Understanding Our Moment | 2025 Elders’ Retreat Reflections

Sept 2025 Order of Elders retreat, Camp Zephyr, Sandia, TX.

From Sunday, September 14th to Tuesday, September 16th, members of the Order of Elders in the Rio Texas Annual Conference gathered for the annual Elders' Retreat at Camp Zephyr in Sandia, TX.

We were joined by Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey and Dr. Dallas Gingles, the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Assistant Dean of Hybrid Education, and Associate Professor of Practice in Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at the Perkins School of Theology.

Camp Zephyr in Sandia, TX.

Over the course of this intentional gathering, Rio Texas Elders endured the weather and rain to join Dr. Gingles in answering the question, "What does the famed and renowned theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer have to say to our current 'moment'?"

Dr. Dallas Gingles of smu perkins speaks about dietrich bonhoeffer.

By engaging with the question at hand alongside Dr. Gingles and my community of peers, I found some semblance of peace and growth in the midst of our noisy, chaotic world. Though there were many moments of encouragement and love that I will hold onto, my most formative takeaways from the retreat were related to the vast scope of our vocational calling as clergy and as elders.

Rev. Thomas hankins.

By working to understand Dietrich Bonhoeffer on his own terms, free from the projection of our 21st-century assumptions, I was reminded that our vocation is one of rigorous academic and theological analysis and understanding. As elders, what we say and do in the world matters. We must continue our journey of study and growth to best meet the "moments" that we will be presented with throughout our lives. We do not have the privilege of simply applying another pastor's and theologians' work onto our current times. Our vocation demands depth of thought and analysis, so we can understand how to live into our world most fully, in light of historical events and theological development.

But, more than anything, I was reminded that we cannot do this task alone. I cannot describe the encouragement I felt simply by being in a room full of others who were also engaged in this thoughtful approach to our vocation as Elders.

To live, grow, and develop alongside the Order of Elders was precisely what I needed to meet the moment. I hope that we continue this deep work as an Order. It is not light, nor is it simple…but neither is our work, nor is our moment. May God bless you in whatever moment you are in, and grant you the peace, love, and light of Christ.

Camp Zephyr in Sandia, TX.

Author: Rev. Thomas Hankins is an Elder in the United Methodist Church and currently serves as Pastor of Gaddis United Methodist Church in Comfort, Texas.