About Us

Welcome to Northfield

Our pledge: We honor the diversity of human experience; we respect the gifts of our elders; we look with joy to the future through our children; and we continually seek to affirm life creatively and thoughtfully.

This is a week-long annual event during which we devote ourselves to growth – personal, spiritual, social, and communal.

Here we learn, question, doubt, affirm, and explore what gives our lives meaning and depth.

We gather in June on a beautiful campus in Gill, Massachusetts to embrace old friendship and welcome new ones.

We are an intergenerational community of many faiths and beliefs in which all members are invited to create the multi-dimensional  events.  

 

We are a gathering of families, for some spanning several generations, to renew old traditions and create new ones. 

Conference or Community?

An important discussion for us

Over the course of several Planning Meetings this year, a recurring topic of discussion has come up and led to fascinating discussions. The Executive Committee now wants to include all members of our organization in the conversation. It is not clear that this discussion leads to any particular changes. But we LOVE that this is being talked about, and perhaps it results in a better understanding of what Northfield is, and why it is important to so many of us. Below are two points of view for you to consider. These attempt to summarize what was discussed this year. We would love to hear your thoughts on this debate, you can use the comments field at the bottom, and we will collect the comments and make them available to everyone in the near future.
  1. We honor our history and traditions by keeping the conference appellation
  2. Conference is welcoming to Newcomers, community sounds like emotional commitment
  3. Being welcoming to newcomers is very important to us, for philosophical reasons and to maintain the size and health of the organization
  4. Conference helps us to not be thought of as a “cult.” Even we know that we are not a cult, we want to avoid that thought for new people
  5. We only are together for one week per year, which is more like a conference. Community sounds year-round and residential
  6. We offer a packed schedule of programming similar to a conference
  7. For all those reasons, calling ourselves a conference is important, even if we “secretly” think of ourselves as a community
  1. Underlying our programming, we are a community: caring and constant and people-oriented
  2. Conference implies professional programming, but we co-create with our community volunteers, who may or may not be professionals.  3
  3. Community allows for experimenting and forgiveness: a process orientation
  4. Conference implies “fee for service” rather than the high level of volunteerism that we absolutely depend upon
  5. Conference implies that the programming content is our focus, whereas community is about people and our programming is really just about gathering together and enjoying our community. 
  6. We are increasingly a year-round operation, with MidWinter, the well-attended planning meetings, various internet communication tools, etc. That makes us a non-residential and very vibrant and connected community
  7. For all those reasons, it is better to name what we are accurately, and work to communicate what that means in ways that are authentic and inviting – which is after all, exactly what we are all about

Our History

Over many years of its existence,  The Northern Area Conference (Northfield) has changed and adapted. It is currently a multi-generational community for individuals and families for which its diverse programs are generated by its participants. 

The Conference was founded in 1893 as a Christian Conference for young women by May Whittle Moody, daughter-in-law of evangelist Dwight Moody. For a week each year, they met on the campus of the Northfield School (situated on the grounds of the Moody farm).

During war-time in the 1940’s the Conference separated into three geographical areas: the Northern Area Conference (our “Northfield”) on the Northfield Mount Hermon campus; the Erie Area Conference, held at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; and the Middle-Atlantic Conference, held on Cape Cod. 

Each conference developed differently. The Northern Area Conference opened to families and a multi-faith approach. Whereas the population of the Northern Area Conference grew or stabilized over the years, enrolment at the other conferences slowly declined.

In 2007 the Middle Atlantic Conference officially rejoined with the Northern Area Conference, as did the Erie Conference in 2013, returning the Northfield Conference to a single entity.

At its base, the conference maintains its basic principals: through both a secular and a spiritual lens, we honor the diversity of the human experience by striving towards honest, open and authentic sharing.

Note About Historical Documents

A Typical Day

Every year, a new theme to guide our week is chosen by a community of volunteers (anyone who wants to show up for a weekend planning meeting!).

Although not all programming is defined by the themes, they represent a challenge to focus the community, the workshops, and the conference speakers. 

Here is a list of past themes to provide insight into the Northfield Conference.

Enjoy various offerings to stretch, do yoga or to meditate before breakfast.

