Religious leaders discuss how to keep faith in uncertain times
In this interview from NBC, Bishop Michael Curry and Rabbi Sharon Brous share tips for finding faith and unity at a time when the nation appears very divided.
In this interview from NBC, Bishop Michael Curry and Rabbi Sharon Brous share tips for finding faith and unity at a time when the nation appears very divided.
Kanuga and the Cloud of Unknowing
Michael Sullivan is the president and Chief Executive Officer of Kanuga, an independently operated Episcopal conference center (It’s not owned or supported by a diocese, congregation, or order.). He wrote this moving reflection about the pandemic and the ongoing uncertainty for the Living Church.
Sadness became our constant companion. We opened for limited retreats, gaining some revenue, yet that revenue would not cover expenses. While our advancement efforts yielded our best participation in the history of Kanuga, we faced the inevitable: we had to downsize yet again. We had to preserve the institution. The mission of Kanuga had to become our sole focus. Our goal was to survive as the gathering place for all people in the furtherance of the mission of the church.
Continue reading.
Michael Sullivan is the president and Chief Executive Officer of Kanuga, an independently operated Episcopal conference center (It’s not owned or supported by a diocese, congregation, or order.). He wrote this moving reflection about the pandemic and the ongoing uncertainty for the Living Church.
Sadness became our constant companion. We opened for limited retreats, gaining some revenue, yet that revenue would not cover expenses. While our advancement efforts yielded our best participation in the history of Kanuga, we faced the inevitable: we had to downsize yet again. We had to preserve the institution. The mission of Kanuga had to become our sole focus. Our goal was to survive as the gathering place for all people in the furtherance of the mission of the church.
Continue reading.
A National Service for Healing and Wholeness
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST. In the midst of pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST. In the midst of pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor.
Decomissioning Process Guide
This resource has been developed by the United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries association: Closing a camp or retreat ministry site is hard. The steps outlined in this document can help guide you in making decisions throughout the difficult process.
This resource has been developed by the United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries association: Closing a camp or retreat ministry site is hard. The steps outlined in this document can help guide you in making decisions throughout the difficult process.
5 Leadership Lessons From COVID-19
Have you given yourself time and space yet to reflect on what coronavirus has taught us? Here are 5 Leadership Lessons from COVID-19. There’s a common theme: Empathy.
Have you given yourself time and space yet to reflect on what coronavirus has taught us? Here are 5 Leadership Lessons from COVID-19. There’s a common theme: Empathy.
30 Reflections on Distanced Ministry
This compilation of reflections on “church during COVID” was recently shared with me, and I’m continuing to find new meaning each time I reviist. There are 30 reflections on socially-distanced ministry, and I invite you to find your own story or inspiration within.
This compilation of reflections on “church during COVID” was recently shared with me, and I’m continuing to find new meaning each time I revisit. There are 30 reflections on socially-distanced ministry, and I invite you to find your own story or inspiration within.
6 Tips for Connecting with People in the Digital Realm
The digital revolution has been transforming our lives for the past 30 years — at home, at work, and, yes, at church. But in the face of COVID-19, congregations have come to rely on digital connections in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a year ago. To fully engage the world today, we must continue to develop digital practices and relationships. It makes no sense to try and go back to the world as it was before the digital revolution or before COVID-19. But how can we forge digital relationships that are as strong as our face-to-face ones?
Continue reading from Tim Snyder at the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
The digital revolution has been transforming our lives for the past 30 years — at home, at work, and, yes, at church. But in the face of COVID-19, congregations have come to rely on digital connections in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a year ago. To fully engage the world today, we must continue to develop digital practices and relationships. It makes no sense to try and go back to the world as it was before the digital revolution or before COVID-19. But how can we forge digital relationships that are as strong as our face-to-face ones?
Continue reading from Tim Snyder at the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
2020 Messaging Examples
A compilation of messaging from across the UMCRM network around plans and responses to the coronavirus pandemic.
A compilation of messaging from across the UMCRM network around plans and responses to the coronavirus pandemic.
Podcast: Workplace Relationships in a Remote World
This podcast from Faith Driven Entrepreneur features Dr. Paul White, who developed both the five love languages, as well as the five languages of appreciation for the workplace.
