviting one another to notice God’s presence in every story.

Day 3: Letting Go & Imagining What’s Next

Change requires release. Day 3 began with a belief-release exercise led by Dr. Courtney Cowart—both meditative and physical—inviting us to name what we cling to and practice letting it go.

From there, we turned toward hope. Participants visualized the future of the church we are being called to build, committing those visions to paper and sharing them in community. It was a powerful moment of collective imagination and courage.

Walk Into the Future with us as we bring these visions to life and continue listening for what the Spirit is calling forth in the church.

Inquiries regarding similar Walk Into the Future retreats—offering affinity groups, congregations, and dioceses across The Episcopal Church time apart to discern and design in community how God’s future is emerging—may be sent to cvcowart@simministry.org.