District News

Prayers of the People

 

Helena McNeil, wife of Pastor Gregory McNeil, died April 28. A funeral will be held May 10 at Union Memorial UMC, 3328 Davidsonville Road in Davidsonville. The wake begins at 9:30 a.m. and the service is at 10:30 a.m.

 

Althea Phillips, the sister of Pastor Jerry Colbert of John Wesley UMC in Annapolis, died. A service was held May 4. 

 

Lonzel Smith, the son of the Rev. Kay Albury, brother of the Rev. Alexis Brown, and nephew of the Rev. Eddie Smith, died last week.after a battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. 

 

Relief efforts continue for the people of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe who are still suffering after Cyclone Idai. The BWC is now collecting funds online for relief work in Southern Africa. Read a story about the relief efforts. 

 

Clergy appointments continue to be made. We pray for Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, the Cabinet and the pastors and congregations affected by the changes in leadership. 

 Annual Conference Update

Dear Pastor, Lay Member and others attending Annual Conference -- Following are details about the upcoming Pre-Conference Briefing to be held on 5/18/19, mailing of AC Registration Packets, Credentials and Resources for First Time Attendees. Read on for details.

Annual Conference Pre-Conference Briefing scheduled for Saturday, May 18.  --  All members to Annual Conference are EXPECTED to attend the Pre-Conference and Annual Conference meetings.

There are two opportunities to attend the Pre-Conference Briefing. The morning session will be held at Jackson Chapel UMC, at 5609 Ballenger Creek Pike in Frederick from 9:30 a.m. until noon. The afternoon session is at St. Johns United Church in the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, at 10431 Twin Rivers Road in Columbia from 2 to 4:30 p.m.  To learn more about the 235th Session of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference "We Are One United to Love".

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Annual Conference (AC) Registration --  Everything is handled by Darlene Washington, Registrar, 2019 Annual Conference Registration Office, 1.800.492.2525 ext.498 and direct line: 410.309.3498; e-mail:    If you get her voice mail, she will return your call.

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2019 Mission Focus --  RISE AGAINST HUNGER --  On May 30, you are invited to join the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church's Meal Packaging Event at this year's Annual Conference, in the movement to end hunger by the year 2030. Learn more.     (A bulletin-sized flyer art is attached.)

REGISTRATION PACKETS – were distributed as they were last year so watch the mailbox since they were sent out the beginning of May.   An e-mail message was sent to the e-mail address on your Arena record. If it is not in your In-box, please check your JUNK or CLUTTER folders. This may mean your email has changed so you should log into Arena and check the address listed.

     New for 2019. “If you registered on/before May 1st, 2019, you will be receiving your registration packet in the mail prior to Annual Conference. This will allow you to take advantage of our Express Check-In  ("ECI") program.  Please make sure to review important information regarding this program in the e-mail and how it can reduce your check-in time at Annual Conference. ..."

CREDENTIALS --  When they check-in all CLERGY and Lay Members to Annual Conference must present a completed and signed credential form in order to receive their voting unit.   

~  CLERGY -- Click, download and complete BLANK     Clergy Credentials

~  LAITY  -- Click, download and complete BLANK    Lay Credentials   
     YOUR PASTOR MUST SIGN THE LAY CREDENTIAL FORM BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT AC. It is very difficult to track them do for their signature during Annual Conference!   

FIRST-TIME LAY MEMBERS TO AC  ---  This event can be a little over-whelming if this is your first time attending but never fear there are lots of resources available BUT check them out BEFORE you get to AC:

• Lay Member to AC Job Description  --  The entire job description from the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) is attached.  More job descriptions can be found at that link too.
• Annual Conference Primer – This is a great overview of the event and gives you tips of what to report back to your church AFTER attending AC. Be sure to read it before attending. 
• Dailies Newspaper --  During the conference make sure to pick up a “Dailies” newspaper early each day – they go very fast. They list daily schedule and other pertinent information but they go fast so make sure to get one.  
• Annual Conference Laity Report Form template  --   One of the assignments for the Lay Member to AC based on the BOD ¶251.2 is to …  “Report to the congregation in the week following the annual conference session and to the church council at its next meeting after the close of the conference session. The Discipline states that the report to the church council must be within three months of the close of the session.“
                  Here is a Word document template to give you some guidelines in preparing your report and what to watch for during the Conference. Feel free to edit it as you see fit. I suggest you print an outline of the key topics/ points of the report to help you take notes. Many more resources can be found on the BWC website.