Dr. Paul White is a licensed psychologist who has worked with individuals, businesses, and families in a variety of settings for over 20 years. He consults with successful businesses and high net worth families, dealing with the relational issues intertwined with business and financial wealth.
As work continues to move toward virtual and remote platforms, the principles shared on this episode are even more important. As always, thanks for listening.
This podcast from Faith Driven Entrepreneur features Dr. Paul White, who developed both the five love languages, as well as the five languages of appreciation for the workplace.
Dr. Paul White is a licensed psychologist who has worked with individuals, businesses, and families in a variety of settings for over 20 years. He consults with successful businesses and high net worth families, dealing with the relational issues intertwined with business and financial wealth.
As work continues to move toward virtual and remote platforms, the principles shared on this episode are even more important. As always, thanks for listening.
Camp Fundraising in a Crisis
Recording and resources from Jennie Dickerson’s presentation on fundraising during COVID-19.
Recording and resources from Jennie Dickerson’s presentation on fundraising during COVID-19.
Grief, Staff Positivity, and Supporting Families in Summer 2020
Dr. Chris Thurber offered a webinar and accompanying resources on the unique demands of summer 2020. They are compiled here.
Dr. Chris Thurber offered a webinar and accompanying resources on the unique demands of summer 2020. They are compiled here.
Fundraising During COVID-19
It may surprise you, but economic conditions have never been the critical factor in whether a campaign is successful or not. Philanthropy has been a very stable sector of the economy. From 1980 to 2007 there were five official recessions and philanthropy had year over year gains in each of those years. According to NP Trust, total dollars given has increased every year since 2008. While the total number of people making contributions is fewer, those who are contributing are giving even more generously. Americans give in both good times and bad - and they give to worthy causes.
Read more from Mike Ward of GSB, and watch his presentation here.
It may surprise you, but economic conditions have never been the critical factor in whether a campaign is successful or not. Philanthropy has been a very stable sector of the economy. From 1980 to 2007 there were five official recessions and philanthropy had year over year gains in each of those years. According to NP Trust, total dollars given has increased every year since 2008. While the total number of people making contributions is fewer, those who are contributing are giving even more generously. Americans give in both good times and bad - and they give to worthy causes.
Read more from Mike Ward of GSB, and watch his presentation here.
COVID Decision Making-Framework
Reflecting the thoughts and strategies that are being implemented by several camp and retreat leaders in our United Methodist connection, this document has been created to help you and your team in making strategic decisions over the next several weeks. This document does not make suggestions for what your ministry should be doing. Instead, it lays out a set of questions that will guide you in making the best decisions for your ministry.
Reflecting the thoughts and strategies that are being implemented by several camp and retreat leaders in our United Methodist connection, this document has been created to help you and your team in making strategic decisions over the next several weeks. This document does not make suggestions for what your ministry should be doing. Instead, it lays out a set of questions that will guide you in making the best decisions for your ministry.
Job: Assistant Director (Claggett Center, Maryland)
The Claggett Academic Achievement Program Assistant Director is a member of the Claggett Center program staff and reports to the Programs Director. The Claggett Academic Achievement Program (C.A.M.P.) Assistant Director serves as the deputy in matters of safety, policy adherence, and staff and participant management for Claggett’s newest program: The Claggett Center’s Claggett Academic Achievement Program provides essential childcare and educational services for elementary and middle school-aged children. Physically distant, CDC compliant programs are offered Monday-Friday during school hours in small group formats with mentorship, recreation, and educational support. This new program serves a direct and immediate need to offer childcare assistance for working families while addressing the growing education and opportunity gap between wealthy and low-income families, which disproportionately impacts people of color. 27% of the program will be prioritized to provide scholarships, meals, computers, WIFI access, and learning support for children qualifying for free or reduced lunch. For more information about C.A.M.P., visit claggettcenter.org/tutor.
