NEW!!

"Relationship in Christ"
Theological and Vocational Resource for Summer Camp Staff Orientation.  This staff training session that was written for the Project Connect grant for the Eastern Cluster of Seminaries.   Use it to talk with staff about vocation and a call to ministry. 
Relationship in Christ

ELCA Outdoor Ministries Web site
Have you seen the updated ELCA Outdoor Ministries Web page?  ELCA Outdoor Ministries is now part of the Vocation and Education program unit, working most closely with Campus Ministry, Youth Ministries and Young Adult Ministries.  The Web address is:
www.elca.org/camps

Events:
You will want to check out these upcoming events!

• Outdoor Ministries Board School
• Outdoor Ministries School - Program Track
• ELCA Outdoor Ministries Conference
• LOM Marketing Intensive

Information about events can be found at ELCA Outdoor Ministries Web site

What's Working:  Programs

Earth and Fire

Art Ventures, Bethel Horizons, Dodgeville, Wisconsin will add a new dimension to its 38-year history.

David Smith, ceramist and kiln master, with an international reputation for Anagama Woodfire, is the designer and head of the five-month kiln project at Bethel Horizons - Adamah. Smith, on sabbatical from Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin, recently returned from Japan where he studied Shigarake Potters and kilns. Students and professionals enrolled in the summer programs will assist in the construction of the 25 ft. long 200 ft. cubic kiln.

Art Ventures is a program of Bethel Horizons in Wisconsin
 

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Outdoor Ministry Boards

Executive Evaluation Starts With Mutual Respect
By Mark D. Burkhardt

We need to talk about executive evaluation.  I am growing increasingly concerned about the process (or lack of process) that outdoor ministry boards are using to appraise the work of their executive directors.  What I am hearing too often can best be described as a lack of mutual respect. 

A healthy evaluation process involves the setting of mutually agreed upon criteria, grounded in the strategic plan of the organization.  Taking the time to do a thoughtful appraisal of the executive’s work is an important responsibility of every outdoor ministry board.  Believe it or not, most executives welcome this critique and look forward to being affirmed for the work they do well.  Unfortunately, too many boards take a careless approach to evaluation and some executives have gone for years without an annual appraisal. 

What concerns me most, however, are boards that critique their directors on the basis of some ill-defined or changing set of criteria.  In other words, no matter how well the director performs, some board members are never satisfied.  Others engage in the unhealthy practice of micromanagement, second-guessing their executive’s decisions, while failing to keep the longer-term strategic interests of the organization in the forefront.  Still others want to blame their executive for everything bad that happens, even events that the executive has little or no ability to influence or control.  What seems missing in many of these situations is respect – respect for the executive director and the leadership gifts they bring to the position. 

At the same time, I am also aware that there are some executives who make it difficult for their boards.  These executives may not be open to critique and may even view the board as an administrative annoyance.  They may put off the annual review process or make it difficult for board members to offer suggestions for improvement.  This also demonstrates a lack of respect for board leaders and the critical role they can play in providing strategic direction and support for the organization.

So, what’s the solution?  First, the board and the executive director need to understand and respect each other’s role in the organization.  Second, the board and the executive director need to work on developing a climate of personal respect for each other.  Third, the board needs to work with the executive director to develop a mutually agreeable way to do performance appraisals on a regular basis.  Remember, executive evaluation starts with mutual respect.  There are lots of good resources on this topic for nonprofit boards.  Make sure that your board takes the time to learn about and use these resources as you work to strengthen the relationship between the executive director and the board.   

Hint:     For resources on executive evaluation go to:

www.boardsource.org
www.managementhelp.org
or contact Mark.Burkhardt@elca.org

Mark serves as Director for Outdoor Ministries for the ELCA, Chicago, Illinois    

(Previous Board Articles by Mark are available in the Resources for Leaders section of the Outdoor Ministries Web site)

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Self Care

The Neglect of Ourselves – Hurry Up and Take Care of Yourself!
By Paul Campbell

Too often I find myself thinking that I need to hurry up and start taking care of myself.  It is an oxymoron that is counterproductive.

Although I have been the executive director at Spirit in the Desert for just a little over two years, I started coming here as a consultant over seven years ago.  I loved taking walks and looking at all the amazing desert plants and creatures.  I thought that being in the beautiful surroundings helped me think about things that busy people need to think about.  I was actually quite busy thinking about things that would make me busier.

