Lutheran Camps Develop Leaders for the Future

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The outdoor ministry team of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is exploring "ways to design camp systems that offer a caring and compassionate response to people," said Mark D. Burkhardt, ELCA director for outdoor ministries, in an interview. "Lutheran camps will work to develop a more positive working climate in camp organizations," he said.
There are 145 ELCA-related outdoor ministries in the United States and Caribbean. Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson, in an outdoor ministries gathering last fall, said outdoor ministries are significant to the church and uniquely qualified to address the church's "Initiatives for a New Century." The "Initiatives" adopted by the ELCA's 1997 Churchwide Assembly are catalysts for Lutherans to teach the faith, connect with youth and young adults, and develop leaders for the next century.
"Over the past 80 years outdoor ministries have played an important role in the lives of children and young adults," said Burkhardt. "Today outdoor ministry is not just a ministry for children and youth but a ministry that touches people of every age. Our fastest-growing area is at the two ends of the age spectrum. At one end are children involved in our day camp programs, and the other end includes people who have reached retirement age and are still vitality active, healthy and looking to learn and experience new things," he said.
"Camp professionals and staff looked at the Initiatives and saw different areas where outdoor ministries play an active role. Our ministry is specifically mentioned for 'connecting with youth and young adults,'" said Burkhardt.
Karen J. Roles, camping network coordinator for Minnesota and the Dakotas, said, "Outdoor ministry is more than just kids going to camp. About 40 to 60 percent of seminary students say that outdoor ministries served a significant part in their decision to attend seminary," she said.
"Our camps employ about 3,000 young adults every summer, many of whom are in colleges and universities. We're providing significant leadership training opportunities for them, not only as we train them to work on the camp staff but as they encounter people throughout the program. Their leadership abilities grow and strengthen, with many returning year after year. Most work for outdoor ministries three to five years before they move into full-time employment elsewhere," he said.
In the area of "teaching the faith," Burkhardt believes that "outdoor ministry is at its best in the Christian education sector of the church." Camps are places where children can "connect in a real way with some of the traditional Bible stories, and learn how faith plays out in their daily lives. They are places where young people and children feel free to talk about issues, concerns or struggles. Camps become a place where young adults and children begin to wrestle with what their Christian faith means and how it plays out in schools and in relationships with their peers or family members."
"We have camp programs that include ministry to older adults and international camp counselor programs that involve up to 45 young adults from 21 partner churches overseas annually," Burkhardt said.
About 160 outdoor ministry professionals gathered in Door County, Wis., last fall for "A Ministry of Reconciliation," an outdoor ministry conference sponsored by the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries. Participants learned to promote "fulfillment and wellness among outdoor ministry staff" and "that we as a church value a diverse creation," said Burkhardt. Workshop topics ranged from creating a caring corporate culture to "barriers and bridges" between races and cultures, physical health and fitness to ministry with people with disabilities.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html