The Christian Camp Meeting Association (CCMA) provides stewardship of the Craigville community and opportunities for spiritual growth, worship, service, learning, fellowship, retreat, and rest – in a unique place of grace by the sea.

The CCMA owns and is responsible for the land in the village not owned by individual cottage owners: the Green, the ball field, the parking lots, the roads, the Tabernacle, the Inn, Lodge, Manor, Groves House, the historic Post Office, five cottages, the tennis courts, and CBA Beach.

CCMA is governed by a volunteer board of four officers and 14 at-large members elected by the full membership at the annual meeting. Much of the work of the CCMA is carried out by committees: beach, religious activities and Tabernacle, roads and parks, tennis, membership, and nominating. 

CCMA Membership

CCMA is open to all cottage owners and friends of Craigville.

CCMA Open and Affirming Covenant

Craigville was founded by the New England Convention of Christian Churches in 1872 as a camp meeting. From the beginning it has been an ecumenical, inclusive community. For many years the Craigville Retreat Center has committed itself as a "ministry for all people in all seasons”. Rules for acceptance and participation in all Craigville programs are the same for everyone without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or national origin.

The above Covenant was affirmed and voted on at a CCMA Board Meeting on September 22, 2018.

CCMA Board of Directors

• President, Rev. Dr. Bill McKinney
  It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association membership, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee. The President shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Association in emergency matters between meetings of the above bodies. All actions of the President shall be in accord with policy adopted by the Association or the Board of Directors.

• Vice President, Alan Shoemaker
  The Vice President shall assist the President in the carrying out of his/her duties. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and assume all other duties of the President.

• Secretary, Alison Melavalin
  It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the records and minutes of the Association, communicate by email (electronic and/or postal) all notices of meetings and certify all actions taken by the Board of Directors.

• Assistant Secretary (vacant)

• Treasurer, Clark Gates
  The Treasurer shall prepare the annual budget in cooperation with other committees for submission to the Directors for approval. The Treasurer shall receive and hold the funds of the Association, shall oversee budgets as approved by the Directors, and shall review disbursement approved on the order of the Chairperson of the various committees involved, or the President.

• Assistant Treasurer (vacant)
  The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer and shall be empowered to act in all areas of the Treasury in the absence of the Treasurer.

Directors 

Larry Bowers

Lisa Brown

Sam Carpenter

Ed Deyton 

Terry Franklin

Julie Gavitt

Chris Gibson

Larry Gordon 

Joanne Hartunian

Eric Henderson

Fran Lahey 

Jim Lane

Greg Pinto

Dick Trull 

*Lee Williams 

Ex Officio Directors 

Patricia Deyton, LPPA

Joel Gardner, UCCR/CRC 

Renee Von Leeuwen, Craigville Youth 

*Deceased 

Click to view Presidents of CCMA 1872 - 2022

CCMA History

In 1871, The New England Convention of the Christian Churches purchased and established a camp meeting ground known as Camp Christian on the 160-acre Perry Farm in Centerville. People set-up tents for their meetings on the grounds.

In 1872, the Christian Camp Meeting Association was established with the purpose “to hold and encourage others to hold religious services.” In 1873, the CCMA voted to erect a frame building 60’ by 80’ covered with cloth on Christian Hill, which is the highest point of the village, as a place for worship and public gathering. A more permanent wooden structure, the current Tabernacle, was completed and dedicated on that site in 1887

Soon the campers wanted to build and own tent platforms that could be used each year when meetings were held. A plan was drawn up and campers bought plots on which they built their own platforms. The tent platforms were ultimately expanded, and Craigville became a village of Victorian-style houses. If you look around the Green, you will notice that the living rooms of most houses are the size of a tent platform.

Camp Christian was re-named Craigville in 1881 in honor of the life and ministry of Rev. Dr. Austin J. Craig, a prominent leader and educator of the Christian Churches.

In 1888, the CCMA bought 800 feet of beach on Nantucket Sound from the Hyannis Beach Association for $846.95. A portion of the beach was later taken by eminent domain by the Town of Barnstable. In the early years, many baptisms were performed on the beach. The Craigville Beach Association (CBA) is an integral part of the purpose and mission of the CCMA.

Christian Camp Meeting Association is a 501(c)(3) Church and Religious Organization