The 29 youth and 10 adult leaders who participated in 2021 SUMMA Theological Debate Camp were especially delighted to gather in-person in Sewanee in July after last year’s hiatus from the campus due to Covid-19 restrictions. This was SUMMA’s eighth camp; an online tournament for SUMMA camp alumni was held in 2020.
Campers and staff participated in theology and debate lectures, and small group discussions for five days in preparation for the two-day tournament at the close of camp. This year’s debate resolution was “Christians should aspire that those of other faiths would come to faith in Jesus Christ and follow him as Lord.”
Camp concluded with worship and an awards presentation. Betsy Shepherd, a rising junior at Terry Sanford Senior High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, received the 2021 SUMMA Award. The annual SUMMA Award is presented to the student debater who best expresses the spirit of speaking truth in love while debating with skill and intellectual distinction. Shepherd received a trophy and $1,000 to be used for educational purposes.
SUMMA has become an annual occasion for a number of campers.Ten of the 29 youth were returning to camp—four of which were there for their fourth year. They were Sofia Alpizar of Miami Springs, Florida; Ava Bandy of Nashville, Tennessee; Anna Ervin of Sparta, Tennessee; and Andrew Holden of San Diego, California. Of the six counselors, five were previously campers and the sixth served his third year in that position.
In 2022, the SUMMA Theological Debate Camp will be held July 19-27. Information and applications will be posted this fall on the SUMMA website: summa.sewanee.edu.
