November 3 – 5, 2025
Shallowbrook Farm Retreat & Conference Center
11599 County Rd 200 N, Bradford, IL 61421
The LCMS Central, Northern, and Southern Illinois Districts invite you to a time of retreat this fall with your colleagues in ministry.
The Illinois DCE Retreat will be held Monday, November 3, 2025 through Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at the Shallowbrook Farm Retreat & Conference Center, 11599 County Rd 200 N, Bradford, IL 61421 (about 45 minutes southwest of LaSalle and 40 minutes north of Peoria).
We are pleased to have a time to connect together, be in God’s Word and mutual fellowship, enjoy a time of rest and respite, and time dedicated to teaching on balancing our various vocations led by Rev. Dr. Jeff Leininger, author of the book, Callings for Life: God’s Plan, Your Purpose. Pastor Jeff served for over 20 years as campus pastor at Concordia Chicago and now is back in the parish at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Chicago.
Registration
Registration opens June 2, 2025. You may register online for the event and overnight accommodations at Shallowbrook Farm Retreat & Conference Center.
Presenter: Pastor Leininger serves First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, an historic congregation in the Old Town neighborhood on Chicago’s near north side. From 2002 until 2023 he served Concordia University Chicago as Campus Pastor and Director of the Pre-Seminary program. He has a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Ecclesiastical History from Cambridge University, and publishes on the topics of the English Reformation and the use of theatre in the Church.
His recent book, Callings for Life: God’s Plan, Your Purpose, applies Luther’s theology of vocation to the daily life of the Christian.
Pastor Leininger lives in Maywood, IL, with his wife, Rachel, and their children, Grace (21) and Andrew (15).
Register now online
Registration deadline is October 22, 2025.
Important information
Each attendee must register separately. Registration includes the cost for both the retreat itself and overnight housing at Shallowbrook Farm. Please indicate in the registration process if you will be staying overnight.
Registration cost:
$75 (includes housing)