Montreat, NC

Last week, I traveled to Montreat, North Carolina to serve as an adult chaperon for a Presbyterian youth conference. Montreat is an historic retreat space, nestled into the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina about 10 miles east of Asheville. It is perhaps most recognizable by the singular stellar personality of Billy Graham who resides in Montreat most of the year now. In fact, when Billy Graham's wife died recently, the funeral service was held in Montreat's Anderson Auditorium - the very same auditorium where I worshiped with over 1,400 youth for five straight days.

Montreat is exceedingly beautiful with a fresh stream pouring through the center of the camp. All around the beautiful land, though, there is ample evidence of yuppie-ism flowing - typical I suppose of Presbyterians who have traditionally ranked behind Episcopalians in the "richest Denomination" award. It was not unusual to see throngs of youth groups traveling less than a mile by van from their rented houses to the worship area two or three times a day - bypassing the opportunity to walk along the creek shaded by many firs.

There was another duality present in the place. Close to Asheville and within a mile of Black Mountain, Montreat is a bit of California in Appalachia territory. But, then again, it is where Billy Graham resides, so it has been greatly shaped by more conservative and traditional Evangelical and revivalists perspectives as well. And, in fact, I found myself frequently thinking Montreat serves as a great example of the overall diversity within the PC(USA).

Besides those rather abstract matters, the week was full of what you would expect from adoloscent overload - lots of crazy skits, tons of singing and almost no individual time. Introverts beware: I am not sure Montreat is the place for you ... better to take your back pack and hike the Appalachian Trail. You may not get to worship where Billy Graham lives, but you can find yourself close to God and all the beauty God endowed upon us.

Wes

photo courtesy of David Rencher at lumis.com