A message from Bishop Julia E. Whitworth
Beloved of God,
I write to share news of transition at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center. As you may have seen earlier this week, the BCH board, of which I am a part, announced that the Rev’d Spencer Hatcher-Tarplin is stepping down as Executive Director to accept a call at a parish in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts. Spencer has faithfully led BCH since 2022, leading a significant and necessary rebuilding season after the COVID-19 pandemic. Serving as Bishop-in-Residence for a week this summer, I saw firsthand the thriving, diverse, and vibrant summer camp that testifies to her leadership.
Today, I am sharing with you that the BCH Board has called the Rev’d Shannon Kelly as its Interim Executive Director. Since early 2025, Shannon has served on my team, first as Interim Missioner for Children and Youth, and more recently as Missioner for Children, Youth, and Campus Ministries. In these roles she has brought new life to many key ministries for our Diocese: guiding our new young adult program, expanding youth formation, and strengthening campus ministries. She has also served as my proxy on the Barbara C. Harris Board of Directors and assisted with the camp this summer as an extension of her ministry in the Office of the Bishop. A person of vision, compassion, and conviction, Shannon is animated by love of Christ and a call to share God’s welcome with all, especially young people. While we will miss her at 138 Tremont, I believe she is an excellent choice to lead BCH as it discerns a future of growth, sustainability, and ministry rooted in Christ.
As your bishop, I am committed to BCH as central to our mission of forming creative disciples for missional lives and sharing Christ’s love in a broken world. Shannon’s commitment to that mission and our Diocese will only strengthen our partnership with our Camp and Conference Center, even as we commence a search for a new Missioner for the Diocese. Proceeding from strength to strength, I look forward to working with Shannon and the whole BCH community in the season ahead.
Please join me in thanking both Spencer and Shannon and praying for them in this season of new beginnings.
Faithfully, with gratitude,
The Rt. Rev'd Julia E. Whitworth
Bishop Diocesan
A message from the Rev'd Shannon Kelly
Dear Diocesan Community,
Serving with you is a great privilege, and it is with deep gratitude and a mix of emotions I write to inform you that I have accepted the call to serve as Interim Executive Director of the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center. I will take up this new ministry December 1, 2026.
While I have only been on diocesan staff for 18 months, I have resided in this Diocese for much longer. I am so grateful for the colleagues and friends I have found here and am so impressed by the youth, young adults, and formation leaders across our Diocese. Your energy, dedication, intentionality, and faithfulness is a gift to our churches, communities, and beyond. I am incredibly thankful to continue to be serving in this Diocese alongside all of you.
You may not know that I grew up in the Episcopal camp world having been at my diocesan camp (Paradise Point) as camper, counselor, and staff for 18 years. I also served at two other camps and was Camp Director in the Diocese of Milwaukee. I currently serve on the board of Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers. All of that is to say, camp and conference center ministry is a part of who I am as a person, a Christian, and a leader in our church.
Having been at BCH over the last two summers, I have come to deeply appreciate and value the community of care, love, and inclusion that is created by the staff, counselors, junior counselors, and campers. BCH is a camp and conference center dedicated to building relationships, mentoring young people in their faith journey, creating leaders, forming a welcoming space for all, and designing opportunities for growth for all ages. The retreats I have helped host there, and those I have participated in throughout the years, have revealed a dedicated team skilled in creating spaces of learning, faith, fun, and rest. I am honored and excited to continue to carry this ministry forward as I work closely with the board and staff to tend to what the future is calling us to be and do together.
As I prepare for this new season of ministry, I am working closely with the bishop and diocesan leadership to see that this transition is as smooth as reasonably possible. I look forward to our continued connection and collaboration as I begin this new role, and I am thankful for your prayers and support in this transition.
Peace,
Shannon
The Rev'd Shannon Kelly
Missioner for Children, Youth, and Campus Ministries
The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts