AN District News......UMC Buzz....February 3, 2022
First Aid for Mental Health Training
One in every five Americans (52.9 million people) experience mental illness each year.
First Aid for Mental Health – See the world through the eyes of others
Live, virtual training – March 10 and 24
Spots may be limited, Register today for these important sessions.
Recognizing the need to create a more empathic community and environment within the United Methodist Church for those struggling with mental health, Wespath is offering first aid training for mental health. First Aid for Mental Health erases the stigma surrounding mental health and emphasizes that it’s OK, not to be OK. It also teaches attendees how to accept their own mental health struggles without embarrassment or shame. The training teaches how to:
Identify when you or someone you know may be struggling with mental health
Start a conversation with someone who is struggling
Respond with empathy
Help those who are struggling get the help they need
Take action to manage your own mental health challenges
First Aid for Mental Health is for EVERYONE. Clergy and their spouses, Church leaders, staff and congregation members are all invited to attend—at no cost. Please post this flyer at your church. The skills acquired can be applied to many situations, including home, social and professional environments.
100 percent becoming 100 percent: Churches throughout the BWC are committing themselves to growing in vitality, as they see all the people, deepen discipleship, live and love like Jesus and multiply their impact. Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, and the BWC and Pen-Del Extended Cabinets recently recommitted their efforts for four missional priorities designed to engage 100 percent of churches in becoming 100 percent vital. We pray for each of these ministries. See the story.
Gun Violence Prevention Webinars February 8 and February 15 at 6pm
At annual conference in October we passed a resolution declaring gun violence a public health emergency within the conference. The resolution asks each congregation to have a courageous conversation about the causes and effects of the various types of gun violence-including homicide, accidental shooting, domestic violence, suicide, school and workplace shootings-- and take some action to try to help quell the violence.
To help facilitate this, the conference social action team on gun violence prevention is hosting two webinars in February on gun violence prevention. The first is February 8 at 6pm on Safe Storage of Firearms Saves Lives. It will also address suicide prevention. Register here:
https://bwcumc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pN4tocAUSOmDHZ76A7E3IQ
The second webinar will be February 15 also at 6pm on How to Stop the Shooting on Our Streets and Take Back our Neighborhoods/Ghost Guns about community violence interruption programs and also the increasing use of ghost guns in crime. Register here:
https://bwcumc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ns1tmxOsTpaxZZYztU7QRg
Tuesday, Feb 8, 6pm to 7pm –
Safe Storage of Firearms Saves Lives
Panelists:
Joe White, John Wesley UMC, Hagerstown, MD (member of the BWC-UMC Connectional Table, and former employee at gun dealer)
Rick Oursler, Pastor of 3 in 1 Fellowship (a cooperative ministry of Dorsey Emmanuel, Melville Chapel, and Wesley Chapel UMC churches)
Commander Darnel Robinson of the Sixth District, Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
Tuesday, Feb 15, 6pm to 7pm
How to Stop the Shooting on our Streets/ Take Back our Neighborhoods: Violence Interruption Programs/Ghost Guns
Panelists:
Greg Jackson, head of InvestinusCoaltion.org and co-chair of Maryland Violence Prevention Coalition
Dana McDaniels, Deputy Director, Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (D.C.)
Plus a speaker about the ghost gun bill in Maryland legislature
Prayers
We pray for Bishop LaTrelle Easterling and the Cabinet as they make pastoral appointments and for the pastors and congregations who will be experiencing transitions. We also pray for the clergy who will retire in July. See the appointment list.
This Lent, Speak a Word
Speak a word of faith as you enter into a weekly study for Lent featuring prayer-poems by Bishop LaTrelle Easterling. This six-week small group study delves deeply into reflections, for individuals or groups, on truth, of trust, healing, hope, love, of humility, journey, joy, service and more. See the study.
