By Kevin Witt, Director of Camp & Retreat and Discipleship Ministries
The Board of Camp & Retreat Ministry and staff have prayerfully discerned four new horizons and visions to expand the missional impact and long-term vitality and sustainability of the conference’s camp and retreat centers and ministries. These efforts focus on making sure that camp and retreat ministries are adaptive and dynamic pathways of discipleship that are true extensions of the ministries of our local churches. Camp & Retreat Ministry, with our colleagues in local churches, will create new forms of ministry and collaboration that take seriously the needs of the changing landscape of society and the church. We look forward to talking with those of you who are leaders in local churches and extension ministries to dream together about new possibilities.
ONE
Develop Fresh Partnerships with Congregations to Help Enhance Relationships and Missional Outreach within their Local Communities.
Experiential faith formation is a powerful avenue for developing new relationships with people in fresh and dynamic discipleship opportunities.
A. Perhaps it is a new idea that Camp & Retreat Ministry can come collaborate with your congregations to bring the benefits of outdoor ministry to where you are. We are launching Camp in the Community in 2019, in which a new form of day camp will be done with local churches in their own local communities that will be bridging opportunities to form new relationships with families and individuals in your own communities. This approach is a very positive and beneficial way to create new pathways to relationship and discipleship.
B. We will also support congregations engaged in the Equipping Vital Congregations processes for creative ways to help these churches fulfill some of the new visions for strategic planning, outreach, and ministry that they will be developing. In addition to the wide array of camps and retreats being offered already, we know that there are also churches that want to plan their own retreats and camps designed with specific faith formation and missional outcomes related to their context. We are eager to help.
TWO
Extend the Wide Embrace of God Among Underserved Persons and Communities.
We will remove barriers and deepen relationships so those who participate and lead within our camp and retreat ministries more fully reflect the diversity of people and families living in our communities.
A. This project includes a major renovation and expansion of accessibility for persons with handicapping conditions, beginning with Wesley Forest.
B. Also underway is an initiative to establish partnerships with United Methodist urban ministries, congregations, and other partners to enable children, youth, and families to participate who now have financial or other barriers that hinder their involvement and access. This includes intentional relationship building and shared leadership with ethnic communities.
C. It is also clear that the northern region of our conference is underserved in terms of camp and retreat ministry opportunities due to distance and an historical affinity with Sky Lake Camp. We now have a new collaboration with Sky Lake.
THREE
Steward the Ministry to Healthy Growth and Vitality in order to Establish Greater Long-Term Capacity to Fulfill our Mission.
We are working diligently to expand our collaborations and grow the ministry by 20 percent by 2020, which will bring us more into alignment with other UM camp and retreat ministries that have reached a level that enables long-term health and vitality.
It is crucial that we steward the ministry well so that it will have the capacity to serve the conference and the region into the future as we reach more people in the fulfillment of our important shared mission.
We will be reaching out to caring donors who have a passion to make sure no one is prevented from attending UM camp and retreat ministries due to finances.
We will also be assessing rates and aligning our resources to expand the impact of these pathways of discipleship.
FOUR
Excel at Inspiring, Developing, and Renewing Christian Servant Leaders, Especially Those New to Their Roles.
Camps and retreats have long been one of the milestone experiences for many laity and clergy in discerning direction in life, hearing the call of God, growing in spiritual leadership, and finding rhythms of renewal and restoration.
It can be particularly challenging for laity and clergy new to leadership roles, so we want to be especially attentive to see that those persons also receive encouragement and assistance as we collaborate and coordinate with other groups in the conference focused on spiritual leadership development to expand the intentionality and opportunities to grow in spiritual leadership.
This includes collaborations with Young’s People’s Ministry of the conference in the training and support of persons leading local church youth ministries.
Meet the Team
 |
| Charlie Renner, | Center Director, | Greene Hills |
|
| | |
 |
| Emily Sliski, | Center Director, | Wesley Forest |
|
| | |
 |
| Joe Sprenkle | , Center Director | , Camp Penn |
|
| | |
 |
| Patty Weidman | , Center Director, | Mount Asbury |
|
| | |
 |
| Matt Williams, | Center Director, | Sky Lake |
|
| | |
 |
| Tricia Frye, | Administrative | Assistant, CRM |
|
| | |
 |
| Joni Robison | , Camping Assistant |
|
| |
 |
| Kevin Witt | , Director, Camp & Retreat and Discipleship Ministries |
|
| |
