What Is the Role of Camp Meeting in Modern Adventism — Attendance Trends and Spiritual Impact?

Executive summary

Camp meeting is one of Adventism's most enduring institutions, with a continuous tradition spanning over 150 years. Yet this annual gathering faces significant headwinds in the modern era: declining full-term attendance (fewer members staying the full 10 days), rising event costs (~$300,000 per event for some conferences), scheduling conflicts with contemporary lifestyles, and the broader membership engagement crisis (only 15% Sabbath attendance in NAD). Attendance now peaks sharply on weekends ...