New Partnerships for PCCCA
by Joel Winchip, Executive Director of the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association

The year 2008 was an incredible time for new partnerships with the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association. It was the culmination of a long relationship with the camps and conference centres of The Presbyterian Church in Canada . During that year, the association also formed an educational partnership with Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur , Georgia .

Our New Partnership with The Presbyterian Church in Canada
Although cross-border cooperation had probably begun years before, the camps and conference centres of The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) were first sent brochures for the PCCCA Annual Conference when it was held at the Massanetta Springs Conference Center ( Harrisonburg , VA ) in 1998. It was from this mailing of brochures that a sister camp relationship developed between Bethelwoods Camp and Conference Center (York, SC) and Gracefield Camp and Conference Centre (Gracefield, QC). These two sites began exchanging pictures, summer staff t-shirts and notes of encouragement back in 2000. This eventually led to an exchange of summer staff, which started in 2004. Kat Ward , a former summer staff member at Gracefield, is now the full-time Program Director at Bethelwoods.

Some of the first Canadian participants at a PCCCA Annual Conference were Alan and Dorothy Herbert of Gracefield and Don Mackay of Camp Geddie (Merigomish, NS), when they came to Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly (Hunt, TX) in 2002. When asked about that first experience, Dorothy Herbert said, “We learned how to do strategic ministry planning for camps, site and facilities design. We learned about board structures and taking care of ourselves. It was awesome, and we’re still using what we learned.” In the years that followed, representatives from Camp d'action Biblique (Richmond, QC) and Camp Kannawin (Sylvan Lake, AB) also attended the PCCCA Annual Conference.

In 2008, the PCCCA Board voted to extend three years of free membership (2009-2011) to the camps and conference centres of The Presbyterian Church in Canada . They were also given one free registration to an Annual Conference or a Program Connection over that same three-year period.

Dan Scheneman, the President of the PCCCA Board, and Joel Winchip , PCCCA Executive Director, traveled to Canada this past August to visit sites in Ontario and Quebec . They spent time at Gracefield, Glen Mhor/Iona (Baysville, ON), Camp Kintail (Goderich, ON), Camp Kummoniwannago (Waterloo, ON), Crieff Hills (Puslinch, ON) and Camp d'action Biblique. Dan and Joel also had the opportunity to visit with Dorothy Henderson , the Team Leader of the Vine Helpline, at the Toronto office of The Presbyterian Church in Canada . She was very interested in an official partnership between the PCC and PCCCA .

This meeting led to a request by the PCCCA Board to be endorsed as the recognized international association for the camps and conference centres of the PCC denomination. This proposal was approved by the Life and Mission Agency of The Presbyterian Church in Canada on November 5th. The actual wording of this agreement can be found here. Dorothy Henderson of the PCC said, "Camping and conference ministry is a vital part of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. It delights us to join in partnership with PCCCA. The resources, continuing education, support and networking provided by PCCCA is a boon to our denomination. "

During the Annual Conference held at Zephyr Point Presbyterian Conference center (Zephyr Cove, NV) this past November, Alan Herbert of Gracefield was elected to the PCCCA Board of Directors.

PCCCA is proud to welcome our Canadian brothers and sisters into the membership of the association. The locations and websites for these camps and conference centres can be found here. We have much to learn from one another and we look forward to the fruits of this wonderful partnership.

Our New Partnership with Columbia Theological Seminary (Decatur, GA)
Kathy Dawson, Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary (CTS), was approached by a student who asked if he could do a directed study in camp and conference ministry. She agreed and the next day he returned with the names of 11 other students who were interested in this study as well. Kathy knew that this was no longer a directed study- it was a class. She contacted Joel Winchip, the PCCCA Executive Director, who was then teaching a Camp and Conference Program and Administration course at Presbyterian College (Clinton, SC). In the spring semester of 2008, Joel taught a class of seven students at CTS.

With interest from both CTS and PCCCA for continuing this course, a meeting took place at the seminary in July with President Laura Mendenhall, Dean Cam Murchison, Director of Lifelong Learning Dent Davis, Dawson and Winchip. The topic of a consistent schedule of courses in camp and conference ministry quickly grew into a long list of ways that the seminary and PCCCA could work together.

The culmination of this brainstorm was a letter from the CTS Board of Trustees to the PCCCA Board of Directors. The new relationship agreed upon both parties, includes the following:

Consistent Schedule of Classes
Columbia Theological Seminary is committed to providing camp and conference ministry courses annually on their campus in the regular degree programs, as well as in their Lifelong Learning classes. The courses for basic degree students (Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Theological Studies) would be offered in their January term. The seminary will avail students of the opportunity to do their Supervised Ministry class at a PCCCA site. Advanced courses, as demand becomes apparent, will be offered at other times of the year. These courses will be taught by their faculty or by adjunct faculty who will be selected by the seminary in conversation with representatives from PCCCA.

Using PCCCA Sites as an Extension of the Seminary
The Lifelong Learning program at Columbia Theological Seminary will consider conducting some of its classes at PCCCA sites. Also they will assist in providing leadership for programs planned by PCCCA. The Lifelong Learning staff is willing to support such programs in terms of publicity and administrative assistance. 

Joint Poster Displayed at All Camps and Conference Centers
Denominational research has shown that many people have significant faith experiences at camps, conferences, and retreats. It is there that many first feel a call to ministry. Columbia Theological Seminary would like to work jointly with PCCCA to create a poster to be displayed at all camps and conference centers. This would invite participants to consider becoming a student at the seminary.

Certification and Advanced Degrees for Camp and Conference Professionals
Should PCCCA deem it useful, Columbia Theological Seminary will consider offering a certification program for camp and conference professionals. This could be offered through the seminary, perhaps linking it to the PC(USA) Certificate in Christian Education. Their faculty and staff would be interested in working with a PCCCA committee to investigate this possibility. The seminary is also willing to consider a specialization in Camps and Conferences as part of their Doctorate in Educational Ministries (D.Ed.Min.) degree program.

Programmatic Connection with PCCCA Events
Columbia Theological Seminary would like to make a formal tie with the programs offered by PCCCA. This could include co-hosting a future PCCCA Focus Event or Program Connection in conjunction with a local Presbyterian camp and conference center. They are also very interested in having their faculty serve as keynote speakers or workshop leaders at PCCCA programs.

Giving a Home to the Education of Camp and Conference Professionals
Columbia Theological Seminary is interested in becoming the school at the “top of the list” when people consider education as a part of a call to camp and conference ministry. This would be demonstrated at the seminary through its consistent schedule of classes. It would also be evident in their literature and even during their Conferences on Ministry Weekends for prospective students.

PCCCA is looking forward to a wondering relationship with Columbia Theological Seminary. Our Board will be making some decisions at their March meeting as to how we will move forward with projects like the certification program. We will keep the membership in the loop with occasional updates in the Branches Online enewsletter.