The
East Tennessee Episcopalian May
2000 |
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Assessing
the Need by Pam Doty According to the Rev. Bo Lewis, rector of Church of the Resurrection, Loudon, the formal search for a solution has been ongoing for several years. Back in 1996, a group tried to plan a diocesan camp for third and fourth graders using rented facilities. The plan fell through because none was available at times when the children could come. In the spring of 1999, at the request of Bishop vonRosenberg, the Camp Task Force of the Spiritual Formation Group presented Bishop and Council with a proposal for a camp and conference center for the Diocese of East Tennessee. Bishop and Council appointed a committee to conduct a need/feasibility study for presentation at the 17th Annual Convention. According to the survey form presented at convention, "this committee envisions a ‘Holy place, set apart,' a place for retreat and renewal; a ‘living room' for the diocese; a center for young people; and expression of ourselves as ‘one church.'" The committee has solicited responses from groups and individual within the diocese while investigating how other dioceses find space for retreat and renewal. Through Area Mission Teams, Diocesan program groups, clerical gatherings and "anywhere we can find ‘two or three gathered together,'" the committee has collected responses from as many East Tennessee Episcopalians as could be found. And what they have heard is this: "This Holy Space will be a wonderful and needed addition to our diocese. It will open possibilities that we can't even imagine and take care of what we know we need now perfectly. This has been talked about so much and now it is time to act." "This center is much needed to enhance the spirit and unity of the Diocese. It's time to venture forward." Armen Epperson, Lay Director for the East Tennessee Episcopal Cursillo (E.T.E.C.), said, "A camp/conference center centrally located in the diocese and handicap accessible would be welcomed by E.T.E.C., as we have groups of people participating in Cursillo from Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. To Norton, Va." Mary Gardner White, Diocesan Christian Education Committee Chairperson, said, "I believe that a Diocesan Camp and Conference Center will help to develop relationships between people all over our Diocese. These relationships will help strengthen participation in Diocesan events for all ages, our own church events, and help bring new life to our own church families." According to information collected by Lewis, nearly every diocese in the Episcopal Church has some kind of conference center. And having a place means people will come. Comparing the number of young people involved in summer camp gives an idea of what a conference center could mean to the growth and unity of the church. East Tennessee has approximately 13,000 communicants. In 1998, 88 young people attended Camp Gailor-Maxon at the DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle. In Arkansas, where there are 11,191 communicants, 600 children attended their camp program; in Western Louisiana with 10,500 communicants, 250 children attended camp; in East Carolina with 15,587 communicants, there were 600 campers in 1998. The committee is still in the assessment process. Four members recently attended a National Episcopal Camp and Conference Center gathering. Lewis said, "We were greatly encouraged that most (camp and conference centers) were planning for grown with successful, well-attended programs." The group has hired the Rev. Jack Anderson, executive director of Episcopal Camp and Conference Centers, Inc., as a consultant for the assessment process. Anderson has been director of the Virginia Diocesan Center at Roslyn, Va. for 20 years and has served as a consultant with more than 60 camp and conference centers. The Camp and Conference Center Committee is still soliciting thoughts and ideas. The members are trying to visualize how such a facility could be used to fulfill the mission of the church. Drop a note to the committee at:
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