Conference center to continue serving Presbyterians, expand offerings

February 21, 2017

The Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center has transferred its operations from the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to the National Ghost Ranch Foundation (NGRF). The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation established in 1972 to support Ghost Ranch as a ministry of the PC(USA), has been providing financial, operational, and volunteer resources for Ghost Ranch.

Deeming that the programmatic work carried out on the site of the Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center is “no longer within the purview of the PMA,” the PMA Board and NGRF worked out details of the transfer over the second half of 2016. All seven conditions of the transfer agreement established  in September were met, allowing Ghost Ranch operations to shift to the NGRF with oversight by the Foundation’s constituent corporation, the Board of Christian Education of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Ghost Ranch is located 60 miles northwest of Santa Fe, just beyond the town of Abiquiu, New Mexico. It was donated to the Board of Christian Education of a PC(USA) predecessor in 1955. The Board became one of the Presbyterian Foundation’s constituent corporations upon the merger of the former United Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Presbyterian Church U.S. in 1983.

All parties to the transfer of operations agreed on the common goal of coming together as one body, one family, in order to find a way forward for an effective ministry and Presbyterian witness at Ghost Ranch.

“The conversations between the parties [were] marked by a great deal of mutual respect, and everyone is doing all they can to ensure the successful operation of Ghost Ranch and its programs going forward,” said Tony De La Rosa, interim executive director of the PMA. “It’s been important that Ghost Ranch maintain its association with the PC(USA) as a national conference center, and I believe this transaction helps to advance the adoption of best practices

Gregg Brekke and Emily Enders Odom, Presbyterian News Service

Today’s Focus:  Ghost Ranch

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Mission Co-workers

Thomas Goetz, Japan
Janet Guyer, Malawi
Thomas Harvey, United Kingdom

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Mark Stewart, PMA                                                                     
Mindi Stivers, PMA

Let us pray:

Holy God, I call upon you with a renewed spirit. Reveal yourself to me in fresh ways today. Show me the paths you have placed before me. Be with me in every decision I make. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 54; 146
First Reading Ruth 1:15-22
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 1:12-22
Gospel Reading Matthew 5:13-20
Evening Psalms 28; 99