2016 DEVELOPMENT REPORT

EQUIPPING WORLD-CHANGING DISCIPLES UMCdiscipleship.org

UNITED METHODIST CAMP & RETREAT MINISTRIES (UMCRM) ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORSKelly Peterson-Cruse, ChairRussell Davis, Vice ChairIan Hall, TreasurerKim Carter, SecretaryAbi FueslerJessica GamachéSharon GodboltLisa Jean HoefnerCat HolbertGary LawsonGenée MorrisonJody OatesSarah RatzSam RichardsonArthur SpriggsJoel Wilke

DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES CAMP & RETREAT STAFFRev. Kevin WittConnie Schmutz

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CelebrationsGIVING TO THE LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP FUND

2015: $43,041 2016: $17,952 Number of Donors: 136

We celebrate with deep gratitude the generous gifts that move forward United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries in four key areas vital to a strong future for our specialized ministry. The disbursement, so far, of funds raised is noted within each vital area outlined below.

• Established UM Camp & Retreat Ministry Endowment $25,000

Interest earned from this new endowed fund helps build a strong future for camp and retreat missional effectiveness and vitality. The fund is a natural avenue for donors to make larger, planned gifts such as bequests and life insurance.

• Expand Racial Ethnic Involvement and Leadership $2,450

By 2020, fifty-percent of children in the U.S. will be from racial ethnic households and families other than white. 20 years later this will be true for the entire U.S. population including adults. Currently, our participants and leaders often do not reflect the diversity of the actual populations in the regions we serve.

$20,000 was raised for this critical endeavor. Discipleship Ministries provided an additional $3,000 specifically for training ethnic leaders. So far, strategic action plans are being developed and implemented for this priority. Collaboration discussions have been held with the American Camp Association. We established reading and learning groups and provided initial webinars. Funding made possible author and trainer Shelly Tochluk’s educational sessions during the 2017 National Gathering.

• Advanced Training Scholarships $14,100

38 leaders with financial need were able to attend advanced training in Camp Retreat Ministry preparing them as spiritual leaders who guide camp and retreat ministry fulfillment, which impacts thousands who grow in faith, discipleship and inspiration to love and justice in the world.

• Created Resources for Leaders $4,000

Funding created Sustainable Pathways training focused on key aspects of camp and retreat missional effectiveness and future ministry financial health.

2017 will see more advances toward an online library of resources for camp and retreat ministry leaders, on-line training for volunteers and staff, strategies to expand the number of racial ethnic leaders and participants, and increased number of leaders achieving camp retreat ministry certification. The remaining Legacy of Leadership Funds is approximately $35,000 for ongoing initiatives.

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REV. SOLOMON G. CRAMER ENDOWMENTRev. Cramer, the longest serving clergy in the Wisconsin Annual Conference at the time of his death, requested that $750,000 from his estate be used to aid young people in attending conference camps and retreats. The Cramer Endowment was established and made its first annual award of income earned of $25,089 in July 2016. Rev. and Mrs. Cramer had a special interest in providing opportunities for faith development and higher education for young people.

Rev. Cramer was born in Plain, Wisconsin in 1914. He graduated from Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1941 and did post-graduate study at Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Dubuque Seminary. He and his wife, Irene, were active and faithful partners in Christian service all of their married lives serving in Evangelical United Brethren and United Methodist churches in Wisconsin. Irene died in 1998 and Solomon died in 2013.

United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries serving their Conference or groups collaborating with a UM Camp and Retreat Ministry to offer camp and retreat experiences may apply for a scholarship grant. The priorities being emphasized for the distribution of the Solomon Cramer Scholarship Grants are: a. Minister with Youth Living in Povertyb. Collaborate with Faith Communities Engaged in Vital Congregation and New Faith Community

Processes of their Annual Conferencec. Expand Opportunities for Youth from Underserved Ethnic Populations to Participate and Leadd. Develop Young People for Spiritual Leadership and/or Leadership within Camp Retreat Ministry

For further information and application forms, please contact Kevin Witt:kwitt@umcdiscipleship.org

