District News

News & Events  

2019 CHURCH CONFERENCE INFORMATION
•  Minutes from Church Conference are due in Arena 14-business days after the meeting.  Download instructions to learn how to post minutes in Arena.

NOVEMBER OFFERINGS




•  "Who Are We?" Bible Study Invitation  
This 18-week curriculum is comprised of three, six-week studies, which will enable participants to reflect upon who we are as the people of God, the people of the movement called Methodist, and the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.  Find out more about the curriculum, watch an informational video, learn how to convene a study group.  Find more information online at https://www.bwcumc.org/resources/who-are-we//

• November is Native American Heritage Month
There are many online resources to help your congregation commemorate these days. Learn more from the General Commission on Religion and Race.




Training Tuesdays:  Online Training for Key Church Leaders

•  November 19 (7p-8:30p)—Training for Finance  
•  November 26 (7p-8:30p)—Training for Church Council  
•  December 3 (7p-8:30p)—Training for Nominations & Leadership Development
•  January 7 (7p-8:30p)—Training for Unified Board

Replay these recorded trainings whenever and where ever it meets your learning needs
•  November 5 (7p-8:30p)—Training for SPRC members
   -- watch the SPRC Basics video before watching the Advance video 
   -- view the presentation slides and BWC's Sexual Ethics Policy and Conflict Resolution Guidelines
  
•  November 12 (7p-8:30p)—Training for Trustees 
   -- watch the Trustee Basics video before watching the Advance video 
   -- view the slides from the presentation 

•  November 14 & November 16—Ministry Hatchery
Begin with an idea for a new kind of ministry that meets a tangible need with and in your community, spend 48 hours with experts and coaches in an incubator environment and leave with a polished pitch to apply for grants and obtain other types of support.  BWC teams are eligible for a $500 discount per team. Your investment of time and money will get replenished through increased donors, grants and the fruits of your new ministry. Don’t miss this opportunity for launching your ministry strong!  Questions? Contact Cheryl Cook at  .

•  November 16—Daisy UMC Soup Fundraiser
What can you expect at Daisy UMC's Saturday Service & Soup?  Tasty food, sermon by Rev. Tony Love, Wesley Freedom senior pastor, great music and proceeds from food sales benefit the annual Men's Day program.

•  November 17—Sharp Street UMC Free Health Screening
Sharp Street UMC in collaboration with African American Health Program are hosting a free community health screening for members and neighbors.  Stop by Sharp Street UMC (1310 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Sandy Spring, MD) from 10a-2p, for blood pressure, glucose, A1C, BMI, weight and HIV screening.   

•  November 18 (8:30a-3:30p)—Bishop's Pre-Advent Day Apart
Registration is now open for the Bishop's Pre-Advent Day Apart with clergy.  The presenter is Dr. David A. Hooker, who teaches and works in the field of conflict transformation and peace building.  The host church is Calvary UMC (403 S. Main St. in Mt. Airy) and registration includes lunch -- $30/retired clergy and $45/active clergy.  Register online.

•  November 24—UM Student Day
This year, it will be celebrated on Sunday, November 24.  Worship resources are available by following this link --  http://www.umcgiving.org/resource-articles/united-methodist-student-day-pastors-leaders-kit   

DECEMBER OFFERINGS
 
•  Due December 1—Pastor and SPRC Evaluations 

There are only 3 forms this year. See below for who completes what form.

Pastoral Ministry Evaluation & SPRC Appointment Advisory —This evaluation is completed for each pastor serving in the church by the SPRC based in part on performance goals set in the previous year. It also evaluates the overall profile of the congregation.

Pastor Self-Evaluation & Appointment Advisory —  This form is completed by each pastor serving the church.

Deacon Self-Evaluation & Appointment Advisory — This form is completed by each deacon serving the church.

Pastoral Goals for 2020 — These goals are used to evaluate the pastor each year. If your pastor is newly appointed, please refer to the goals that were created at the Pastor/SPRC Transition Workshop.  Make sure to keep a copy of these goals so you can review them in 6 months to make sure you are on-track.

•   December 1—Migration Sunday
Churches throughout the Baltimore-Washington Conference are invited to observe Migration Sunday.  A special order of worship resources has been published to help your worship team that weekend. Recently, a team from the BWC traveled to the San Diego-Tijuana border. Their reflections are the foundation for this liturgy for churches to use as they observe Migration Sunday.

•   December 5, December 9 and December 10—Statistical Report Training  (Jan. 28 -- Stats Due)
If you are responsible for completing the 2019 Statistical Report, you are encouraged to register for this training.  During our time together, you will learn what system to use, what information is used to calculate your Apportionment and what figures should and should not be included.  Multiple Locations, Dates and Times -- https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/default.aspx?page=3452&event=5459 choose a location, date and time that works best for you:

• December 5 ~10 am-noon (BWC, 11711 E Market Pl., Fulton, MD)
• December 9 ~ 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm (BWC, 11711 E Market Pl., Fulton, MD)
• December 10 ~ 10 am-noon (St. Luke's UMC, 700 New York Ave., Martinsburg, WV)
• December 10 ~ 2-4 pm (Trinity UMC, 703 W Patrick St., Frederick, MD)

•   December 6-8 (5-8p)—You’re invited to Walk to Bethlehem
Walk to Bethlehem is a free indoor/outdoor theatrical Christmas adventure for the whole family.  Open house style, drop in anytime.  Hosted by Glen Mar Church (4701 New Cut Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043).  Visit the event page for more information.   

•   December 16 (Deadline)—Nominate a Youth for the United to Love Moral Courage Award
The Moral Courage Awards are given to one to three youth who put their faith into action especially when doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular for the sake of justice despite risk, comfort, and or societal silence. Nominate a youth here. To learn more about the award, visit, www.bwcumc.org/moral-courage-awards/.