Grow in vitality with these new ministry opportunities
Four new Congregational Vitality Pathways will equip your church to take its next faithful steps. The pathways include the Launch Initiative, the Catalyst Initiative, the Readiness Initiative and the Legacy Church Conversation Initiative. To get started, you will need to request a Readiness 360 link by Feb 7. Learn more and apply.
Journey to Beloved Community is an innovative course that focuses on six actions that you and community partners can take to grow in building beloved community and create spaces of belonging and becoming. The orientation is Feb. 24; the course begins Feb. 25. Learn more and register.
Small Membership Churches Forum
A small membership churches forum will be held via Zoom Friday, March 18, 1:30 to 3 p.m. The second offering of the forum will be held that evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Small Membership Church Forum, designed for congregations who have fewer than 100 people in worship, is a place where people come together to talk and learn from each other.
Questions? Contact Rev. Rick Oursler, Convener, Small Membership Local Churches, or Rev. Neal Christie, Executive Minister of Connected Engagement, at 202-285-4544. Register.
New & Featured
Gun Violence Prevention webinars Feb. 8 and 15 at 6 p.m.: To help congregations hold courageous conversations on gun violence, the BWC’s social action team will hold two webinars. The Feb. 8 webinar will be on Safe Storage of Firearms. Register. The Feb. 15 webinar will be on gun violence interruption programs. Learn more and register.
Resolutions due Feb. 21: The deadline for resolutions to the 2022 Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference Session is Monday, Feb. 21. Individuals and groups who wish to submit a resolution may send it to the Conference Secretary Kevin Silberzahn. All resolutions must follow the format outlined on the BWC website.
Help with taxes for clergy: Clergy stressed about filing their tax returns are invited to a Feb. 7 webinar. Questions about Social Security payments, estimated tax payments and housing allowances and exclusions as well as reimbursed expenses will be addressed. Learn more and register.
First Aid for Mental Health: One in five Americans experience mental illness each year. A 2021 Clergy Well-Being Survey found that United Methodist clergy are increasingly struggling with mental health. To address some of the issues and stigmas around this issue, Wespath is offering first aid training for mental health in March 10 and 24. See the toolkit with details on the First Aid for Mental Health event page. Register.
Upcoming Events
First and third Wednesdays, 12 to 12:30 p.m.
Leading with Cultural Humility and Building Beloved Community
Feb. 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Zoom webinar
Gun Violence Prevention Webinar
Feb. 15, 6-7 p.m.
Discipleship Opportunities
Lenten Study -- Learning Sign Language as a Spiritual Discipline: Participants are invited to register for a virtual sign language class via Zoom to further their spiritual growth during Lent. This introduction to sign language will be held on Saturdays, March 12, 19, and 26, at 11 a.m. Contact the Rev. Leo Yates to request accommodations or for questions. Children are welcome to join with an adult. Register.
BWC College Scholarships are available. Students who are either enrolled in college or are high school seniors are encouraged to apply. There are several scholarships sponsored by the BWC. Find more information and apply online by March 24.
Classifieds
CAMPS SEEK VOLUNTEERS AND PAID STAFF:
Manidokan and West River are gearing up for summer and looking for dedicated volunteers and paid staff to partner in ministry. Volunteers serve hundreds of campers over the summer. They stay in cabins with campers, lead them to activities, build relationships, lead Bible study, manage camper conflicts and missing home, and play lots of games. Paid summer staff may serve as in-cabin counselors or program staff. Our camps hire staff to stay all summer and help lead activities like archery, the rock wall, low ropes, kayaking, and rafting. They are trained to lead activities for campers of all ages and may help with daily worship or Bible study. To find out more about our camps and opportunities to serve, contact Jenna or Kirstin. Apply for staff positions at Manidokan or West River or to find out more.
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER:
Pasadena UMC is seeking a part-time (25-30 hour) administrative manager to work between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Pasadena is a congregation dedicated to intentional relationships with the community and relies on a well-organized office to handle day-to-day operations with a focus on digital communication. To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Ginger Atchison. Questions? Call 410-647-3090.