3rd July 2020

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to inform you about arrangements for Tiona Reunion this year.

Mission Centre Leadership and the Tiona Reunion Committee have been carefully considering the type of event we could have at Tiona in the Christmas holidays given the pandemic. The pandemic and related laws and guidelines significantly constrain our ability to run a full-program camp, including the types of activities we could hold, and our ability to provide meals and amenities safely. They also create significant obligations in relation to social distancing and cleaning and we are mindful of the heavy burden COVID-safe rules would place on camp volunteers and participants. For generations, Tiona Reunion has been an all encompassing experience, filled with an intimacy and community spirit we may not be able to provide under the current conditions.

We are also mindful that there is great uncertainty ahead. Whilst things look optimistic at the moment, we cannot rule out the real possibility that COVID outbreaks will require the camp to be cancelled at short notice, potentially exposing the Mission Centre to financial loss in relation to our accommodation booking at Tiona.

Finally, and certainly not least, the health of our community is of paramount concern to us; ‘protecting the most vulnerable’ is our calling and our responsibility (Doctrine and Covenants 164:6a).

For these reasons, we have made the difficult decision that Tiona Reunion will not occur this year in the way that it normally does. Community of Christ will not be taking registrations, allocating and supplying accommodation, providing meals, or developing a busy program of activities.

We understand that many of you will still travel to Tiona at Christmas time in your private capacity and there may be many Community of Christ members and friends on the grounds. Depending on the circumstances of the pandemic at that time, it’s possible there will be a few carefully-controlled activities on the grounds for those who are in the area. Such activities would comply with all relevant COVID-safe laws and guidelines applicable at the time and may include favourites such as Sunset Reflections and the Beach Carnival.

Community of Christ currently has a booking with Tiona Holiday Park for most of the campsites on the lakeside and most of the built accommodation. We will be cancelling that booking on 31 July 2020. Between now and 31 July 2020, Tiona Holiday Park will take private bookings from Community of Christ members and friends for any of the accommodation and sites currently booked by Community of Christ, giving preference in relation to specific cabins/sites to people who have an existing private booking before or after the reunion period. After 31 July 2020, the remaining sites and accommodation will be released to the public.

If you wish to make a private booking with Tiona Holiday Park, we suggest that you do so before 31 July. You can contact Tiona Holiday Park on 02 6554 0291 or email stay@tiona.com.au. Please mention Community of Christ when booking to ensure you receive your 15% discount. Please note there may be some new types of accommodation coming online this year at Tiona - feel free to ask Tiona Holiday Park about this.

We have not made this decision lightly and we understand that many will be disappointed by this decision. It saddens us too. We are hopeful, however, that many in our community will still enjoy the blessings of Tiona and community over the Christmas holidays and that those who gather there will renew their spirit and reunite with their faith-community in a COVID-safe way. We will be planning on resuming a full-program Tiona Reunion in 2021, hoping of course that COVID-19 is a memory and not something we continue to be constrained by.

I am grateful for the Tiona Reunion Committee’s discernment and diligence in their approach to making this recommendation. It displays a level of humility, trust and empathy for our community which is exemplary. May we join in thankful prayer for their deep commitment to this faith community.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Tiona Reunion Committee at TionaReunion@gmail.com.

Ben Smith

President, Australia Mission Centre

Community of Christ