Bishop Kemper School for Ministry
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Student Retreats

Every summer, Bishop Kemper School hosts spiritual retreats for students. Why begin or continue your studies with a retreat?
  • Your spiritual formation is the bedrock of your theological formation at Bishop Kemper School for Ministry. 
  • Your spiritual practices will nurture and fuel your life as a student, and they are essential for you life as a faithful leader in the church, whether lay or ordained.    
  • Participating a collaborative, mutually supportive and encouraging community is central to your BKSM experience. 

There are three different student retreat weekends, depending on your cohort and program. All three retreats will be facilitated by Brother James Dowd, OSB, of the Benedictine Way in Omaha, Nebraska. Brother James also teaching Christian Spirituality at BKSM.
  • July 7-9: First-year students on a deacon or priest track
  • July 14-16: Second-year students on a deacon or priest track; Anglican Studies students; Lay Track students; & PMA students
  • July 21-23: Third-year students

Throughout the weekend, you will:
  • form and strengthen relationships with fellow students, staff and colloquium leaders
  • learn essential prayer practices
  • spend time in prayer, alone and  in community
  • worship together
  • enjoy fellowship during meals and reception times

General Information

Location for the first two  retreats
BKSM is located in the lower level of Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave. Overnight accommodations are available onsite at Upton Hall and are included in the cost of registration. Check in begins at 3:00 on Friday afternoon.  If you prefer to stay in a hotel, there are several in the downtown area (Hotel Topeka at City Center and the Cyrus Hotel) and many others throughout Topeka.

The third-year retreat is a guided silent retreat off site, taking place at Christ's Peace House of Prayer in Easton, Kansas.

Schedule
You will receive a detailed schedule upon arrival. However, the retreat weekend will begin on Friday evening with dinner at 6:00, and the opening session at 7:00. The weekend will wrap up around noon on Sunday.

Cost
The registration fee  is $125 for the two retreats taking place at Upton Hall, which covers the cost of food, lodging and materials.   The registration fee for the third-year student retreat will be $200. As always, scholarships are available for anyone who needs one.

Contact us    
If you have questions that aren't answered here, please feel free to reach out to the Rev. Casey Rohleder ('16), director of communications, at (785) 259-4672 or bksmoutreach@gmail.com.

Register Here for the First-Year Priest/Deacon Student Retreat
Register Here for the Other Two Retreats
Address for Tuition Payments/Donations:
The Very Rev. Don Compier, BKSM Dean
410 SE Independence Ave.

Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Physical Address:
Bishop Kemper School for Ministry

701 SW 8th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603

The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry is a collaborative venture of the Episcopal Dioceses of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas.
BKSM also partners with the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
BKSM offers classes and programs to educate people for church leadership in both lay and ordained vocations.