Sisters and brothers in Christ,

 

Last Saturday, we celebrated under sunny skies the official groundbreaking at the new camp, retreat, and education center in Wakeman Township, with communicants from across the diocese, local officials, program partners, neighbors, and other supporters. It was a wonderful celebration, marked by food, tours, and activities for some 300 people in attendance. Just before putting the ceremonial shovels in the ground, we announced the name of the new facility and the process by which it was chosen, both of which I share with you now.

 

For two years we have solicited name suggestions and considered countless possibilities. While many were creative and expressed important aspects of our mission, none seemed quite to capture what has emerged as the vocation of the center, to be a vehicle through which we teach, challenge, inspire, and equip ourselves and the wider community to live faithful lives of spiritual and physical health, environmental fidelity, and service to others.

 

In August, Project Director Katie Ong-Landini and Communications Director Jessica Rocha engaged the services of thunder::tech, a local marketing firm, to help us come up with a name. A group of ten lay leaders and clergy - representing the Trustees, Standing Committee, Diocesan Council, and others - received the results of their work. I am delighted to report that they unanimously affirmed Bellwether Farm.

 

Since the Middle Ages, shepherds have singled out one ram in a flock to wear a bell and indicate where the flock is going. The bellwether has come to signify a harbinger or herald of what is to come. In this sense, it is the Church's vocation to be a bellwether of the kingdom of God, and the vocation of every Christian is to be a bellwether of God's mission to heal the world. It is, of course, our common prayer that through this new camp, retreat, and education center, and in each of our lives, we will be the bellwether of Christ's redeeming and reconciling love.

 

In the coming weeks, construction will move forward. We anticipate that the camp buildings will be completed in the spring of 2017, and we expect to begin an initial schedule of camp sessions in the summer. I look forward a year from now to gathering with you at the fully built Bellwether Farm.

Gratefully,

 

The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr.

Bishop of Ohio