AN District News......UMC Buzz....June 15, 2023
Vandalism at Fowler UMC:
On June 8, vandals broke into Fowler UMC in Annapolis and caused significant damage. The church was able to hold worship Sunday. The pastor, Rev. Jerome Jones, reflects, "Sometimes you have to endure, but as you endure, it refines your faith and helps you to produce a greater hope.” Read the story.
The postponed 2020 General Conference will be held April 23 - May 3, 2024, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was recently announced that there will also be a new window to submit petitions to the General Conference. Petitions must be received by mail, email, or via the official online General Conference 2024 Petition Submission Form by the Petitions Secretary no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 6. Learn more about preparing petitions.
Discipleship Calendar -- At a Glance
July 9 - 15 and July 16 - 22
A mission camp for youth
July 22
Community UMC, Crofton
Level Up: Lessons in leadership for church leaders
Level Up is a video series that provides lessons in church leadership using best-selling secular writings by the Rev. Jack Shitama of the Center of Vital Leadership. This week, Shitama explores "Why Church Leaders Need a Growth Mindset."
Fund Balance Report (deadline June 30) – Upload in Arena
Who can upload a signed copy of the Fund Balance Report in Arena?
• Church Finance Chair or Church Treasurer or Church Pastor – log-in as themselves
• Church Administrator (must log-in with the Church's Arena Account credentials)
The Fund Balance Report template can be downloaded from the BWC Financial Forms & Reports web page.
Juneteenth Observance: Juneteenth (June 19) commemorates the eradication of slavery in the United States. On Juneteenth, United Methodists also recommit ourselves as Christians to fighting oppression and injustice wherever we find it. The Commission on Religion and Race offers this resource.
History Grant: The African-American Methodist Heritage Center announces that the deadline to submit proposals for a $5,000 grant to preserve the history of African American United Methodist congregations has been extended to June 30. The grant, issued every other year, is named for retired Bishop Forrest C. Stith. Learn more.
Step Out: Discerning A Call to Ministry: Are you wondering if God has huge plans for your life? Join us for the Step Out: Discerning A Call to Ministry event on June 24 at Wesley Freedom UMC in Sykesville from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Step Out is a day of worship, breakout sessions, and personal reflection. Pastors and youth leaders are encouraged to accompany participants as their support team. Learn more and register.
SUMMER CAMP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
July 30-August 4, 2023
Join the clergy and laity of the Annapolis and Washington East Districts as we provide leadership for the final week of the 2023 summer camp season at West River! Adult volunteers are assigned to stay in cabin with the campers (grades 3-12, broken into cabin groups by age) throughout the week, to travel with them through activities (which are led by camp staff), and to provide both supervision and guidance. Campers this week have traditionally been heavily from our two districts, so this is a wonderful opportunity to serve young people from our area as well as across the annual conference. The camp week begins Sunday afternoon and concludes following dinner Friday.
DS Schlieckert shared some of her thoughts on the power of being a camp volunteer through this video which was shared during annual conference last week: https://youtu.be/uKpC5ptVVdk
Please consider serving and inviting persons from your church to serve as well! For more information and to sign up, please contact DS Sarah Schlieckert ( or 410-309-3445).