Our mission is to support Presbyterian Centers as well as governing body partners with skilled support to serve as a neutral party to help camp and conference ministry be vital and vibrant across the PCUSA.
Support available from the national offices:
Purpose and Direction – using current trends and information from church, business and society, we work together to discern a viable future. Usually includes an on site visit, an interactive presentation with church and center leadership, and unlimited phone and web follow up.
Governance and Incorporation – as the church demographics and finances change, we are experiencing success in new ways of organizing our ministries. Using examples and resources from other successful centers, we will gather and work out the best path forward for sustainability of the center and the Presbytery and mission partners. Usually includes an on site visit, an interactive presentation and unlimited phone and web follow up.
Leadership Coaching – Like a jigsaw puzzle, you have all the pieces for success. Coaching helps you identify your direction, priorities and resources, and leads to greater success personally and in your ministry. See coaching page for details.
Specialized Conferences and Forums – Starting with the invite only Center of Excellence series, we gather cutting edge leadership and bring in current trends and professionals to focus deeply on relevant topics. We have and will explore topics such as the intersections of church, camp and society, young adult leadership and discernment, the future effectiveness of camping ministry, reaching underserved populations and supporting New Worshiping Communities. Contact us for information. This information is shared through online resources, facebook and face to face at Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association.
Mission Partnership Development – how do you transition from “just a camp for kids” to a vibrant Center for Mission and Ministry supporting your churches, presbyteries and region? Drawing from models of success, we help you discern how to reach and support ministries that align with the mission of your center. Successful centers have connected with PMA World Mission, the Young Adult Volunteer Program, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Living Waters for the World, and more. The future is in being more than just a camp for kids – it is in using this flexible resource we have been blessed with to be more effective for more people.
Emergency Response – we are always available for any eventuality that strikes your ministry. Whether it be financial, human resources, disaster, we are here to help you in any way we can and find partners to assist if we can’t.
Costs – To maintain services and provide support to as many partners as possible, we work to keep costs low and partner with hosts as resources permit. We ask hosts to cover cost of travel (transportation, food and housing). For consultations, we ask a $500 mission donation to the PMA Camp and Conference Fund (link below).
Phone calls, web visits, and anything (besides coaching agreements) that do not require travel are offered completely free of charge as a service to you.
Fantastic Retreats at PC(USA) Camp and Retreat Centers
Going on retreat, a practice modeled by Jesus himself (Mark 6:45–46), has long been a cornerstone of Christian faith formation. A retreat provides an intentional time apart to experience a new awareness of the presence of God. It encourages an unhurried pace conducive to rest and relaxation, which allows one to return to daily life renewed for the high call of discipleship. Retreats are great for youth, families, and adult groups, as well as for organizations and sessions. A good retreat is well organized. A retreat planner guide is available on this page resource section or by clicking below. This guide, from Menucha Conference Center near Portland, Oregon, can be adapted for use at any retreat center. Work with your retreat center staff to make sure your retreat is as successful as you dream. Retreat Planning Guide
Partnering to Share the Gospel: Day Camps at Churches
Rev. Betty Angelini, Crestfield Camp and Conference Center, Pittsburgh Presbytery Building on the deep faith and leadership impact overnight camp has on children and youth, camps, like Pittsburgh Presbytery’s outdoor ministry site Crestfield, located in southwest Pennsylvania are finding transformative success in partnering with congregations for day camp at their churches and in their community. “Collaborations such as this have an immediate impact on furthering Christian witness in communities of need”, reports Rev. Dr. Doug Portz, Senior Associate Minister for Pittsburgh Presbytery. “We are excited in Pittsburgh Presbytery to see how such partnerships directly touch the lives of countless children with the love of Jesus Christ, equip and re-energize disciples in local congregations, as well as, teach and build missional skills and capacity for continuing Ministries of outreach in our twenty first century context.” Find out how Crestfield and Pittsburgh Presbytery do it and how you can do it too!
