This is an open blog to discuss the proposed purchase of the Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck Michigan from the Presbytery of Chicago… This forum is intended to be an open discussion pertaining to the effort of the LCC to preserve the mission, vision and history of the Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck Michigan. Please feel free to post your comments, questions and concerns here in this blog..
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
8 Responses
Hello everyone and welcome to our LCC blog… we are looking forward to an open dialog with everyone who loves the Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck Michigan…
Welcome…
What a wonderful website. What a wonderful idea. The whole Presbytery should cheer your efforts to preserve that beautiful, holy place.
After reading everything over, including the Presbytery Call Papers, my initial reaction is a mix of feelings. For the most part, however, I’d say that I am excited, relieved and optimistic. I’ve known about the Presbytery of Chicago’s situation for a few months and immediately recognized that the camp, certainly being the Presbytery’s most valuable asset, would strongly considered as a source for securing the necessary funding to pay off the remaining $6.8 million. So, naturally, I was rather worried about the future of Pres Camps, but was hopeful that something new would arise… something to help Presbytery of Chicago’s financial situation while preserving the camp.
Reading over the LCC’s proposal actually got me excited for the future of the camp. My biggest worry was that the camp would be sold into development or to a group that would disconnect from the tradition of Presbyterian Camping and the commitment to environment preservation that we’ve all held so dearly since for so many years. While I don’t know all of the members of the LCC Board, the ones I do know comfort me. I know how much the camp means to you and know the care you will place into preserving what has become a special sanctuary to so many, even while we look towards the future of Pres Camps.
I am particularly excited about the vision LCC has put together. The expansion of our year-round program should help bolster our camp and some retooling in other areas will provide a fresh new start to the LCC’s vision if all goes through. If we are able to accomplish this vision and help relieve the Presbytery of Chicago’s financial situation, while maintaining a focus on nurturing all in a welcoming Christian faith and on preserving the environmental santuary that is our camp, then I believe we will be able to strike the right balance between preservation and renovation.
So, as a whole, I am enthusiastic about the LCC’s proposal. It appears that discussion between the LCC and the PRTF will need to continue to progress in order for the proposal to pass and for it to initiate, but with the proposed covenant relationship between LCC and the Presbytery, I imagine we’ve great reason to be optimistic. It gives me great comfort to be so excited about our camps future again.
…Peace and blessings to all as we continue to prayerfully pursue God’s guidance for the future of our camp.
I recently became aware of the plight of Presbyterian Camps and I immediately became anxious for its future.
However after reading the LCC’s proposal I feel relieved and positive about the future of Presbyterian Camps.
Presbyterian Camps is a marvelous place and it is obvious that once sold to LCC it will be in good hands.
Keep up the good work and good luck with all your efforts to save the camp.
I spent many a summer as a camper and as camp staff member at this amazing location. Words cannot express the impact of the place and its mission. The thought of this place being sold, or being sold off piece by piece is sickening and disheartening. This camp has touched so many lives and created meaningful experiences for children and adults.
I am fully in support of a plan that sets a goal of preserving the land and the mission of this camp, while further developing buildings on the camp property so that the camp can utilize and increase programming in the off season. There is so much potential for expanding the programming during the school year, as well as continuing the quality programming for the summer that causes people to return year after year.
As a former camper and counselor and now work weekender, family camper and mother of three young children (who look forward to Family Camp every summer) I cannot tell you how many ways Camp has impacted my life and that of my family. I have always dreamed of sending my children to camp in hopes that they would each have the opportunity to experience just a bit of what I was blessed to experience.
When I heard that camp as I’ve known it for 26 years might not “be” anymore my heart sank. Never in my dreams did I think it could vanish. I know it is all about location, location, location and location = $$$. To me there is no dollar amount that can be put on this holy place, created and put in our care so long ago to serve HIS purpose. I believe the Presbytery has worked hard to uphold the camp’s purpose and mission all these years and it is my prayer that both parties will continue to work together so HIS purpose can be glorified each day for generations to come in this place so many have come to love.
While I appreciate the efforts made and understand the deep connections many have with the camp, I do wonder if good stewardship permits selling the camp at half price? This when so many needs in the Presbytery go unmet?
First, evidently there is a rumor about selling at half price. I wonder where this information came from. To my knowledge only one offer has been made to the Presbytery and that is from the LCC. Since a fair market value has yet to be established, how can anyone say anything about half price?
Second, as people of faith, shouldn’t we think about more things than just money? The secular world would only think in terms of dollars and cents but we believe that God is not only the Creator of the earth but, through us, God is also the sustainer of the earth and the environment. The people of member churches of the Presbytery of Chicago have a unique opportunity to protect God’s holy ground known as Presbyterian camps, forever. The easiest thing to do would be to sell the camp to a developer so the beautiful 125 acres can be cut up for capitalist reasons. Isn’t that what got the economy in the shape it is now? As people of faith we need to set an example that there are things more important than money. We have an opportunity to be true stewards of God’s creation.