AN District News......UMC Buzz....May 12, 2022
We celebrate the life of Rev. G. Sylvester Gaines
The Rev. G. Sylvester Gaines, a retired Elder, died May 7. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 14, at Gethsemane UMC, 910 Addison Road, S., in Capitol Heights. The viewing will be from 9 to 11 am. The service will begin at 11 a.m. Condolences can be sent to his wife, Margaret Gaines, at 6011 84th Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20784-2924.
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Summer camp seeks volunteers and staff
Be a leader this summer! Working at camp offers you the ability to help shape the lives and faith of young people as you build a community that seeks to help each other grow in their love of God, self, neighbor, and nature. Whether you’re interested in art, sports, nature, teaching, or anything else, we can find a place to help you use your passion. West River is still looking for program staff to help shape the experience of campers by leading activities like rock climbing, kayaking, and archery as well as leading worship and group games.
West River and Manidokan also still need week-long volunteers to be counselors for a group of young people this summer. Counselors stay in the cabin overnight and get to know campers, build relationships with them, coordinate Bible study, and play. If you’re clergy, working at camp for a week doesn’t even count against your vacation time. Come see how a week of camp can make a big difference! Questions or want to be involved? Contact Jenna Johnson.
New and Featured
May 15 is the deadline to register for the 238th Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, which will be held online June 1-3. The Service of Ordination and the Memorial Service will be open to invited guests only at Glen Mar UMC, but these services, and other worship and plenary sessions, will be live-streamed on the BWC website. Register. Churches are encouraged to take offerings for three ministries: relief for war-torn Ukraine; Africa University and clergy well-being resources. Learn more and contribute.
Replay the Stay or Go Webinar
For individuals and churches discerning their future, the Conference has a link to playback the Stay or Go webinar and has provided several resources.
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 your district office. Visit the Finance resource webpage for additional information -- https://www.bwcumc.org/administration/finance/forms-and-reports/ .
New Certified Lay Minister
Class applications are now being accepted: Applications for the next class of Certified Lay Ministers, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Class of 2021-2023, are now being accepted. Visit the BWC website to learn more about the pre-requisite requirements. (Click "Learn More" under "Certified Lay Minister" for information and application package, as well as a pastor information package.) Prospective CLM students must currently be a Certified Lay Servant or Certified Lay Speaker. The application process includes meeting with one's pastor, church Staff-Parish Relations Committee, and the district superintendent before the July 1 deadline. The next class will start in September and is a two-year commitment. Questions can be directed to Linda Flanagan (
), the Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries.
Who Are We?
This is an 18-week small group journey from head to heart explores our identity as children of God, United Methodists, and the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. This study is an outstanding resource for churches seeking to grow deeper in their understanding of identity, faith, and discipleship. See the Study and begin your exploration of "Who Are We?" -- https://www.bwcumc.org/resources/who-are-we/
Improving Your Church's Web Presence
Sometimes we're overwhelmed by all that's involved in (re)building or maintaining a church website. Because a site requires a mix of time and skills, it's hard to know
where to begin. In part one of three screencast sessions, you'll learn how to improve your web presence by identifying the ministry needs and the multiple audiences
served by your church's website. Take the first step -- https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/improving-your-churchs-web-presence-part-1