Summer Camp: Community, Faith, Transformation
Rev. Theresa MacDonald-Lee. Camp Kintail, Ontario At summer camp it is impossible to not experience the transformative love of God. From first thing in the morning as we raise our voices in praise to the quiet devotion conversations in the cabin as the sun goes down, each day is filled and overflowing with the joy of the Lord. The growth at camp happens at every level. One child will grow emotionally, learning to navigate new friendships. Another will grow physically, being challenged by a ropes course. Another child will grow spiritually, learning that they are loved and forgiven for the first time. Campers, staff, parents, volunteers, and congregations are all part of this process, allowing children to have a genuine experience of God, which is one of the key factors that will lead to future involvement in a local community of faith. Learn more about summer camping
The web site for the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association has a handy map that shows where Presbyterian camps and conference centers are located. You can find that here.
Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association
Since 1964, staff and volunteers from Presbyterian camps and conference centers have gathered for fellowship, education and the mutual support of their ministries. This organization is called the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association. This close-knit group brings together people who support and represent the 156 Presbyterian camps and conference centers in the United States and Canada. The programs and fellowship of PCCCA (pronounced “P – triple C – A”) allow these individuals to hone their skills and to bring knowledge and resources back to their ministries. The PCCCA “family” serves as an incredible source of professional and personal support.
The mission of PCCCA is to equip leaders for vibrant and sustainable ministries. It seeks to provide a common voice and shared vision for Presbyterian camp and conference ministry. The association offers many educational and connectional events. PCCCA also provides a quarterly enewsletter, a directory of camp and conference centers, representation on national committees, consulting services, an online repository of resources, job listings, special discounts on products/services and a network of collegial support.
The organization is open to all persons who value this important ministry. You may be a full-time camp and conference professional, a board/committee member, a summer staff person, a retired camp and conference professional, a volunteer, a student or just an interested person. You are invited to join PCCCA!
Coaching for Excellence
A Ministry of the Office of Camp and Conference Ministries, PC(USA)
Goal: Provide support for new leadership successes, growth of established leadership and successful transitions for our denominational Centers for Mission and Ministry (Camps and Conference Centers)
Basic Structure of Coaching
Monthly (2x monthly as needed) coaching calls to last approximately 45 minutes. Topical and focused in a flexible way to adapt to specific needs and changes in trajectory of ministry.
Why Coaching?
Coaching enables leaders to improve outcomes through having an experienced guide (coach) with a different and broader perspective helping them focus and implement plans. Executive coaching has shown a 3-6x ROI in the for-profit world and though it has not been studied, a similar impact can be expected in ministry realm.
Offerings:
NEW for 2018! 6 Session Package–one session free to make sure coaching is right for you. Then you schedule 6 more sessions as they fit your calendar. Sessions are 45 min. 6 total sessions (plus a free intro session). $375 ($300 for PCCCA members)
12 Month Package–one session free to be sure coaching is right for you. Then you schedule 2 sessions per month for 12 months. Sessions are 45 min. 24 total sessions (plus a free intro session). $1499 ($1200 for PCCCA members)
A Ministry of the Office of Camp and Conference Ministries, PC(USA)
Goal: Provide support for Mid-Councils, camp committees/boards, and camp leaders to assess current ministry realities, develop clear purpose and direction, and provide perspective for next steps.
Basic Structure of Consulting
Calls and general support are always provided and always free. It is free for you to access your national staff for questions, advice, and perspective. We will always be available to assist you and direct you to help if we cannot provide it ourselves. Once this moves from advice and conversation and into a formal plan, we move into consulting.
In Person Consulting
The national offices provide short-term consultation services based on an overall assessment, development of purpose, mission and direction, and basic training in structure and priorities of camp and conference ministries. This is done in person or on the phone, or even through video chat.
The biggest challenges we encounter are how to set up a governance structure that supports the ministry and maintains connection to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and how to set a new vision that will carry us into a viable and successful future without throwing out the traditional ministries that have nurtured faith of participants for decades.
