news article
Casowasco Update: From discernment to action
May 7, 2025 / By Casowasco Discernment Team / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Casowasco Discernment Team continues to discern the next right step for Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center. During the Lenten season, they spent time in prayer and discernment and invited others into the conversation through an electronic form. Thank you to everyone who completed the form. Your responses offered helpful insights, full of passion and openness.
After reviewing the input from the forms and reflecting on their own sense of God’s invitation, the team determined that Casowasco’s future must look different from what we’ve known in the past. To ensure Casowasco continues making a meaningful missional impact and honoring its legacy, the team will develop an updated ministry and business plan. They will begin crafting the renewed ministry plan this summer and then update the business plan based on that vision.
The team has contracted Ministry Incubators, a consulting firm that helps organizations innovate while staying grounded in discipleship. Ministry Incubators specializes in turning creative ministry ideas into reality.
Shortly after the Annual Conference session, the Casowasco team will meet with the consultant from Ministry Incubators to launch this new chapter. They hope to move swiftly, while ensuring the work is thorough and thoughtful. If all goes well, Casowasco could emerge from its Sabbath period before the end of 2025.
Taking this next right step will require commitment and collaboration from many people. United Methodists of Upper New York will have the opportunity to invest their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness in reimagining ministry at Casowasco. The Leadership of the annual conference remains committed to discerning the best use of Casowasco so we can transform the world by nurturing passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who share faith, mercy, and justice in their everyday lives.