The 40th Town and Country Circuit Rider Retreat is set to take place Nov. 2-4 in West Branch, MI. Keynote speaker, the Rev. Peggy Paige, will explore the theme, “Small churches ARE vital.”

Rev. Paige is a long-time small church advocate in both the Detroit Conference and the United Methodist denomination. She served as District Superintendent in the now, Blue Water District of the Detroit Annual Conference, a region made up of over 80% town and country churches. Peggy is Vice President of the National Board of United Methodist Rural Advocates, which promotes the concerns and needs of rural churches. The UMRA advocates for rule changes at General and Annual Conferences that enable churches to better minister in their communities; provides education for rural church leaders; and supports lay and clergy leaders in personal growth for ministry. In retirement, Peggy and her husband, Jim, live in the Upper Peninsula near Ingalls.

Rev. Paige will be helping participants  look at the importance of the small church in United Methodism, and those things that small churches can uniquely offer. She will speak on a variety of topics aimed at the ministry and mission of the “small” (under 200 membership) church, both single and multiple point charges.

This is a Michigan Area event open to pastors and spouses from both the Detroit and West Michigan conferences. The retreat begins on Monday, November 2nd at 1:15 and will conclude by noon on Wednesday, November. 4th.

Registration is open through October 15. Click here for further details on cost and registration process.  Single occupancy $180; double occupancy $240. Includes two nights in the hotel, 1 dinner, 1 lunch and 2 breakfasts. Rate for commuters is $70.

 

Last Updated on October 20, 2023