• AC Overview – In previous years, a press release is posted on the website following Annual Conference, containing details about petitions that passed and other highlights from 2019 AC BUT this is not posted until AFTER the event.

GREAT NEWS, LAITY!

The Annapolis District has added two additional classes to the roster for Lay Servant Academy/School of Christian.  Please check out the link and....REGISTER NOW using the link from the information below.

 

Annapolis District Lay Servant Academy

 

Lay Servants are to serve the local church or charge in any way in which their witness or leadership and service inspires the laity to deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship. This includes the interpretation of scriptures, doctrine, organization, and ministries of the church. While one doesn't have to be certified to serve, there are opportunities for those who feel called to become Certified Lay Servants, Certified Lay Speakers or Certified Lay Ministers. One of the strengths of our connectional system is the trainings we offer.

 

The classes offered may be taken by anyone: member of a congregation, local church leader, or lay servant. All class offerings except Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course may be used as a re-certification class for Certified Lay Servants, Certified Lay Speakers and Certified Lay Ministers.

 You may attend classes outside of your district, based on your own needs.

 Course Fee: $35

How to register: https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/default.aspx?page=3452&event=4242

 

FUND BALANCE REPORT ARE DUE JUNE 30TH

The Committee on Finance is required to make provision for an annual audit of the records of all the financial officers (including the financial secretary or church business manager and treasurers) of the church and all its organizations and shall report to the Charge Conference. Guidelines for handling of an accountability of funds can be found in the 2017-2020 United Methodist Church Financial Records Handbook and in Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: FINANCE

Fund Balance Report

 

RESOLUTIONS TO THE 235TH SESSION OF THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE

All resolutions set to come before the 235th session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference are due to the Conference Secretary by May 1, 2019. The session will be held May 29-June 1, 2019.

Resolutions should be submitted using the BWC Resolution Submission Form available at:  http://tiny.cc/bwc-resolution-form

Please note:

You must first consult with Mark Gorman, Chair of the Rules Committee, prior to submitting resolutions pertaining to Rules of the Session.  For resolutions that have budget implications, you must first consult with Phil Potter, Chair of CFA prior to submitting the resolution.

 

Featured this Week

 

The resolutions to be voted on at the 2019 Annual Conference are now online. 

 

Registration closes May 8 for the special meals at Annual Conference and the workshops, scheduled for May 29. Questions? Contact the registrar at . 

 

The inaugural BWC Moral Courage Award Luncheon will be held at noon, Saturday, June 1, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. Bishop Minerva Carcaño is the featured keynote speaker for this special event. If you aren't already registered for Annual Conference, you can purchase meal tickets here. If you already registered, there is a link in your confirmation e-mail that allows you to edit your registration or contact the registrar.

 

 

Leadership and New Faith Expressions

• The Rev. Quincy D. Brown will lead a workshop on "Discipleship Systems: The 3D Journey," Sept 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the BWC Mission Center in Fulton, and on Sept. 7 at a location that will be announced soon. The workshop will walk clergy and laity through a process to discern, dream and develop. The cost is $35. For more information, contact Jo Chesson at 410-309-3490.  

• Jason Moore will lead a workshop to assist churches in learning to multiply ministry by starting a new worship service, new campus, or some other expression of faith. The event, "From Franchise to Local Dive: Multiplying Your Church by Discovering Your Contextual Flavor," will be held Nov. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the BWC Mission Center in Columbia and on Saturday, Nov. 9, at a location to be announced soon. The cost is $35. Learn more.   

Young People's Ministry

• The Student Leadership Cohort is a leadership development opportunity designed for high school students. They will be inspired, encouraged, and supported as they discover what God might be calling them to do, develop a plan for doing it, and implement it in their church, community and/or district. If you believe that young people are change-makers and deserve all the tools and support we can provide, share this with a high school student you know. The SLC is a series of retreats and mentoring conversations to deepen faith and gain critical tools for leadership and community building. The cohort will also provide a significant service opportunity for youth and youth groups during the ROCK weekend. Learn more and apply to be a mentor or cohort.   

 

Classifieds

 

Parsonage available: Trinity UMC has a parsonage in the Catonsville area available for use. It is four bedrooms, three full baths and a finished basement, complete with a rear deck and a fenced yard.  Contact Trinity at 410-747-5841, or 410-245-2505.

 

BWC rises to end hunger

 

On May 30, you are invited to join the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church's Meal Packaging Event at this year's Annual Conference, with Rise Against Hunger. Learn more about how you can help contribute to the movement to end hunger by the year 2030.