Some wise person recommended that I read Slowing Down to the Speed of Life by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey.  It was a life changing awakening.  The short book is full of gems, but the nugget that caught me immediately, is that we need to give our brains a break.  We need to not think so we can be more creative.  Sound strange?  I mentioned this to my wife who is a specialist in education for highly gifted students, and she explained that she had told me repeatedly about studies regarding brain research but I didn’t pay attention.  Hmmm … maybe I was too busy.

So the next time I was at Spirit in the Desert, I decided to go for a walk, and not think.  It was difficult work, but I was able to shut down the synapses for a few minutes and I was amazed.  I had been on this same route several times, but this time instead of simply looking at the surroundings, I started experiencing the lush wildflowers, the nervous geckos, wren-sized hummingbirds, and even a couple of mangy coyotes giving me the once over.  The brilliant flora had an intense aroma that I hadn’t noticed before and it was truly energizing … and relaxing.

But then something more surprising occurred.  During my post-hike shower, ideas started popping into my head at such a pace that I needed to quickly dry off and start writing down everything that my rested brain was pumping out.  Slowing down to the speed of life works!

Many guests at Spirit in the Desert find that walking our labyrinth gives them rest and a sense of calm.  We are now in the process of developing “Sabbath Days” for busy people to come and be stimulated … and then rest.  A new series of days set apart for conversation with a variety of authors … and then rest, will provide a similar opportunity for regeneration.  Beginning in 2007 Spirit in the Desert will offer an annual Post-Easter Retreat (crash) for clergy and spouses.

In addition to information from the brain research we have an additional advantage.  Jesus tells us, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…  Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Matthew 6:25 ff.  Jesus is telling us to slow down to the speed of life.  Give our brains and hearts some rest once in a while trusting that we are in God’s hands.  The title of this article needs to be changed… SLOW DOWN and Take Care of Yourself

Paul Campbell is the Executive Director, Spirit in the Desert Lutheran Retreat Center, Carefree, Arizona - www.spiritinthedesert.org

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Financial Matters

Intentionality and Trust, with Thanks to God For Congregations
By Craig Corbin

I begin this article with a disclaimer statement.  I claim no professional expertise nor do I have an advanced degree that qualifies me to write this article on congregational financial development. I do have faith and trust in God with a passion for Christian outdoor ministry. My intent is to simply share with you some practices that have worked for me over the past several years while working in this ministry.

When I think of financial development as it relates to congregations, I immediately think of intentionality.  This intentionality can take on several meanings.  One of the things I am very intentional about is working very hard to visit the congregations of the camp association on a regular basis (once every two years). Most often these visits take place on a Sunday morning when I have the greatest opportunity to speak to and touch base with a large number of members.  One of the primary messages I focus on is ownership and partnership in Gospel ministry.  Luther Point is their camp!  The ministry of this congregation extends beyond the walls of this building and this community. 

Another part of the intentional relationship is regular, monthly correspondence with each congregation which involves a half page, bulletin or newsletter insert.  Each monthly insert normally has four to five short one-paragraph items highlighting upcoming events or news from the past month or an update.  The purpose is to keep as many people informed as possible, with the hope that folks actually do read their bulletins or newsletters.

Yearly statements of intent are part of the intentional relationship with each congregation.  We send a letter thanking each congregation for their partnership and ownership in this outdoor ministry.  We also ask them to inform us as to what their financial benevolent support will be for the year by having them fill out a “statement of intent”.   We also encourage congregations to give serious consideration to supporting the camp ministry on a monthly basis.  Simply divide their intended gift by 12 and commit to sending that amount as a part of their regular monthly benevolent support.  We have been quite successful with this and a large portion of our congregations do actually participate in monthly giving.

Recently, the Luther Point Board of Directors initiated a new procedure where we send each congregation a quarterly statement.  Each statement informs them of their current giving as of the end of the quarter.  We do have a per baptized member fee of $2.00 and part of the reason for the quarterly statements is to encourage and nudge congregations to grow towards that commitment level.

Something else that has been effective for the camp association is special appeals for smaller, attainable projects.  For several years now we have had an ongoing yearly project such as our Family Cabin Renovation project or a special appeal for new wells. These projects continue to receive funding from our congregations and we have been able to do a significant amount of camp improvements over the years.

