With God, All Things Are Possible!
In 1842, when Bishop Levi Silliman Ives first came to Valle Crucis and gave this sacred place its name, he had a focused dream of what he wanted to build in this rural mountain valley: a monastery and school to teach the classics to young men entering the ministry. Bishop Ives' dream came to reality but only briefly. Yet, his dreams continued in new forms with new vision as Bishop Cheshire stepped in to continue the work started by Bishop Ives and Brother William West Skiles. Bishop Cheshire built the Mission House (still standing and in continuous use since 1896) and Crab Orchard Hall (which, under Bishop Cheshire was originally used as a chapel and a school). Bishop Horner's dream was to educate mountain children; he oversaw the construction of additional buildings on the site and began to buy back as much of the original acreage (which had been sold at various points) as possible.

Bishop Henry saw a need for focusing on the education of young women so the Center became an Episcopal boarding school. Bishop Henry also started an institute for rural ministry which reached out to seminarians and young priests. There are priests in the diocese who credit that institute with transforming their ministry. Along the way and through the years, The Valle Crucis Conference Center at the Historic Mission School generated power for the valley, managed a dairy and working farm, planted apple orchards and became a social, economic and educational hub for this valley and the surrounding community. Stretching over several generations, the Center became and continues as the "soul" of the vale of the Cross.

Today we continue to dream. We dream to continue God's work that was started in this place over 160 years ago and to provide a haven for those seeking respite from their busy lives. The Valle Crucis Conference Center continues to strive to be a place for recreation, relaxation and reflection here among our rushing streams, cascading waterfalls, old growth forests, restored wetlands, sustainable agriculture farmland and valley hay fields. We dream of protecting this land for generations yet unborn through conservation easements. We dream of building hermitages for clergy and lay persons who seek solitude and a place for study, rest and reflection. We dream of building a place for our youth to call home, a place that welcomes young people on their faith journeys.

Dreams build upon dreams. We dream because with God, all things are possible. I invite you to join Bishop Taylor, our board of directors and myself as we continue to celebrate all that is and can be possible here at the Valle Crucis Conference Center.

- Tom Eshelman
Executive Director

A committee of our Board was formed in 2004 to study a plan to build one or more private hermitages in the rhododendron forest on the grounds of the Conference Center off Dutch Creek Road behind Hunt Hill. If you would like to help us with this opportunity to provide private retreat space for lay and clergy who need time away, please consider a donation today or perhaps you might know of a foundation that might be interested in funding part of this project. We could use your help!

We were blessed to have our good friend and incredible artist JoAnn Hallmark make some drapes to cut the glare in Bishop Johnson Hall. While the hall was designed to take advantage of the wonderful valley views we found that some meetings requiring power point and overheads were having difficulties with glare. JoAnn designed and made easy to hang fabric pieces which can be hung over the windows on the first floor of the hall when needed. Thanks JoAnn!

The Episcopal Camps and Conference Center, Inc had their annual meeting at ECCO Center in Oakhurst, California in January. Conference Center directors, spouses and employees from over 30 different centers from around our country came together for a week of meetings, workshops, fellowship, sharing of ideas and a wonderful education trip to Yosemite National Park. The keynote speakers this year were Peg Smith, the Executive Director for the American Camping Association and the Very Rev. Bob Gianinni, the Dean of the Cathedral in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both speakers presented powerful presentations on how our camps and conference centers have become places of refuge for those who come for programs, retreats, camps, family reunions and other events. They spoke eloquently about the "magic" that happens at our centers and how lives are transformed by the ministry we do each and every day.

Our special thanks to these individuals & organizations for their generosity in giving to the Center in recent months:

The mission of the Valle Crucis Conference Center is to inspire, by loving example and service, those who break bread with us and share in the quest for spiritual renewal, Christian community, and stewardship of this sacred place.

The Right Reverend G. Porter Taylor
Bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina

Brenda Binning, President
The Rev. Brian Cole, Vice President
The Rev. Tim McRee, Treasurer
Susie Morgan, Secretary

Tom Eshelman (ex officio)
Jaan Ferree
Chuck Forester
Sandy Jones
Karen Kassinger
The Rev. Brian Suntken
Katerina Whitley
The Rev. John Zellner (ex officio)