Changes are happening on the Gladstone Park Conference Center grounds. In July, crews arrived to begin the preparations for the new Gladstone Pavilion.
In February 2023, Oregon Conference executive committee voted to move forward with the Gladstone Pavilion, a project that would provide a permanent roof over the main seating area for Gladstone Camp Meeting. This action represents a significant commitment and investment in the future of camp meeting in Oregon Conference.
While the financial picture has changed in Oregon Conference over the past number of months, the project is continuing for some good reasons:
- The cost of the project will be completely funded by income from Oregon Conference’s ownership stake in Somerset Lodge. Years ago, the conference invested land at the north end of Gladstone Campgrounds in a retirement community that became Somerset. This income from that ownership stake is separate from tithe and does not impact the conference operating budget. It has been designated to maintain and enhance the Gladstone Park grounds. The income will be more than sufficient to pay back the building loan ahead of schedule.
- Once completed, the pavilion project will save $75,000 or more in camp meeting operating costs each year. These savings reduce the tithe funding required to operate the camp meeting ministry and allow administration to allocate that funding to pastoral ministry in local churches.
- The new pavilion will create opportunities for larger-scale ministry events throughout the good weather seasons.
Oregon Conference is blessed by the opportunity to use existing resources to invest in the future of camp meeting, while allocating additional tithe funding to pastoral ministry in local churches. The ministry team is looking forward to July 2025 when everyone can worship together under a new roof.
Crews arrived at the beginning of July to begin preparations for the new Gladstone Pavilion at Gladstone Park Conference Center.
In addition to providing shelter for camp meeting goers, the pavilion will create opportunities for larger-scale ministry events throughout good weather seasons.