I believe we are called by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be faithful stewards of the gifts of God.  Perhaps my greatest weakness in being a faithful steward is my fear and doubt that the camp ministry will not continue to be financially viable.  On the reverse side I walk by faith and trust in God.  I believe it is important for each of us to acknowledge and profess that faith and trust on a daily basis.  Often times I have seen my fears and doubts erased by overwhelming generosity from those who have ownership and partnership with us in this outdoor ministry.  Perhaps the best thing I can do is continue to be intentional, trust in God and simply exclaim, “Thanks be to God for God’s unspeakable gifts.”    

Craig is the Executive Director at Luther Point Bible Camp in Grantsburg, Wisconsin.

 
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Connections and Partnerships:

Expand Adult Programming without Adding Staff:
Partnering with Life Long Learning Centers

Region 9 Division for Vocation and Education Partnering In Ministry

Expand Adult Programming without Adding Staff:
Partnering with Life Long Learning Centers
By Rev. Kathy Haueisen, Director
 

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Diversity

Camp Ewalu, ISU Lutheran Campus Ministries and the Southeastern Iowa Synod Form a Joint Coalition Offering a Latino Family Camp at Ewalu and Service Learning Projects in Texas and New York.
By Dale Goodman

Ewalu Camp and Retreat Center, Lutheran Campus Ministries at Iowa State University and the Southeastern Iowa Synod were co-recipients of a $90,000 grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans which will help fund two service learning projects and a Latino family camp in each of the next two years.  In 2006, one service learning project will take place in May through Cristo Rey Lutheran Church in El Paso, Texas and the other will be in June through Salam Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York.  The Latino family camp will take place at Ewalu in August. 

The three-part ministry is called “Shoulder to Shoulder: A Heart for Service and Community.”  Inspired through the opportunities for Thrivent grants for youth initiatives, the “Shoulder to Shoulder” grant will be used for the development of youth leaders through service, learning and engagement projects.  It will bring together Lutheran Caucasian, Hispanic and Palestinian youth and young adults to work side by side – fostering relationships – while responding to the expressed needs of the communities. 

Two Ewalu counselors will be part of the service learning project on the Texas/Mexico border.  Two other Ewalu counselors will take part in the New York City service learning project.  All four Ewalu counselors will be leaders/counselors in the Latino Family Camp.  Each service learning project will have 15 participants – plus the two leaders.  At least four people from the Cristo Rey community and four others from the Salam community will come to Iowa to participate in the Ewalu family camp.  Most of the participants in the Latino family camp will come from Latino communities in Iowa.

The Texas/Mexico program will provide exposure to the social issues that affect the border area and cross-cultural experiences through shared learning, work, social time and prayer. 

The Salam Lutheran Church in Brooklyn was one of the churches that was greatly affected by the events of 9/11.  They responded by reaching out to help the largely Middle-Eastern population with a variety of programs, services and support.  Salam has played a crucial role in pulling together Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders, public officials and young people into conversation and action for peace and understanding.

Over the two-year grant period, youth and young adults will use their experiences to evaluate best practices and help develop a resource and DVD that can be used for future service learning projects.

Dale is the executive director at Ewalu in Strawberry Point, Iowa

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Times of Transition

All of us experience at different stages of life those times of significant “transition.”  These are times of significant changes from the status quo (marriage, birth of a child, death of a loved one, retirement, changing jobs or careers), getting used to new alignments for personal or professional relationships and ways of doing things, coming to grips with new realities that have become a part of our ‘world’ sometimes without even having noticed them.  Life, in fact, is a constant stream of transition—some minor and some quite major.

At this time of year, many of us are “transitioning” into more active (24/7) ministry for the next three months.  It always brings challenges, frustrations, joys, difficulties, surprises, predictability. 

But the kind of “transition” I want to talk with you about at this time is the ‘new church’ into which we are moving.  You might even say we have already moved there, but may not have noticed it yet.  This is the church of declining numbers of children attending Sunday School, ‘families’ of all shapes, types and sizes, worshippers who don’t think in terms of ‘joining’ the congregation, but going there to worship, a church of different ancestral heritages than the white, northern European ancestors from whom most of us descended.  And this is the church that is living in a very different culture than what we experienced even a decade ago.  One need only watch a couple newscasts to see the growing presence of our Hispanic brothers and sisters living and working in our communities.