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Thanks to our DonorsINDIVIDUALSJames & Jane AdamsJim and Carol AdamsArt and Nan AllenDail BallardRev. Ron BartlowLarry & Jaye BeattyKimberly BellDerek BergmanRev. David Berkey and Melinda TrottiRev. Thomas BollerRegina BowlerJennifer BurchG.S. & M.G. ByrneRay CarpenterRev. William CarterKim CarterJessi CarverRussell CasteelKent & Jenny ChittendenJeff ClarkNick CoenenRev. Donald CraigC. Russell & Becky DavisLaurie DayRev. Junius DotsonJohn Allen EdwardsAnne EmersonJohn FarmerTerry FordAbigail FueslerJessica GamachéScott & Susan GilpinSharon GodboltDaewon & Laura Goldenbaum-YangNathaniel GreenwayIan HallRev. Lu HardingDr. Pamela HarrisDouglas HaverstockDickie & Thelma HintonDennis & Jeannette HisekDavid HobbsLeslie HobsonRev. Lisa Jean HoefnerEric HoffmanEd HokeCatherine HolbertBecky Holten

Anne HortonMike & Kari HuberRev. Mark HughesSteve & Rebecca IannicelliRev. Merle IdomDavid IrickShea JamesRev. Laura Jaquith BartlettDinnie JensenByran JohnsonRev. Gary JonesKendra KarsonKatharine KellerLinda LangHeather LaskosSteve & Julie LauttJon LawrenceGary & Vickie LawsonSteve LewandowskiNekabue LucioHugh MackintoshAllen MooreGenée MorrisonRon & Diane MurdockGary & Beverly MurdockPhyllis MurrayBruce NelsonKaren NelsonPatric NewtonRev. Joyce O’Connor-MageeJody OatesDoug & Carol OsgoodSally OttLeanndra PadgettPatricia ParfettDr. James ParkhurstJeff ParsonsRandall PasquaKelly Peterson-CruseDaniel & Jane PetkeMartha PierceCheryl PooleSarah RatzRichard & Susan RauchCathy RaymondSamuel RichardsonJames RicknerDavid Riddell

Tim Rieckhoff-FarisKayla RoosaRich RudolfSteve RumageAllen & Susan RussellRobert & Suzanne RutledgePat & Karen RyanHilary SatrangLewis SchaadDavid & Sharron ScharChris SchlieckertBetsy Searle-ShraderBrooke SeiglePhilip SetzerOrion & Marjorie SherwoodRev. Alice ShirleyRev. Jack ShitamaPete & Deeann SimpsonArthur SpriggsMichael & Mindy StandiferArt & Anne SteinawayWray & Judy StephensRobert & Ruth Stoppert Family TrustGary StormsKim StubyLynn SwedbergStephen & Marie SweezeyWayne & Janet ThomasAndrew ThorntonKathleen TrotterWilliam & Meridith TuckerJane Van HornMarvin & Carolyn VickersTyler WagnerBill WalkerCharles & Sarah WardDean & Terry WebbFred & Jennifer WeberDarrell WhitakerWendy WhiteKelli WhiteJoel WilkeStuart & Dee WilliamsWhitney WinstonRev. Ted WittRev. Kevin WittMary Wright

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THANK YOU FROM A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP RECIPIENT

My name is Jestie Higgins and I am writing to thank you for your generosity in donating to the Legacy of Leadership Scholarship fund. As a recipient of these scholarship funds, I cannot thank you enough for your support, nor can I express exactly how much it means to me. I view these classes as an essential part of my growth and education in this field, however it can often be difficult to find the necessary funding to continue these classes. Finding out about the Legacy of Leadership Scholarship was a blessing, in fact an answer to my prayers. My gratitude is amplified by knowing that you share my passion for Camp and Retreat Ministry, enough so that you promote the education of others in this field. Thank you so much for this support.

With Gratitude,Jestie Higgins

Thanks to our DonorsORGANIZATIONS

Aldersgate Camp and Retreat CenterBlue Lake United Methodist Assembly, Inc.

