In Sympathy: Erma Bryan
Mrs. Erma Bryan, the surviving spouse of deceased member Rev. Bill Bryan of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Location: Woodstock Loyola Retreat Center, 2710 S Country Club Rd, Woodstock
Woodstock Loyola Retreat Center
Navigating troubled waters-Trauma, Resilience, & Hope in Ministry
December 9 - 10, 2024
Opening Worship: Mon., Dec. 9 at 9 a.m.
Adjournment: Tues., Dec. 10 at 1 p.m.
Woodstock Loyola Retreat Center
2710 S Country Club Rd, Woodstock
Cost:
- $70 - Double room & Meals
- $120 – Single room & Meals (limited amount of single rooms)
- $50 - Commuter & Meals
- Opening Worship Preacher: Bishop Dan Schwerin
- Main speaker: Rev. Dr. Ron Bell
Director of Healing and Resilience for Discipleship Ministries & The Upper Room - Sharing groups after each presentation
- Panel discussion with clergy
- Worship and Music by the CCCR Clergy Group
GOALS:
- Fellowship among CCCR clergy
- Sharing experiences in a safe space
- Provide tools and resources to face trauma
Questions? Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, fgrandon-mayer@umcnic.org
Coordinated by Episcopal Office & Connectional Ministries Office
Sponsored by Conference Committee on Religion and Race
Rev. Dr. Ron Bell is the Director of Healing and Resilience for Discipleship Ministries and The Upper Room. He is passionate about emotional formation and the intersection of faith and mental health. Ron has served as a new-church-plant pastor, the Director over Congregational Development and SBC21 for the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference of the UMC, and a senior pastor of a traditional UMC church. He is an author and regular guest columnist for several publications. Three of his most popular books deal with grief and trauma: Is There Space for Me: Embracing Grief through Art; The Eagle and the Squirrel: Stories, Fables and Truths for Emotional Formation; and The Four Promises: Journeying through Past and Present Trauma. He has created an ongoing webinar series on trauma and empathy that he has led with several universities. Ron has a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Morgan State University, a master's degree in theology from Regent University School of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary. He has been certified in Trauma Response and Crisis Intervention by Rutgers University School of Social Work and has a Business Leadership Certificate from Central Piedmont Community College. Ron is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Ron is married to Dr. Eboni M. Bell, and they have two sons. Learn more.