At the conference last October, we were challenged by a roundtable discussion group to do more than “talk” about the multicultural world in which we live.  We were challenged to encourage the various organizations through which we minister to become much more intentional in ‘multicultural’ awareness.  As the new president of LOM, I asked the Board if we could legitimately ‘encourage’ other organizations to raise awareness of multicultural issues and the racism which permeates our society unless WE as an organization were willing first to commit ourselves to doing so. 

As a result, two specific, concrete actions have taken place: 

1. Instead of appointing a “Multicultural Task Force” who would complete their task and be disbanded, we created a standing Multicultural Committee which will continue keeping the challenge and awareness of the need to grow as individuals and organizations in our awareness and reaching out.
2. We committed LOM, the board and committee membership to participate in a time of multicultural awareness and anti-racism training in 2006.  All committee members and the LOM Board will be encouraged to plan to stay one extra day after the ELCA Outdoor Ministries Conference to participate in this important training event.  Committee members will hear more about this when final details have been worked out. 

Much more is being planned, but these actions are intended to demonstrate LOM’s commitment to being an inclusive ministry of the church and intentional in our efforts for that to become more evident.

Blessings to you and your ministries in the coming months, and in your times of transition.

Wayne is executive director at Crossways Camping Ministries in Wisconsin.  He is currently serving as President of LOM.

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Education Committee News
By Rod Pearce

Recently, I did something for which I soon questioned my sanity over having done. We were developing a new retreat brochure and I thought it would be useful to seek input from various individuals and groups (didn’t Ford do this before development of the Edsel?). Nothing formal mind you, just some input on what people felt would be helpful, informative, and appropriately promote our program and facility. That was interesting (put emphasis on ‘that’).

Well, I must have been glutton for punishment because after an initial draft, I asked again for feedback. What was I thinking? No two people (even professional designers) said the same thing and most of the suggestions were different from what I felt was important. As I have learned from my experiences (which were apparently so painful I blocked them out of my memory) you can’t please everyone so most likely no one will like the new retreat brochure. My point?

Perhaps I should listen more to my peers – those who live, work and have extensive experience in Lutheran outdoor ministries - those who participate in educational events sponsored by ELCA Outdoor Ministries and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM). And there are many educational opportunities available.  Check out all the options in the Resources for Leaders section of the ELCA Outdoor Ministries Web site for more information.

Because a board member and I attended the first LOM Board School this past January, our camp now has a detailed Board Development and Succession Plan with applications and an orientation booklet and CD.  We were able to do this with information we gathered from that school. The board member who attended with me was so impressed - so charged, and has become so full of passion for outdoor ministry, that she is now our new Board President. In all of our events, it is not just the formal learning times that are so helpful. The times of informal conversation, socialization, and sharing of ideas are a highlight of all outdoor ministry educational events.

The Education Committee is not stopping here. The committee is hard at work planning more intensives. And yes, we do seek and appreciate your input. Share with us some ideas you may have or perhaps an intensive for which you would like to provide leadership.

Until then, have a fun and safe summer.

Rod is the executive administrator for Mar-Lu-Ridge in Maryland and currently serves as chair of the LOM Education Committee

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Calendar and Events:

Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Board of Directors

Committees

ELCA Outdoor Ministries Staff

Resources:

La Frontera - 2006 Outdoor Ministries Curriculum

Journeys for Youth 2006

Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers
by Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton, Oxford University Press
The National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR) has published its first major findings in Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, by Oxford University Press.
To order, please visit www.oup.com/us/soulsearching or call 1-800-451-7556.
The cost is $25.00.

ACA Crisis Hotline - 800.573.9019
The ACA Crisis Hotline number is available as a free, year round service to all ACA camps.  The hotline staff will be paged and will return your call as soon as possible.  The hotline is not a medical or legal advice hotline, but does serve as a "listening ear" to help you talk through your crisis.  The hotline staff can help you think of issues and questions and identify other resources that can assist you.

10-10-80
Check out this new resource.  It is a stewardship program for youth, provided by La Crosse Area Synod (Wisconsin), Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, South-Central Synod of Wisconsin.  This has great potential as a retreat program. 
 

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