By Chad Hershberger
Did you know that Camp Mount Luther is part of a nationwide network called Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM)? LOM is an association of outdoor ministry organizations, professionals, board members, businesses, and students connected to Lutheran camping, conferences, and retreats.
Last week, associate director Jim Vitale and I spent a week in Baltimore at the 2024 LOM Conference, where we explored the theme “Be More.” As 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us: “God does not want us to be shy with God’s gifts, but to be bold, loving, and sensible.” Board Member Marianne Brock also represented the ELCA Foundation there. We were part of about 130 outdoor ministry professionals, board members, and others gathered at The Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights, MD.
I had the honor of being part of the planning committee for this conference. It’s my second time doing that, as I was the chair of the team for our 2006 Conference in Gettysburg. I was primarily involved in developing the worship services, doing on-site communications, and planning and co-hosting the recognitions banquet program.
Under the theme of “Be More,” camp staff learned ways to be BOLD leaders, LOVING leaders, and SENSIBLE leaders in our contexts. Workshops focused on these themes for each day, and large group keynotes helped carry the thread through the event. One goal we as planners had was that participants would leave with a toolbox that empowers them to BE BOLD, BE LOVING, BE SENSIBLE, and BE MORE.
Keynote speakers included Mary Kay DuChene, the co-director of LeaderWise, and Liz Eide, a Redevelopment Pastor at Lutheran Church of Peace in Maplewood, MN. Worship leaders included Rev. Amy Berger, Rev. Madeline Talman, Rev. Dr. Amsalu Geleta, Bishop Bill Gohl of the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and Bishop Leila Wheeler, ELCA Metro-DC Synod. Jim Vitale and I, along with Pastor Ryan Fitch led worship on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Ryan is known to our CML community. He is an alumni staffer and now serves as associate director of Lutherlyn. On Wednesday night, we did our Camp Mount Luther Prayer Service at the gathering. On Thursday night, Jim preached the sermon at the closing Eucharist service. Music was provided by Exodus Drive and Paul Heins and the GenOUT Youth Chorus. Worship and the keynote address was held at Christ’s Lutheran Church, Inner Harbor, on Tuesday.
I also got to present my Capstone Presentation for the Compass Points certificate program. Thursday night, I “graduated” and received my compass! Compass Points is a cooperative program of the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association, Outdoor Ministries Association of the United Church of Christ, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries, and Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers Inc. in partnership with Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. Six courses and one independent study are designed for camp and retreat professionals seeking to widen their base of knowledge in this vital specialized ministry. My classmates came from a wide variety of positions, facility types, and program models.
It was a great week away. I am blessed to work alongside so many talented colleagues. While this conference was different for me with planner responsibilities, both Jim and I found the sessions to be enriching. We both attended a workshop on the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church and gained insight into their work. Another former CML alum, Rev. David Shank, who served as our Director of Finance and Development in the mid-2000s, also presented a workshop on behalf of the ELCA Foundation, who he now works for.
I would be remiss to also not mention that when our Eastern Territory gathered on the first night, Jim was recognized for being a first-time conference attendee. The longer I am in LOM, the more I appreciate those who are stepping out into a career in outdoor ministries. I met a lot of young folks who are just as passionate about the work we do as I am!
It was a great week in Baltimore! Next year, the second Great Gathering of all mainline denomination camps is scheduled for Lake Junaluska in North Carolina. That will be another good opportunity of learning and fellowship for our directors at CML!
