District News

ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Registration is open for the 238th Session of BWC. Click here -- https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=669627& -- to register. Clergy and lay members will meet virtually June 1-3 for this time of holy conferencing. There will be no registration fee this year. The conference will also be live-streamed for non-voting members who wish to watch the plenary sessions and worship services. The theme of this year’s session is “Persevere: in Hope, Faith & Joy” and the guiding Scripture passage is Hebrews 12:1-3.  Six resolutions and the proposed budget for Annual Conference can be found here -- https://www.bwcumc.org/events/2022-annual-conference/.

In preparation for the Service of Remembrance, please submit the names of any Lay Member to Annual Conference who passed away after the 2021 virtual conference.  Send your submission to   by April 18 and include the Lay Member's: 

• Full name
• Date of birth and death

LENT

Resilience in the Wilderness: Breathing, Chanting, Persevering
As we enter the season of Lent, many pastors are seeking a moment of soulful solace to replenish and restore their spirits. To respond to this need, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling and leaders in the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences have created a mini-retreat, shared on video and titled "Resilience in the Wilderness: Breathing, Chanting, Persevering." Designed to stand in place of the clergy Lenten Day Apart held in past years, this two-hour video offers insights, lessons, tools and inspiration for church leaders. You're invited to find a quiet, comfortable space where you can be uninterrupted for two hours, turning off phones and computers to fully give yourself time for reflection, meditation, and prayer as you enter into the Lenten season. A companion web piece, with even more resources, is available to assist you in finding strength and hope on the Lenten journey. See the Resilience in the Wilderness webpage and play the video.

Speak a Word – 2022 Lenten Study
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.

Lenten Study: Learning Sign Language as a Spiritual Discipline
This virtual sign language class will be held via Zoom. Mark your calendar for March 12, 19, & 26 at 11am. Contact Rev. Leo Yates at to request accommodations or for questions. Children are welcome to join with an adult. Click here to register. 

March 18 (1:30pm or 6pm) – Small Membership Churches Forum
Register for one conversation session that fits your schedule.  The Small Membership Church Forum is a place where people come together to talk and learn from each other. No topic is too small or too big to discuss. The Forum will identify needs and strengths small membership congregations have so that we can together offer the resources and support that small membership churches need in 2022. Clergy and laity in small membership churches are invited. Questions? Contact: Rev. Rick Oursler, Convener, Small Membership Local Churches, or Rev. Neal Christie, Executive Minister of Connected Engagement, , 202-285-4544

March 24 (application deadline) -- 2022 BWC College Scholarship Application is Open
 Students who are currently enrolled in college or who are seniors in high school are encouraged to apply. There are several different scholarships sponsored by the BWC. Find out more information and apply.

April 1-3 -- Spirituality of Justice Retreat for Youth at The West River Center
Often when we talk about justice or spirituality, we speak about them as separate entities without much overlap. This retreat for youth will make bridges between the two so that the connection between justice work and spiritual work is gone. Young people will explore different types of spiritual practices, hear from justice work leaders working in the Conference, and talk through what they’re learning in small groups. This retreat is open to youth groups or individuals between the ages of 12-18. The cost is $52 per person. Youth will need a Safe Sanctuary chaperone with them and churches are encouraged to pay for the chaperone’s costs as well as supporting the youth attending. Questions? Contact Rev. Jenna Johnson at or Rev. Neal Christie at . Learn more here. 

April 2 (9am) -- Appointment Transition Workshop
All clergy who are retiring or transitioning to new appointments are requested to attend a virtual workshop on Saturday, April 2 from 9 am to 12 pm. At this workshop, our District Superintendents will walk clergy through some of the essential parts of transitioning to a new context. Our keynote speaker will be Rev. Jack Shitama, the Director of the Center for Vital Leadership, who will share about Leaving Well and Preparing the Way. The deadline to register is Friday, April 1 at 12:00 pm. To register, please contact your .

April 18 (application deadline) – IDEA Corp Summer Internship
The IDEA Corp is a new six-week internship (June 6-July 15, 2022) offered by the Baltimore-Washington Conference. The IDEA stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Antiracism. These practices define our holistic commitment to social transformation of the world and personal spiritual growth through creative, professional, and direct action in communities. The internship is open to students ages 18-23 who are enrolled and attending college, university or technical school, active participants in a United Methodist church or campus ministry, demonstrate leadership and passion in the church and community and involvement in social justice activities. Learn more and apply online. 

June 30 (deadline) -- Fund Balance Report
This form must be completed through Arena by the Chairperson of the Finance Committee, Treasurer, or Pastor by June 30, 2022. We did not include this report with Charge Conference material so that it could cover the fiscal year of January 1 – December 31. If you need further assistance, contact . Visit the Finance resource webpage for additional information -- https://www.bwcumc.org/administration/finance/forms-and-reports/ .

 

RESOURCES 

Faiths United to Save Democracy (FUSD) Multi-racial, Multi-faith, and Multi-generational Voter Toolkit for the 2022 Midterm Election & Beyond
Use the Toolkit to organize webinars and other virtual forums to equip your network with this important information that makes voting more accessible for everyone, especially vulnerable voters. 

Are You Being Called to Become a Certified Lay Minister?
Applications for the next class of Certified Lay Minister, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Class of 2022-2024, are now being accepted. Go to the BWC website to learn more and see if you qualify and if you have met the pre-requisite requirements. Prospective CLM students must currently be a Certified Lay Servant or Certified Lay Speaker and must consult with their pastor before beginning the process. Additional information and frequently asked questions can be found on the website. Questions can be directed to Linda Flanagan, Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries, at .

 

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, trust, healing, hope, love, humility, journey, joy, service and more. See the study.