Transcript Building the Continuum

A future-visioning project of
Episcopal Camps and Conference
Centers, Inc.
The 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.
• 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?
• 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)
New Technologies Provide
Spiritual Alternatives To
Episcopal Tradition &
Mission
Episcopal Tradition &
Mission Thrive In A
Technological World
New Technologies Promote
Individualism While People
Disengage From Episcopal
Tradition & Mission
Episcopal Tradition & Mission
Engages People Isolated By
New Technologies
Technologically-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 “hyperindividualism” 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.
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“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
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.
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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.
New technologies and social media create an almost “hyperindividualism” 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.
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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 communityfocused 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
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.
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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.
• Who are you serving now?
• What new audiences might exist in one or more of the
scenarios?
• People
• Partnerships
• Facilities
• Financial
• Site
• Other
• Technology
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.
• What ideas have you thinking?
• How can you take this process home?