The Claggett Academic Achievement Program Assistant Director is a member of the Claggett Center program staff and reports to the Programs Director. The Claggett Academic Achievement Program (C.A.M.P.) Assistant Director serves as the deputy in matters of safety, policy adherence, and staff and participant management for Claggett’s newest program: The Claggett Center’s Claggett Academic Achievement Program provides essential childcare and educational services for elementary and middle school-aged children. Physically distant, CDC compliant programs are offered Monday-Friday during school hours in small group formats with mentorship, recreation, and educational support. This new program serves a direct and immediate need to offer childcare assistance for working families while addressing the growing education and opportunity gap between wealthy and low-income families, which disproportionately impacts people of color. 27% of the program will be prioritized to provide scholarships, meals, computers, WIFI access, and learning support for children qualifying for free or reduced lunch. For more information about C.A.M.P., visit claggettcenter.org/tutor.
The Episcopal Church's Executive Committee Meeting: Bishop Curry's Opening Remarks
The truth is we are each other's biggest headaches and the truth is we need each other. And being separated like this is just tough on all of us.
And so just remember to encourage everybody to be gentle with each other, to be kind and maybe a little extra kind even. Because everybody's a little bit on edge and everybody's tired and everybody's weary and for good or ill, we've only just begun. This is not even, to borrow from Churchill, this isn't even the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning. We're in this for a while.
The truth is we are each other's biggest headaches and the truth is we need each other. And being separated like this is just tough on all of us.
And so just remember to encourage everybody to be gentle with each other, to be kind and maybe a little extra kind even. Because everybody's a little bit on edge and everybody's tired and everybody's weary and for good or ill, we've only just begun. This is not even, to borrow from Churchill, this isn't even the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning. We're in this for a while.
The Time To Rest Is Now
Rest is resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against capitalism and white supremacy. Both toxic systems refuse to see the inherent divinity in human beings and have commodified and used bodies to be a tool for production, evil and destruction for centuries. Grind culture has made us all human machines, willing and ready to donate our lives to a capitalist system that thrives by putting profits over people. Rest is resistance because it disrupts the lie that we are not doing enough. It screams, “No, that is a lie. I am enough. I am worthy now and always, because I am here.”
Rest is resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against capitalism and white supremacy. Both toxic systems refuse to see the inherent divinity in human beings and have commodified and used bodies to be a tool for production, evil and destruction for centuries. Grind culture has made us all human machines, willing and ready to donate our lives to a capitalist system that thrives by putting profits over people. Rest is resistance because it disrupts the lie that we are not doing enough. It screams, “No, that is a lie. I am enough. I am worthy now and always, because I am here.”
What Would Love Do: Bishop Curry on how love shows us the way during difficult times
Bishop Curry was on the Today show last week, telling us all how love might show us the way during these troubled times.
We’ve all been trying, making mistakes, learning, regrouping, trying anew. I’ve seen it. I’ve quietly read Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline online with you. I’ve seen soup kitchens, pantries, and other feeding ministries carefully doing their work in safe and healthy ways. There are Zoom coffee hours, Bible studies, and small discipleship groups. I’ve seen people of many faiths stand for the moral primacy of love. I’ve seen it, even when public health concerns supersede all other considerations, including in-person worship. That is moral courage. Who knows, but that love may demand more of us. But fear not, just remember what the old slaves used to say, walk together, children, and don’t you get weary, because there is a great camp meeting in the Promised Land. Oh, I’ve seen us do what we never thought we would or could do, because we dared to do what Jesus tells us all to do.
Bishop Curry was on the Today show last week, telling us all how love might show us the way during these troubled times.
We’ve all been trying, making mistakes, learning, regrouping, trying anew. I’ve seen it. I’ve quietly read Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline online with you. I’ve seen soup kitchens, pantries, and other feeding ministries carefully doing their work in safe and healthy ways. There are Zoom coffee hours, Bible studies, and small discipleship groups. I’ve seen people of many faiths stand for the moral primacy of love. I’ve seen it, even when public health concerns supersede all other considerations, including in-person worship. That is moral courage. Who knows, but that love may demand more of us. But fear not, just remember what the old slaves used to say, walk together, children, and don’t you get weary, because there is a great camp meeting in the Promised Land. Oh, I’ve seen us do what we never thought we would or could do, because we dared to do what Jesus tells us all to do.
