Chalice Camp Brings Students Together with Experience

Campers and mentor-leaders alike found much to learn at the Chalice Camp held at Camp Barbee, near Leesburg, Ind., on October 15-17.  Almost 50 people came together to share experiences and preparation for ministry.

Chalice Camp participants Tamara Boggs (left) and Belinda Davis pause during a break in camp activities.

During the 48-hour event, attendees experienced worship in a variety of traditions from a diverse set of preachers.  Breakout groups provided attendees the opportunity to discuss and practice skills of ministry, such as presiding at weddings, funerals and the Lord’s Table.  Other breakout groups addressed dealing with conflict, church administration and developing leaders for 21st century churches.

A highlight of Chalice Camp is baptism practice, where campers have the opportunity to practice baptism by immersion.  Campers and mentor-leaders traveled to the Koskiosko YMCA for practice in the pool there.

After practicing baptism, the commissioning service was held at First Christian Church in Warsaw.  During the commissioning service, Rebecca Woods, news editor for DisciplesWorld, brought the message, and campers received a certificate along with a sprig of ivy. 

The tradition of giving ivy dates back to graduation stories for the School of Missions.  Missionaries, as they graduated from the school were given a sprig of ivy from the Missions Building that they were to plant when they arrived at their mission site.

This was the second year for Chalice Camp.  The program originated with students at Christian Theological Seminary.  Faculty and students from CTS, with representation from the Indiana Region, plan the program and activities for Chalice Camp each year.

Chalice Camp Set for October 15-17

Seminarians and Others to Gather at Camp Barbee

The second Chalice Camp for seminarians and others in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana and other regions is set for Thursday through Saturday, October 15 through 17, at Camp Barbee. The camp is located on Kuhn Lake near Leesburg, Ind.  Camp begins at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday and will conclude at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Blanche Hudson practices immersion with Elizabeth Ann Hartman during Chalice Camp 2008

The first Chalice Camp was held one year ago and was so well received that planning began soon afterwards for this second one. The purpose of the Camp is to provide a working introduction to ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for women and men who:

• are in seminary preparing for ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• are in programs of licensed ministry
• have recently come into the ministry of the Disciples movement and who seek further exposure to the Disciples ethos
• have recently graduated from seminary
• are interested in exploring what ministry might be like in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• persons from other denominations or movements

Participants will have opportunities to:

• review key ideas and practices in the ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• consider ministerial ethics for Disciples ministers
• meditate on what it means to be a Disciples minister today
• practice immersion in a YMCA pool in nearby Warsaw
• practice presiding over the Lord’s Supper
• practice leading a wedding rehearsal and a wedding
• practice leading a funeral
• consider ministerial leadership in situations of conflict
• participate in small group discussions
• work with the search-and-call process
• practice interviewing with a mock pulpit (search) committee
• work with a church budget
• hear about exciting developments in the regional and general church, including church starts, and implications of our new Disciples identity, “We are a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.”
• become more familiar with Disciples resources
• network with Disciples leaders and with others preparing for ministry
• have time for spiritual renewal and reflection in a beautiful camp setting
• learn Disciples lore

The camp will have two levels of experiences: basic workshops and groups for beginning participants and more advanced experiences for those who have already participated in basic encounters.

Leaders for the camp come from all expressions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)—congregations, regional staff, general staff, theological seminaries, and retired persons. Many seasoned ministers from each of these expressions of the church will be on hand as mentors and conversation partners.

Campfires, singing, S’mores and holy rowdiness will conclude each day.

The camp will include four services of worship, each with preaching by a noted Disciples leader. Preaching and worship will reflect the diversity of the Disciples of Christ.

Deb Phelps is camp director. Ron Allen from Christian Theological Seminary and Linda McKiernan-Allen, interim minister of West Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tipton, Ind., are advisors.

Cost is $85, and scholarships are available. Please bring a Bible, sleeping bag, clothes appropriate for unpredictable fall weather, and an electric heater.

Congregations and individuals are urged provide scholarships for participants and to make donations to support the camp.

For more information contact Ron Allen at ron.allen@cts.edu or Deb Phelps at dphelps@cts.edu.

Chalice Camp Provides Practical Ministry Instruction

Over 40 seminarians and others preparing for ministry gathered at Camp Barbee near Leesburg, Ind., for the first Chalice Camp on October 17-19.  Chalice Camp was organized by the Disciples of Christ Seminarians (DOCS) group at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, with support from the faculty of CTS and the Indiana Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Campers and mentor-leaders pose at the end of Chalice Camp 2008. Photo by Paul Hartig.

Although many Chalice Camp attendees were students from Christian Theological Seminary, campers also came from the University of Chicago Divinity School and from Columbia Theological Seminary in Columbia, S.C.  A couple preparing for service as licensed ministers from the Disciples Central Rocky Mountain Region also attended.

Ron Allen and Linda McKiernan-Allen served as the primary leaders for Chalice Camp, providing valuable leadership and instruction.  Deborah Phelps, a student at CTS and 28-year educator, organized students and leaders to bring the camp to life.

Throughout the weekend, campers received instruction and guidance on practical areas of ministry, including conducting wedding and funeral services as well as performing baptisms.  The camp also included sessions on the Lord’s Supper, ministry structures and identity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and mistakes ministers make. 

Experienced pastor-mentors guided attendees at Chalice Camp through the weekend.  These mentor leaders shared from their experience and listened to the ministry stories, hopes and aspirations from campers.

Campers and leaders alike received a blessing from preachers who offered a message during each of the four worship services held over the weekend.  Ron Allen’s message on “What It Means to Be a Disciples of Christ Minister” anchored the opening worship service on Friday evening.  Juan Rodriguez, pastor of Iglesia del Pueblo-Hope Center in Hammond, preached on Saturday morning, and Terri Owens, Dean of Students at the University of Chicago Divinity School, gave the message on Saturday evning.

Linda McKiernan-Allen gave the sermon at closing worship on Sunday, encouraging students to rejoice always, whatever the circumstances.  Linda’s message led into a service of commissioning for the campers.

During the commissioning service, campers received certificates of appreciation and a shoot of live ivy suitable for planting.  Giving ivy has historical significance as this was the practice at graduation from the School of Missions in the early 20th century.  Graduates of the School of Missions, who had completed preparation for work as missionaries, were given a sprig of ivy with the idea that they would plant it when they arrived at their mission station.

Initial feedback from the event has been very positive, and plans are underway for Chalice Camp in the fall of 2009.