Orthodox Christian Attorney Network

2026 OCAN National Retreat

"Law, Calling, & Renewal of the Soul"

April 24-26, 2026

St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Kansasville, WI

Register by March 10th for the Early Bird rate!

Join fellow Orthodox attorneys for a weekend of spiritual renewal, rest, and fellowship! Come to the peaceful St. Iakovos Retreat Center to learn together and reflect on our calling as attorneys and servants of Christ. Through thought-provoking sessions, worship, and time spent with colleagues who share your faith and vocation, this retreat offers an opportunity to (re)discover peace and joy in your work and career. 

The retreat will begin on Friday, April 24th with check-in at 4:30pm and dinner at 6:00pm, and will end on Sunday, April 26th at 12:00 noon after Liturgy, closing session, and lunch. 

Sessions

"Remember, Reveal, Renew:  Toward a Sacramental Understanding of Our Calling"

What is a calling? Where does it come from? How do we find it? How do we get it back? As Orthodox Christians each of us called by and to Christ, to be in communion with Him, in all that we see and do. This calling is most clearly expressed through the sacraments, The Holy Mysteries of the Church, but it extends to how we conduct our lives personally and professionally. Life lived broadly in this sacramental way is a life lived fully for and with Christ.

- Fr. David Khorey, J.D., Retired Partner, Varnum Law Firm |  Associate Pastor, St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Grand Rapids, MI

"Putting First Things First: Developing an Ascetically-Minded Vocation"

In the business world, professional success is often measured in terms of what I can gain: power, property, and prestige. But what about my responsibility to give? In this talk, Steven Christoforou suggests a vision of professional service that's developed with an ascetic eye, a vocation grounded in self-emptying rather than self-aggrandizement.

- Steven Christoforou, J.D., Executive Director FOCUS North America

Revised topic: "Apostolic Affiliates - Considerations in Forming Church-Affiliated Entities" (CLE)

This CLE seminar will discuss common church-affiliated organizations and how and why to form them. Such entities include ministry organizations, foundations, schools, daycares, property-holding entities, cemetery and burial entities, and others. The legal discussion will be framed around corporate, tax, and liability shielding considerations.
- Jesse Roberts, J.D., Of Counsel, Michael Best & Friedrich

(One hour of CLE credit is anticipated for: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, MN, MS, NV, NH, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI)

“Fireside Chat: Stories from the Trenches”

Hear stories and advice from veteran Orthodox attorneys about their careers and experiences in serving the Church.
- Joan Berg, J.D., Partner, Partner, Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC
- Lou Milicich, J.D., General Counsel, The Zaf Group

Plus plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with fellow attorneys!

Registration Fees

OCAN is offering packages that will cover all of your costs at the Retreat: lodging for two nights, meals, and access to all sessions. Fees include 5 meals: Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner; and Sunday lunch after Liturgy.  

A Day Pass may be purchased if not staying overnight, and it will cover meals and retreat costs for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

OCAN members receive up to a 20% discount.

The Tomaras Lodge, which is the main building at the Retreat, has a limited number of rooms available. Each room has a private bathroom, wifi, and balconies overlooking Friendship Lake. Please select from the following options:

• Private room if you are the only guest, or
• Shared room if you would like to be paired with another OCAN guest or your spouse 

Thanks to a generous donor, we are offering the Early Bird rate for up to 10 more rooms and an unlimited number of day passes.

Register today!

Overnight Lodging, meals, and fees

• Spouses of Members may attend for the Member Day Pass price (see below)
• Attendees may choose a roommate or we will randomly assign someone of the same sex

Day Only, meals, and fees (no lodging)

Questions? Contact us at:  Info@orthodoxattorneys.org

Transportation

The retreat center is in a peaceful, rustic spot about 1 hour from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (ORD), and about 30 minutes from Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport (MKE). Ride-sharing to and from the retreat center will be facilitated. Get to know other attendees on the ride there.

We recommend flying into ORD as early as possible between 1:00pm - 3:30pm, or to MKE 2:00 - 4:30pm, in order to arrive at the retreat center before dinner on Friday, April 24th. We will likely have multiple rides to the retreat center. Come early to enjoy some time of peace and quiet.

Sponsorships & Donations

We invite law firms, individuals, businesses, and other organizations to sponsor our OCAN Spring Attorney Retreat to help defray costs and provide scholarships for law students and other in financial need to attend the retreat. To be a sponsor, please make a donation with your retreat registration, or on our OCAN Donation Page, and contact us at: Info@orthodoxattorneys.org. 

For $500 or more, sponsors will receive:

• Logo placement on retreat website
• Half-page identification of sponsor in the retreat program
• Verbal acknowledgement of sponsorship at retreat
• The satisfaction of supporting a worthwhile ministry to the Orthodox legal community and Orthodox Church

Donations of any amount appreciated!

Financial Assistance

Law Students and attorneys in need of financial assistance may be able to obtain a partial scholarship. Please contact us for more information at: info@orthodoxattorneys.org

We look forward to seeing you there!

Please invite other attorneys (retired and active) and law students who may be interested.

Questions?

Contact: Info@orthodoxattorneys.org