Board of Trustees of The United Methodist ChurchCalifornia-Nevada Annual Conference

Camp and Retreat MinistriesCattaraugus United Methodist Church

Dakotas Annual ConferenceDiscipleship Ministries

Emerging Ministries, LLCGlisson Camp and Retreat Center

Illinois Great Rivers Annual ConferenceIowa Conference UMC

Mesquite United Methodist ChurchMinnesota Annual Conference

UMCRM Board of Directors AssociationNEJ Camp and Retreat Ministries

North Georgia Camp and Retreat Ministries, Inc.Northern Illinois Conference Outdoor & Retreat Ministries

South Central Jurisdiction UMCRMSumatanga Camp and Conference Center

Susquehanna Annual ConferenceWest Ohio Annual Conference

Wisconsin Annual Conference/Wisconsin UM Foundation

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Thank You from a Camp & Retreat DirectorI was at a critical point in my life in camp and retreat ministry. Having a few years of experience under my belt, I found myself wanting to have a deeper knowledge about camping work if I was to remain in the vocation. Unfortunately, I was neither able to fully afford a camp and retreat ministry certification class nor was my camp fully able to financially support my endeavor. Fortunately, the Legacy of Leadership Fund assisted me. That gift of $500 remains a tipping point in my vocational journey. Because of that gift, I saw within myself a call to remain in camping ministry. I became able for the first time to see the scope of what it means to be a camping professional, and the breadth of camp work in the world. It was because of that gift that I was able to discover a wealth of colleagues, and now friends, that walk with me daily through my own call to ministry. Most importantly, I became more aware of the great possibility that camp work has in transforming the world around us. Since that time, I have recommended the scholarship to others. Now more than ever, we must support the Legacy of Leadership scholarship; we will need more intentionality, more connection, and more vocational integrity to help camping ministry to continue to thrive. Thank you to all the donors. It means so much!

Russell CasteelDirector, Cedar Crest Camp and Retreat Center

More than 190 United Methodist Camp Retreat Centers currently serve close to 1 million participants and guests annually. This would not be possible without the dedicated spiritual leadership of close to 5,000 staff members and 20,000 volunteers across the denomination. The training, resourcing, and preparation of these leaders is absolutely critical to the effectivess and impact that provide milestone experiences for deepening faith, the embrace and care of Christian community, inspiring lives of love and justice, and the development of servant leaders.

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Why I GiveMark and Mary are a young couple who are sensing a call to Camp and Retreat Ministries in The United Methodist Church. The Legacy of Leadership Fund allowed them to attend a jurisdictional gathering of camp and retreat leaders where they received training and encouragement. It was heartening to see this young couple engaged in conversations with seasoned camp leaders around the fireplace, during meal time, and in workshop sessions. They left the experience with a commitment to continue to explore their call as leaders in United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries.

— Bishop Debbie Wallace-Padgett & Lee Padgett

I am a dedicated donor to the Legacy of Leadership Fund for three important reasons. Passionate, skilled Spiritual Leadership is absolutely essential to the future vitality and missional impact of UM Camp Retreat Ministries. Some of our staff and volunteers need financial help to get access to key training and spiritual growth opportunities. One of every two youth ages 1-18 in the U.S. will be from ethnic communities by 2020. We are talking only 4 years from now. In order to be at all relevant for these communities, we must intentionally expand involvement and leadership of ethnic leaders. It is crucial. Finally, the UM Camp and Retreat Ministry Endowment is being established through this effort. It creates a clear avenue for people who believe in our mission and impact to contribute larger gifts though planned giving, wills, etc. I plan to give a portion of my estate to that fund, in order to build an endowment dedicated to the continuing development of UM Camp and Retreat Ministry. Long-term funds are needed to support strategic initiatives and resources denomination-wide that will continue to enhance Camp and Retreat Ministries long into the future. We must have vision to invest in the future of this ministry so new generations will continue to receive the blessing that has touched the lives of millions of people and helped them grow closer to God, inspiring them to transformative lives of love and justice embodying the way of Christ.

— Rev. Kevin Witt

Ways To Give

PLEDGEAs an expression of commitment to Camp and Retreat Ministries, make a Pledge for 2017 and/or 2018 with a monthly, quarterly, or single payment.

CASH OR CHECK GIFTChecks are payable to Discipleship Ministries – CR Legacy of Leadership FundSend to: Discipleship Ministries, C/O Scott Gilpin, P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-003 Give securely online by Credit Card: http://umcdiscipleship.org/legacy

Discipleship Ministries1908 Grand AvenueNashville, Tennessee 37212

Website: UMCdiscipleship.orgToll-Free: (877) 899-2780Email: info@UMCdiscipleship.org