Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN — As COVID-19 began to spread in March, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board officially closed its two conference centers — Carson Springs in Newport and Linden Valley in Linden — on March18.
Mark Proctor, associate administrator of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, called the action a “hard close” because “everything was taken off the books at that point.”
Beginning June 23, the hard close ends and a “soft reopening” begins as the conference center reopens “to host select smaller groups, individuals and events that can be managed while meeting state and federal gathering guidelines.,” Proctor said.
Among the camps and events cancelled have been Impact Camps, Journey Camps, CentriKid Camps (LifeWay), Super Summer, All Nations Camps (rescheduled), and Special Friends Camps (TBAH).
Mark Proctor
The TBMB Conference Centers are greatly anticipating welcoming guests back to the centers beginning on June 24, Proctor said. “Gatherings will generally be limited to one group at a time but all guests can come expecting the same impeccable service to which they’ve become accustomed from their Conference Centers staffs.
During the closure period, our staffs have been hard at work improving and freshening the facilities and grounds with the anticipation of welcoming guests back to these greatly improved properties, Proctor said.
The properties are in outstanding shape with many improvements awaiting our returning guests, he observed.
“We haven’t ‘wandered in the wilderness’ these last 60 days while we’ve been closed. We’ve been intentional and intense in our efforts to improve, clean and dress-up the conference centers,” he said.
Proctor encouraged churches to consider “retreats” in the coming weeks and months. “Retreats come in all sizes and the conference centers staffs can help plan and produce those for churches or groups,” he said.
Retreats can be individual pastor’s getaways, informal, small-group affairs or more formal events like ‘senior adult retreats’ with planned programming,” Proctor observed.
“Both conference centers are experienced in and have excellent facilities for hosting church staff planning retreats as well,” he added.
For more information on Tennessee Baptist conference centers, visit tnbaptistcamps.org. B&R
