Across our network, there’s a shared awareness that this is a meaningful moment in the life of camp and retreat ministry.

Leaders are navigating changing participation patterns, evolving expectations around faith formation, and ongoing questions about staffing, sustainability, and connection to the broader Church. At the same time, we continue to see the deep and lasting impact of this ministry. Lives are being shaped, leaders are being formed, and communities are being strengthened.

It’s also a natural moment for us to pause and look ahead. UMCRM’s current strategic initiatives will conclude at the beginning of 2027. This gives us a timely opportunity to listen, discern, and set a direction that reflects where our ministries are today and where we believe God is leading us next.

A Process Grounded in Listening

This new strategic planning effort for UMCRM is rooted in a simple but important commitment: to listen well. We began our work by paying close attention to the small group conversations that took place during the Association Meeting at the Great Gathering. Many of you shared thoughtful reflections, challenges, and hopes for the future of our ministries. That feedback is already helping to ground this process in the lived realities of our network.

From there, we have moved into a season of deeper listening. Right now, we are conducting interviews with a diverse group of members, partners, and constituents, ensuring that a wide range of voices and experiences are shaping what comes next. In April, we will invite the full UMCRM community to participate in an online feedback survey. This will be an important opportunity for everyone to contribute perspective, insight, and hope for the future.

At every step, this work will be guided by what we are hearing. The data will not simply inform the process—it will drive the direction of UMCRM’s work over the next three to four years. This effort is being guided by Mitzie Schafer (UMCRM Board of Directors & GSB Fundraising), who is bringing both expertise and deep understanding of our ministry context to the process. She is working alongside a Strategic Planning Team made up of UMCRM volunteers, as well as the Board. Together, this group is helping to create a process that is thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in the real experiences of camp and retreat ministry. At the same time, this is not simply a board-level initiative. It is a shared effort across the entire UMCRM community. The future we are shaping belongs to all of us.

What to Expect in the Months Ahead

As we move forward, the process will continue to unfold in a clear and intentional way:

• Now through spring: Listening through interviews and broad community input

• April: Full-network survey launches

• Summer: Continued reflection and preparation by the Strategic Planning Team

• August: Deep analysis of what we’ve heard and development of recommendations

• Early November: Adoption of a new strategic plan by the Board

We are still early in the process. While the Board has begun exploring feedback from the Association Meeting, the deeper work of identifying themes and shaping recommendations will take place later this summer as all of the data comes together.

This process is not just about organizational direction; it’s about strengthening the ministries you lead every day. The insights gathered through this effort will help shape how UMCRM:

• Supports leadership development

• Creates meaningful connections across the network

• Develops resources that meet today’s needs

• Advocates for the value and impact of camp and retreat ministry

In short, this work will help ensure that UMCRM continues to serve as a strong, relevant, and forward-looking partner in your ministry.

An Invitation to Be Part of What’s Next

You will have opportunities in the coming months to share your voice, reflect on your experiences, and help shape what comes next for UMCRM. When those invitations come we hope you will engage fully. Your perspective matters, and it will help shape the direction of this shared ministry.

This is a meaningful moment for UMCRM. Not just to plan, but to listen, to discern, and to move forward together with clarity and purpose. We’re grateful to be on this journey with you.