Resilient Leadership in Ministry: Retreats for Women Clergy

Ministry Was Never Meant to Break You—But Too Many Women Are Burning Out

The data is clear: women in ministry are facing burnout, relentless conflict, and systemic resistance at staggering rates. Many are exhausted, overworked, and questioning whether they can stay in the work they once felt called to.

And the numbers back it up.

My 2024 doctoral research, which included human subject research (HSR) surveys and interviews with women in ministry, revealed alarming trends about the realities of church leadership today—especially for women clergy:

• 98% of women clergy reported working in dysfunctional and hostile ministry environments, with nearly half (43%) describing their workplace as “high to extreme” hostility.

• 92% of pastors have considered leaving ministry, with 62% thinking about it “some to all of the time.”

• 49% have already left congregational ministry, and 21% have left ministry altogether.

• 74% of women clergy have been the direct target of conflict rather than just mediating it.

• 90% reported significant stress and conflict in their earliest years of ministry, yet 57% felt unequipped to handle it.

• Only 15% received strong institutional support in navigating these challenges—most were left to figure it out on their own.

The top reasons clergy are leaving ministry today:

1. Burnout, Overwhelm, & Compassion Fatigue (52%)

2. Dysfunctional Church Systems (48%)

3. Acute Stress, Anxiety, & Mental Exhaustion (38%)

4. Hostile Work Environments & Conflict (34%)

5. Disillusionment with Institutional Church (33%)

The biggest concerns for women clergy right now:

• Burnout (54%)

• Financial Insecurity & Pay Inequity (43%)

• Being Overworked, Taken Advantage Of (36%)

• Dying Congregations & Fear of the Future (30%)

• Gender Bias, Microaggressions, & Institutional Gatekeeping (30%)

Churches aren’t just declining—they are actively breaking the leaders called to serve them.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Training & Leadership Support for Women in Ministry

Ministry isn’t just a calling—it’s one of the hardest professions to sustain.

• Churches are shrinking.

• Clergy are burning out.

• Conflict is rising.

• Ministers are leaving in record numbers, often feeling isolated, unprotected, and unprepared for the realities of leading in today’s church.

This work is too important for leaders to burn out before they can make an impact.

These retreats create spaces to breathe, reset, and equip yourself with real, science-backed tools to sustain your calling—without losing yourself in the process.

Who These Retreats Are For

• Women clergy and faith leaders - navigating the unspoken realities of ministry—including:

• Ordained & Lay Women in Ministry – Pastors, chaplains, transitional leaders, and faith leaders managing the pressures of ministry as a woman in male-dominated spaces.

• Clergy Experiencing Burnout or Exhaustion – If you feel mentally depleted, spiritually drained, or emotionally exhausted, this retreat will help you recover, reframe, and rebuild.

• Women in Conflict-Rich Ministry Spaces – Those dealing with toxic church systems, gendered resistance, congregational conflict, or chronic institutional dysfunction.

• Seminary Students & Emerging Leaders – Those preparing to step into ministry and wanting real tools to sustain their leadership before burnout begins.

This retreat is not about surface-level encouragement, platitudes, or telling you all of the things you already know - it’s not that you don’t know the issues - it’s that rarely does anyone actually teach you the “how-to” navigate these problems successfully, with authentic joy and authority.

Fortunately, it’s the “how-to” that I teach.

My retreats are about actually equipping you with practical, science-backed strategies to lead well, set boundaries, and navigate church conflict with confidence.

Topics You Can Experience

1. Clergy Burnout Recovery & Prevention: Learn how to rewire your nervous system for resilience and energy renewal so that ministry doesn’t keep draining your mental, emotional, and spiritual reserves.

2. Conflict & Leadership in Dysfunctional Systems: We’ll break down real-world, practical strategies for navigating church conflict, unhealthy power dynamics, and toxic workplace cultures.

3. Boundaries & Sustainable Leadership Practices: Discover how to set and maintain boundaries in ministry—without guilt, backlash, or the fear of being seen as “not pastoral enough.”

4. The Psychological Impact of Gender & Leadership in the Church: Explore the unspoken realities of being a woman in ministry—including subtle bias, microaggressions, and the internalized pressure to prove yourself.

5. The Science of Ministry Mindshift Resilience: Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and trauma-informed leadership, you’ll gain tools to retrain your brain, manage stress, and build long-term mental clarity.

Meet Your Retreat Leader: Dr. Charlie M. Hornes, DMin, BCC, MCPC

• PCUSA Ordained Minister (since 2012)

• APC/BCCI Board-Certified Chaplain

• TMEC Certified Transitional Minister

• Doctor of Ministry | Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

• Master of Divinity | Union Theological Seminary, New York City (Columbia University, NYC)

• Podcast Host | The Art of Managing Your Brain (400K+ Subscribers, 74M+ Impressions)

• Specialist in Clergy Burnout, Church Conflict, and Women’s Leadership in Ministry

I’ve spent over a decade working in high-stakes ministry spaces—from pastoring through institutional dysfunction to serving as a frontline chaplain in trauma units, ICUs, and end-of-life care. My doctoral research focuses on vocational burnout, religion and trauma, and leadership in high-conflict church settings.

But beyond the credentials, I’ve lived what I teach.

I spent 11 years in high-conflict ministry environments, navigating toxic leadership, gendered resistance, unsustainable expectation, the gender bias gap and “double-bind,” and the relentless pressure to be everything to everyone.

These retreats are not about surface-level self-care—it’s about a real mindshift transformation.

What You’ll Walk Away With

• A Clear, Actionable Plan for Preventing Burnout & Managing Stress

• Strategies to Set Boundaries & Lead with Confidence—Without Backlash

• Tools for Navigating Conflict, Dysfunction, & Resistance in Church Leadership

• The Science of Resilience—How to Rewire Your Mind & Nervous System for Sustainability

• A Community of Women Who Get It—Who Are in This Work With You

Why These Retreats? Why Now?

• Because 92% of clergy think about leaving ministry.

• Because 74% of women clergy have been the direct target of church conflict.

• Because 49% of clergy have already left.

• Because you shouldn’t have to sacrifice yourself to serve others.

• Because women and society have been socialized to believe women should be overly self-sacrificing and accommodating, should suffer in silence and “not rock the boat” or be seen as “difficult,” and are often their own harshest critic.

Ministry doesn’t have to feel like dying by a thousand fish bites. You don’t have to live in constant exhaustion, resentment, self-doubt, or held hostage by your survival instincts of “fight/flight/freeze/fawn” always on high alert.

If you’re ready to step back, reset, and finally reclaim the leader you were called to be—this retreat is for you.

Spots are limited. Secure your place now.

APPLY NOW