District News

Thinking about retirement? Get the facts & learn more

The 2020 Clergy Retirement Planning Sessions will be held virtually on:

• Thursday, Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., led by Wespath Educators (Part 1); and  
• Tuesday, Sept. 29, (Part 2)  which will include three separate one-hour sessions on Social Security, dissolving debt, and achieving financial wellness. 

Learn more and register.

 

Laity offered grace on training requirements

 

A Statement from the BWC's Committee on Lay Servant Ministries

 

All lay members are encouraged to take advantage of the approved advanced lay servant courses for recertification offered by the districts. Although live classes were cancelled beginning last March due to the COVID-19 virus, classes have been and are now being offered via virtual platforms across the conference. Members in need of a course should make every effort to take advantage of these offerings.

The conference recognizes that it is not possible for all lay members to take the virtual classes.

 

Therefore, a period of grace is extended for certification and recertification coursework for the year 2020, with the understanding that all required coursework must be completed in 2021. (If conditions warrant changing that date, the Conference Committee will consider that at that time.)

 

Members who need this extension of grace should upload, in the Annual Report, a document stating that they are using the extension for 2020. All others should upload their certificates of course completion for the classes they took.

 

A sample statement would read : "I,_______(insert name)______________, accept the extension of grace for my required course completion for the year 2020." No reason is required.

 

Using this statement should have no effect on the lay member's status during the recertification year.

 

Discipleship Opportunities

 

 

A video from last week's Training Tuesday, on Holding a Virtual Church Conference, is online. To see the Church Conference forms, click here.

 

Preparing for Annual Conference: The 2020 session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be held Sept. 12. Clergy and Lay Members to Annual Conference are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the proposed 2021 budget. In addition, they will want to read the legislative rules of the session.

 

A celebration for the Retiree Class of 2020, traditionally held at Annual Conference, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 10:30 a.m. The Laity Session, which this year is open to every lay person in the BWC, will be held online, starting at 9 a.m., on Saturday, Nov. 14.

 

CHURCH CONFERENCE TRAINING RECORDING

Please see the recording from this past weeks Training Tuesday for Church Conference Training here .

 

 

IN OTHER NEWS

Fund Balance Report Deadline Approaching
The 2019 Annual Fund Balance Report deadline has been extended to August 31, 2020. There are two ways to submit the report, email the attached file to      or log-in to Arena (https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/).

Who can see/complete a Fund Balance report in Arena?
• Church Finance Chair/President
• Church Treasurer
• Church Pastor (under construction)
• Church Administrator (must be logged in with Church Arena Account credentials)

 

Advocacy and Action

 

Becoming an Anti-racist Church: The BWC Discipleship Council is offering your congregation an opportunity to become an Anti-Racist Church and receive monthly resources. Read and sign the statement. Beginning on Sept. 1 at noon, and for 30 minutes on the first Tuesday of each month until Lent, BWC leaders will offer those interested in anti-racism ministries with a time of prayer, testimony, and a Q&A. A Zoom link will be sent to those who register sign the commitment statement.

 

Dismantling Racism: Two new interactive town hall discussions are planned as part of the denomination's "Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom" initiative's town hall series on anti-racism to explore both old and new approaches to organizing for racial justice in church and community. In the second of the two discussions, participants will hear from a panel of emerging leaders on Aug.  26 at 1 p.m. The webinar will be at available at UMC.org/EndRacismTownHall, as well as a live airing on The United Methodist Church Facebook page.  

 

Join the National Action Network for the Commitment March: Get Your Knees Off Our Neck! This day of action takes place in the nation's capital on Aug. 28, the 57th Anniversary of the historic March on Washington. Before you travel, please review all coronavirus travel & health related information. Learn more.  

 

Voter Registration Events: Every voice counts. Volunteer to host or assist in a non-partisan voter registration event to help ensure that no voice is silenced. The deadline for voter registration is Oct. 13. Encourage all members of your community to be registered voters. If you are interested in hosting a voter registration event in Maryland, contact the Rev. Amanda McMurtrey at Mayo UMC by Sept. 1.