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Building the ContinuumA future-visioning project of Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers, Inc.
Project GoalsThe Building the Continuum project provides tools and training to help Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers prepare for the next 5-10 years. We aim to help centers:
• Creatively and proactively vision and plan;
• Address current realities of the world’s shifting engagement
with technology, community and the Episcopal church;
• Analyze existing and potential assets, programs and
projects.
• Share resources and ideas amongst centers.
Project History• Summit
• Will the continuing evolution of technology enhance human community and connection or will technology diminish community and connections among people?
• Will people become more engaged with the Episcopal tradition and mission in a technological world or more disengaged/detached from the tradition and mission?
Project Participants
• Camp Mitchell (Diocese of Arkansas)
• St. Crispin’s (Diocese of Oklahoma)
• Procter Center (Diocese of Southern Ohio)
• Waycross (Diocese of Indianapolis)
• Sheldon Calvary (Diocese of Pittsburgh)
Imagine a world where…
New Technologies Provide Spiritual
Alternatives To Episcopal Tradition & Mission
New Technologies Promote Individualism While People Disengage From Episcopal
Tradition & Mission
Episcopal Tradition & Mission Thrive In A Technological World
Episcopal Tradition & Mission Engages
People Isolated By New Technologies
What does a successful camp/conference
center look like in each of these scenarios?
Scenario 1: New Technologies Promote Individualism While People Disengage From Episcopal Tradition And MissionTechnologically-mediated relationships, using new devices and social media networks, become the norm, while physical connections and community diminish in importance. Many of the activities once done in physical places – education, commerce and worship – are now done primarily online. People are increasingly cut-off from creation and the natural world, preferring a virtual world. The rise of technology creates an almost “hyper-individualism” at the expense of community and relationships, and exacerbates the decline of local faith communities, including Episcopal institutions. Traditional approaches to faith formation are challenged to engage people in mission. Episcopal communities are increasingly marginalized in a world dominated by technology.
Scenario 1: • “For Sale”: Reinvestment opportunity• Hyper-individualized (virtual?) camping
experience• Serve the faithful remnant – countercultural, not
traditional• Attract staff Biblical roleplaying videogame• Holographically connect people• Camp develops apps • Training center for uninvolved
Scenario 2: Episcopal Tradition And Mission Thrive In A Technological World
Faith formation in Episcopal communities invites seekers and prepares people for engagement with Episcopal tradition and mission. Utilizing new technologies and social media, Episcopal communities inspire lifelong disciples who are growing in their Christian faith and are actively engaged in transforming the world. Episcopal communities optimize technologies to build relationships and provide faith formation in physical places – congregations, camps, conference centers, and schools – that are digitally-enhanced, extending ministries into the everyday lives of people anywhere and everywhere. Rooted in Episcopal tradition, people eagerly connect and mobilize for innovative mission and collective action.
Scenario 3: • Opportunity to view programs online that you weren’t able to attend; • Continued program online after an in-person event• Using the technology already in place/use• Global opportunity/component• A place for regular in-person meetings to supplement regular online
meetings• What does it look like to live as a Christian in the digital world? • What is your digital footprint: How does our center extend our mission
into the digital world? • Use technology to extend indoor information/exhibits to explore the
outdoors/surrounding area. • Wire-free technology enables more spaces• Opportunities to have/enhance relationships with campers year-round• Develop video/online content that relates to upcoming lessons for
local congregations. • Camps/centers as space and educator for balance/respite.• Annual Conference is virtual.
Scenario 3:
New technologies and social media create an almost “hyper-individualism” at the expense of community and relationships. In response to the rise of technologically-mediated relationships, Episcopal ministries have recommitted themselves to building and forming strong faith-based communities that nurture a sense of belonging. Faith formation – in a variety of settings – leads the way in forming lifelong disciples and preparing people for engagement in Episcopal tradition and mission. In a technological world, Episcopal faith formation is helping people to develop new relational abilities and bridge cultural and economic divisions. It helps people discover creation and the natural world.
Scenario 2: • Camp/center offers an online resource center• Camp/center collects technology at front desk • Teaching people to live in community: Make meatloaf, etc. • Evolving population at camps; broader spectrum of people from a variety of
backgrounds• Build a community/personal ownership year-round by staying in touch through
technology• Connecting with individuals and staying connected• Intergenerational programs: People are gathering based on interest, as opposed to
age/location. • Teaching basic character-building skills: Respect, etc. • Offering a sense of belonging • Being more personal with the people you’re engaging with more commitment to
human services• Offer interest-, service- oriented and outdoorsy activities• Conference center as place for face-to-face interaction in largely virtual church. • Technology is ingrained, but opportunities exist to leave them behind for community-
focused opportunities; intentional structures/rules in place• An opportunity for all centers/camps to be connected and provide a more global
connection. • Attendees become your marketers, by sharing where they are• Shifting our assumptions about technology
Scenario 4: New Technologies Provide Spiritual Alternatives To Episcopal Tradition And Mission
Technology is being integrated into all spheres of life – people work, learn, shop, play and even worship virtually. Technology is being used to create and enhance human relationships and community, even rebuilding relationships lost due to distance and time. People are discovering rich digital resources for their spiritual lives, connecting with each other, and creating virtual faith communities to nurture and support their faith growth. There is a growing distrust for the institutional church and its services. People are finding meaning and purpose through participation in online and secular communities that provide social services, inspire them to address justice issues and meet human needs for connection.
Scenario 4: • Not dependent on budget/$ from Episcopal church/diocese• Camp/center as the Diocesan HQ• Offering pre-program online and completion on-site at camp• Centers need renaming/branding. • Online relationships after experiences at camp/center are continued
through technology. • Use technology to address the needs of your community.• Camp/center as resource/entry point to Episcopal Church• Imagery/marketing/branding is crowd-sourced, intentional• Honoring that relationships have changed & changing our assumptions
about relationships • Playing role as an interfaith/exploratory place for spirituality• A model of the core Episcopal values • Is the place where people discover and discuss how to effect change. • Change the wording that appeals to human values• Operationally, facilities, program, HR, etc. are shifting • Is an outdoor/beautiful space that makes centers unique in this world. • Timing shift: 5 weeks of summer camp and weekend retreats are no longer
the timeframes.
Audiences: Who does your center serve? • Who are you serving now? • What new audiences might exist in one or more of
the scenarios?
Assets: What does your center already have in place? • People
• Facilities
• Site
• Technology
• Partnerships
• Financial
• Other
Consider what your audiences might want.Develop at least 1 “want ad” in each scenario.
[USER] needs to [USER’S NEED] because [SURPRISING INSIGHT].
Examples:
High-energy teenager seeks awesome social network. Interests should include issues of societal importance (E.g. how much
parents suck and why being a vegetarian might be cool). Willingness to IM constantly during the school year is a MUST!
Crotchety, aging Episcopalian seeks others to explore the meaning of these latter years of life and what is to come.I love Jesus, but hate his followers. Disillusioned in Indiana
seeks a way to embody my love of God without egos or politics.
You have 20 minutes! Come back prepared to share in small groups.
How might a camp/conference center respond to
this person’s need?
Wrap-up• What ideas have you thinking? • How can you take this process home?
Upcoming Facilitation Workshops
Camp Galilee (Lake Tahoe)March 12-14
DaySpring Conference Center
(Southwest Florida)March 19-11