Cost sharing
Services are provided at the least possible price. We ask hosts to cover cost of travel (transportation, food and lodging). In addition, we ask for a mission donation if possible, of $500 per day. This donation can be submitted to www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/e052072/. An invoice will be provided for travel costs.
Why Consulting?
No one mid-council or camp leadership team can do this alone. A broad perspective is needed from trained outsiders to help us see the path ahead. The church and the world have changed rapidly and our centers need to keep pace and adapt to continue to be relevant. The national offices of the PMA are trained to help you meet these needs.
Call us for any need you have and we will either assist you directly or connect you with those who can. 502-403-9363.
National Conference Centers of the PC(USA)
Ghost Ranch
Our mission is to enrich lives. Our vision is that all might experience God through discovery and transformation.
Located in northwest New Mexico, come and emerse yourselve in the community of vast, safe space where you can nourish your body, mind and soul. Visit website
Stony Point Center
Welcoming across boundaries by providing overnight and day-use accommodations and meeting spaces for individuals and groups. We offer delicious, locally-sourced food; simple, comfortable guestrooms; and a caring touch that honors the distinctive needs of each guest.
Nestled in the rolling hills north of New York City, Stony Point offers a unique and comfortable space for all. Uniquely, they host a community and young adult experiences that encourage us to reach across religious divisions to be the active hands and feet of God in the world. Visit website
Montreat
Montreat offers meeting space, housing and recreational facilities for individuals, groups and families. We also host non-profit and business groupos looking for retreat opportunities in a peaceful, gracious setting.
The Montreat Conference Center is one of the largest conference centers affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The conference center is under the management of the Mountain Retreat Association which was formed in 1905 and is a church-related institute. For over 100 years, we have been a place set apart for those who journey here seeking a closer relationship with their Creator.
Our Mission Statement
Encountering God through relationships, renewal, recreation, and rest.
Responding to a shortfall in revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic featuring The Rev. Jon Moore Presbyterian Mission Agency Mission Engagement Advisor and The Rev. Princeton Abaraoha, field staff for African… Read more »
The interview reports are based on individual interviews with NWC leaders and participants. They help track the impact the 1001 initiative is having on lives and communities. This report, part… Read more »
The Presbytery Survey provides information about how mid councils support, encourage and hold accountable the new worshiping communities within their bounds. This report, part of a 10-year longitudinal research project,… Read more »
The Leader Survey Report is based on an annual survey of new worshiping community leaders. It provides the most in-depth research on demographics of new worshiping communities. This report, part… Read more »
Building on the deep faith and leadership impact overnight camp has on children and youth, camps, like Pittsburgh Presbytery’s outdoor ministry site Crestfield, located in southwest Pennsylvania are finding transformative success in partnering with congregations for day camp at their churches and in their community. “Collaborations such as this have an immediate impact on furthering Christian witness in communities of need”, reports Rev. Dr. Doug Portz, Senior Associate Minister for Pittsburgh Presbytery. “We are excited in Pittsburgh Presbytery to see how such partnerships directly touch the lives of countless children with the love of Jesus Christ, equip and re-energize disciples in local congregations, as well as, teach and build missional skills and capacity for continuing Ministries of outreach in our twenty first century context.” 
At summer camp it is impossible to not experience the transformative love of God. From first thing in the morning as we raise our voices in praise to the quiet devotion conversations in the cabin as the sun goes down, each day is filled and overflowing with the joy of the Lord. The growth at camp happens at every level. One child will grow emotionally, learning to navigate new friendships. Another will grow physically, being challenged by a ropes course. Another child will grow spiritually, learning that they are loved and forgiven for the first time. Campers, staff, parents, volunteers, and congregations are all part of this process, allowing children to have a genuine experience of God, which is one of the key factors that will lead to future involvement in a local community of faith. 