Small Business Disaster Loan Enhancement Act
The Small Business Disaster Loan Enhancement Act was introduced in Congress on July 2. It’s intended to to boost funding and lower interest rates for the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Specifically, this bill calls for the following:
Lower interest rates to one percent, in line with the PPP loan rate
Allow new EIDL loan applicants to receive up to $2 million, based on their financial need;
Enable current EIDL loan recipients to request an increase in their EIDL loan up to $2 million, based on their financial need;
Require the SBA to provide the full amount of the EIDL advance requested by an applicant, up to $10,000;
Create a new EIDL advance of up to $25,000 for applicants that have experienced a reduction of 50 percent or more in gross receipts from a comparable 8-week period before the public health crisis began;
Provide an additional $80 billion for EIDL loans and $20 billion for EIDL advances.
We will post updates as we see them.
The Small Business Disaster Loan Enhancement Act was introduced in Congress on July 2. It’s intended to to boost funding and lower interest rates for the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Specifically, this bill calls for the following:
Lower interest rates to one percent, in line with the PPP loan rate
Allow new EIDL loan applicants to receive up to $2 million, based on their financial need;
Enable current EIDL loan recipients to request an increase in their EIDL loan up to $2 million, based on their financial need;
Require the SBA to provide the full amount of the EIDL advance requested by an applicant, up to $10,000;
Create a new EIDL advance of up to $25,000 for applicants that have experienced a reduction of 50 percent or more in gross receipts from a comparable 8-week period before the public health crisis began;
Provide an additional $80 billion for EIDL loans and $20 billion for EIDL advances.
We will post updates as we see them.
Feeding Ministries & Initiatives at Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers
Food and sundries have served as a unique challenge and asset to our Episcopal camps and conference centers. When COVID-19 hit, most had full walk-in refrigerators, freezers, and pantries, prepared to serve hundreds of guests in the coming months. Immediately, places had to pivot so that food would not go to waste.
Camps and conference centers also have existing, reliable relationships with food distributors, and as the pandemic has continued, they have utilized those to serve their community, when other food and resources were hard to acquire, and as the economic impact of the pandemic has continued to develop.
Camp Washington in the Diocese of Connecticut offers a well-stocked hygiene and food table (including canned goods and produce), as well as fully prepared meals, available at no-cost to its community.
St. Columba in the Diocese of West Tennessee offers take-home meals for community members to pick-up in the parking lot, including barbeque dinners or breakfast casseroles.
Valle Crucis in the Diocese of Western North Carolina opened a General Store for their town, selling flour, toilet paper, baked good, and other items on request.
Ascension School in the Diocese of Eastern Oregon partners with local agencies to provide meals for senior citizens, and to provide school and summertime lunches for students.
Food and sundries have served as a unique challenge and asset to our Episcopal camps and conference centers. When COVID-19 hit, most had full walk-in refrigerators, freezers, and pantries, prepared to serve hundreds of guests in the coming months. Immediately, places had to pivot so that food would not go to waste.
Camps and conference centers also have existing, reliable relationships with food distributors, and as the pandemic has continued, they have utilized those to serve their community, when other food and resources were hard to acquire, and as the economic impact of the pandemic has continued to develop.
Here are just a few of the camps that took those two realities and pivoted into something meaningful:
Camp Washington in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut offers a well-stocked hygiene and food table (including canned goods and produce), as well as fully prepared meals, available at no-cost to its community. Support Camp Washington here.
St. Columba in the Diocese of West Tennessee offers take-home meals for community members to pick-up in the parking lot, including barbeque dinners or breakfast casseroles. Support St. Columba here.
Valle Crucis in the Diocese of Western North Carolina opened a General Store for their town, selling flour, toilet paper, prepared meals, baked goods, and other items on request in April and May. Support Valle Crucis here.
Ascension School in the Diocese of Eastern Oregon partners with local agencies to provide meals for senior citizens, and to provide school and summertime lunches for students. Support Ascension School Camp & Conference Center here.
Camp Stevens in the Dioceses of Los Angeles & San Diego has partnered with a local farm to offer CSA (community supported agriculture) produce boxes to their rural community, supplemented with fresh baked bread or granola. Support Camp Stevens here.