 

Northfield Themes

Conference Hour offers us intensely personal and moving glimpses into the lives of other people willing to share deeply.

For an hour each morning, a previous or new participant (or group of participants) unveils an aspect of their lived experience for the entire body of community members. 

These are volunteers who are invited to speak because their experiences in some way reflect the theme.

This special hour is held in deep respect as a gift to all.  

Each “family” group includes people of different backgrounds and ages who meet daily to get to know each other, to talk, to share, to play together.
Structured programs are available for children age 3 to 14 from 9:00–12:00 noon. Babysitting for toddlers and infants during the day may be arranged by parents. Children play an active role at Northfield.

The lovely Northfield Mt. Hermon campus offers opportunities for swimming, playing tennis, basketball, group games, or walking and biking. Some members also use this time for resting, being with friends, writing, reading, or making music.

A wide variety of workshops, from the silly to the serious, are offered each day. Workshop offerings may include music, movement, art, spirituality, personal growth, health, relationships… or anything else!

A time for the teens to gather to discuss issues or topics of importance to them in a confidential forum.

Relaxed, informal gatherings may occur around campus, usually under trees, to discuss topics arising out of the day’s or week’s program. Conference speakers can field more questions and conversation with interested members of the community, while participants with specific skills may offer  their ability or knowledge to facilitate support groups.

This is the communal celebration, both traditional and innovative, of our spiritual diversity. The service, planned daily by those interested, brings the community together through worship that is multi-faith and intergenerational.

A special time at day’s end. A chance to sit and relax, play games, talk, play music, dance! Special events often include the Coffee House, the Talent Show and a theme dance, among others!

Get Involved

At its heart, the weekly gathering at Northfield is about participation - giving yourself to make it the best week possible for everyone. It is inclusive, experiential, co-creative. Whether you're attending for the first time or returning after decades, your presence helps shape the week.

  • Volunteer your time
  • Lead or assist with workshops
  • Join planning teams
  • Contribute stories, music, or ideas

Volunteer Administrators

Northfield is organized and sustained by a devoted team of volunteers who plan, coordinate, and bring the entire Conference experience to life.

The Board consists of seven members who serve in a variety of key roles:

  • President: Wendy Desmarteaux – wdesmarteaux@gmail.com | 514-895-3278
  • Treasurer: Ron McClain – rmcclain@parkmont.org | 301-891-3650
  • Secretary: Caroline Jestin – caj1954@comcast.net | 860-214-7321
  • Registrar: Tracey Briscoe – northfieldregistrar@gmail.com | 514-892-8197

Conference Coordinators (Troika):

  • Harry Blackman – harry.blackman@skadden.com | 845-549-8821
  • Pierre Ragot – lepierre@videotron.ca | 514-996-4632
  • Nancy Taylor – nutmeg.nancy@gmail.com | 509-990-8945

The Executive Committee includes all Board members and the Program Chairs.

  • Caroline Jestin – caj1954@comcast.net | 860-214-732
  • Julie Osherson Snow – jsnowsongs@gmail.com | 603-313-1703

These dedicated volunteers bring Northfield to life through programming, planning, communication, and care:

  • Youth Program Coordinator: Keri Pitcher – kpitcher@hwrsd.org | 413-530-1732

Workshop Coordinators:

  • Gail Ferris – thepurplecanary@comcast.net | 860-635-1788
  • Frank Grillo – flgrillo@comcast.netMidWinter Planners: Peter Bloch & Qathy Lowe-Bloch
  • Executive Committee Scribe: Kara Colvin – karawpb1@gmail.com
  • Nominating Chair: Greg Grigsby – gregbgrigsby@gmail.com | 207-647-5717

Family Facilitator Coordinators:

  • Scott Giarla – sgiarla@gmail.com | 617-817-1665
  • Donna Moore – shrinkingshrink@hotmail.com | 603-848-1300
  • Rob Yager – robyager@hotmail.com | 603-486-5636
  • Google Groups Manager: Peter Bloch – peterbloch@woodshades.com | 603-526-6152
  • Grapevine Editor: Nancy Taylor – nutmeg.nancy@gmail.com | 509-990-8945
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