2020 Camp Highlights
All of our camps are getting creative this summer — a few are running programs with very limited campers, others are running virtual camp programs, others have pivoted to solo/family/household retreat offerings, and some are shuttered for the summer to conserve resources.
Keep an eye here for highlights!
All of our camps are getting creative this summer — a few are running programs with limited campers, others are running virtual camp programs, others have pivoted to solo/family/household retreat offerings, and some are shuttered for the summer to conserve resources. Check out these creative offerings, and consider signing up, sharing with a friend, or donating to support them!
Camp Cross in the Diocese of Spokane has summer staff on-site (including one participant from ECCC’s Staff Exchange Program), but no campers or on-site camp program. They are focusing for the summer on service, worship, and relationship. Learn more in this update from director, Father John Palarine and support them by following all their social media, and subscribing to their YouTube channel.
St. Dorothy’s Rest in the Diocese of California also has staff on-site, but no campers. They are filming a reality TV show! Follow their adventures here.
On the shore of Lake Tahoe in the Diocese of Nevada, Camp Galilee, which celebrates its 100th summer this year, is offering day and overnight family camps — and they are sold out all summer long!
Learn more about their program and protocols here.
Check out other ECCC sites offering family/household retreats here. Contact us to find one near you, for a health- and budget- conscious way to vacation this summer.
Camp Capers, in the Diocese of West Texas, partnered with a local non-profit to prepare and deliver 1,900 “camp in a box” kits to underserved youth populations. Support Camp Capers and the DIocese of West Texas’s two other camping and retreat ministries, Mustang Island Conference Center and Duncan Park here.
Paradise Point in the Diocese of Idaho pioneered a virtual-camp.org platform (a partnership between ECCC and our Outdoor Ministry Connection ecumenical partners) and have developed some remarkably engaging online content, specific to each of their traditional camp weeks. This week, they’ll debut some of their 3D programming!
Diocese of Northern Indiana runs a week-long program at a rented facility each summer. They pivoted quickly this year to send each camper an at-home Camp in Our Hearts 2020 kit, with Way of Love-themed activities (and live and on-demand video instructions)., supportive messages, snacks, snickers, and a hat. They led a week of dynamic online program! Check out highlights and videos from the week here.
The Phoebe Needles Center in the Diocese of Southwest is offering online, full-day, and half-day programs, including escape rooms, cooking classes, movie nights, and caricature drawing lessons, and weekly community service opportunities for individuals and households. All of these are being offered at no cost — check it out!
Camp Stevens in the Dioceses of Los Angeles and San Diego has offered weekly virtual Community Gatherings, their summer camp evening singalongs, each Thursday during the pandemic, and introduced an updated songbook, revised with intentionality with an focus on anti-racism and equity. Camp Stevens has also partnered within their local community to offer CSA boxes from their farm and gardens.
Photo: Mandi Mae Photography
Ascension School in the Diocese of Eastern Oregon has started an intern program for the first time and welcomed 20 young adults to live on-site in community for a month, focused on leadership development, spiritual formation, and work projects on property.
St. Crispin’s in the Diocese of Oklahoma offered a Father’s Day Family Weekend, and have started a day pass program for archery, swimming, boating on-site, in addition to their offering Burgers For Bikers meals offered to the mountain bike community who use the 9+ miles of award-winning trails.
Cross Roads in the DIocese of Newark — a camp that’s both Lutheran and Episcopal —is offering family retreats, virtual day camp, an online leadership lab for high school students, and weekly gatherings with a spiritual director.
Follow them on Instagram; their activity and prayer stories and posts are engaging and instructive!
Camp Marshall in the Diocese of Montana is offering virtual camp, including weekly challenges for campers to complete, virtual worship, and this roundtable about summer in 2020 with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
Listen to some incredible camper- and staff- produced music from Camp Marshall here.
Lake Logan and Camp Henry in the Diocese of Western North Carolina, have found ways to serve families and individuals in their community, through drive-in movie nights, new tent camping sites, an expanded day pass program for fishing and boating, and day camps at local churches.
You can support Lake Logan and Camp Henry by sponsoring one of their camp counselors, or purchasing one of these incredible watercolors done by their staff.