JANUARY OFFERINGS


 

• January 14—2019 Mission Shares (aka Apportionments)

•  January 20—Sixth Annual MLK Jr. Day of Service  
Glen Mar Church is planning its sixth annual MLK Jr. Day of Service, which is scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2020 (MLK Jr. Day).  The activities help with food security, community development, public health, and support the morale of service members and schoolteachers.  We would like to glorify God by serving even more people in need.  In preparation for this year’s event, we are recruiting for two categories:  1) Activity partners and sponsors (e.g. churches/groups to run an activity or donate materials) 2) Corporate sponsors and/or those who can use their connections to help solicit corporate sponsors.  To let us know, kindly email and we will be in touch.  For some preliminary information go to https://glenmarumc.org/gmcevents/dayofservice.  Blessings and peace. 

• January 28—Statistical Reports Due


FEBRUARY OFFERINGS

•  February 7-9—ROCK 2020 
ROCK 2020 will be held at the Convention Center in Ocean City. The weekend retreat and revival for youth will feature Aaron Shust (My Savior, My God and My Hope is in You) leading praise and worship, along with B Haley from Toby Mac as the main speaker and the Morgan State U Praise Dance Team.  Go to at www.bwcumc.org/ROCK to register and get more details.

UPCOMING EVENTS (Save the Dates) 

 •  March 7 ~ Connect Leadership Summit 
 •  May 2-3 ~ Washington Region Lay Servant Ministries Academy
 •  May 5 –15 ~ General Conference
 •  May 27 –29 ~ Annual Conference
 •  July 13 –17 ~ Jurisdictional Conference
 •  September 12-13 ~ Washington Region Lay Servant Ministries Academy

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MORE Opportunities 

 
 "Not the Only One"
The United Methodist Church has launched an advertising campaign to help offer encouragement through community. Research continues to emphasize people are experiencing a growing sense of loneliness. In fact, nearly half of Americans feel alone or left out, and it's taking a mental and physical toll on them.  The new ads encourage people to visit a local United Methodist church. The message is that the Church doesn't have all of the answers. Rather, our belief is that hope and answers can be found when seeking God together. The first video ad is available for viewing and sharing on YouTube. 

UMC Market 
This program is free for both you as a shopper and to your home Ministry. You generate a donation every time you click through umcmarket.org site or browser extension, and shop. The amount you earn is shown for each store and will vary throughout the year. In addition to earning, you will also get the same sales/discounts (and often better) as if you went directly to the store site and your ministry earns a donation at the same time.  Visit https://www.gcfa.org/partners/umc-market/ to learn more.

Resources for Local Church Leaders
Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church has launched its newly redesigned website, UMCDiscipleship.org. The updated look and redesigned architecture are doorways to new and improved ways to resource the UMC, especially in the area of preparing for weekly workshop. The UMC also offers a webpage with resources for local church leaders at https://www.resourceumc.org.

Engage College Students:  Lunch and Learn via Zoom
Is your church located near a college campus, community college or trade school and interested in learning how to better engage young adults and college students? Join Rev. Brandon Harris, The Protestant Chaplain to the Main Campus at Georgetown University, for a monthly conversation on engaging Millennials and Generation Z, innovative forms of worship, and church-based college ministries.  Lunch & Learn from noon to 1 p.m. on: Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, March 12, May 7, and June 4. Sign up (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFq4ImEYxgs70WhTi-VzfgAcgOoHtd03LkwbAv2kIVZIbvkg/viewform) to receive reminders and the link to join. 

Gratitude Resources for Families
Scripture, prayer and questions are available to get families talking about an attitude of gratitude.  See the full list -- http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/get-them-talking-gratitude

2019 Conference Journal  
Order your electronic copy ($2.99) from Amazon.  Print copies are unavailable at this time.

BWC Programs Directory
View the Conference Leaders directory for a list of programs and contacts.

Volunteers are needed for NEJ 
Interested? Contact Rev. Patricia Allen, NEJ Host Chairperson at  

Not the Only One UMC Ads
The United Methodist Church has launched the “Not the Only One” ad campaign to help offer encouragement through the community. The new ads encourage people to visit a local United Methodist church and share their faith journey with others. They celebrate diversity and promote reaching out to others. The first video ad is available for viewing and sharing on YouTube.  Read more about the campaign.

Opportunity Zones
OZs are available in the State of Maryland which may be applicable to congregations in the CM District.

• Learn more about OZs
• Determine which OZs are specific to Central Maryland

Online Courses for Youth Leaders
Two online courses are available to teach adults how to mentor young people listening for and pursuing a call.  Each course is 3-weeks and $45.  More information and enrollment is available at www.beadisciple.com/timothy.

St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute 
The Baltimore based Institute announces a new scholarship/internship covering both the cost of four courses and book expenses for one year. Preference will be given to a United Methodist interested in the MDiv partnership with Lancaster Theological Seminary. For more information, contact Kaye Guidugli at . 

Spiritual Direction Opportunity 
Life is filled with paradox: times of great joy and times of great suffering; times of certainty and times of indecision. Of course, the list could go on and on, but in all times God is present with us and wants us to know that. Making the time to seek God, to explore the question “What do I hear from God in this situation?”, and to explore the complementary question “Who am I called to be in this situation?” describe the core of a Spiritual Direction relationship.  Cathie Leimenstoll is a retired Elder from the Tennessee Conference and moved to Maryland seven years ago to be near family. She will soon become a certified Spiritual Director in May. At no charge, she is approved to begin meeting with people who are interested in spiritual direction. Her commitment in this is to be a non-anxious companion with a person during a specific time in his/her spiritual journey, to pray with and for the person, to offer resources when appropriate, and to listen deeply to the individual and to the Holy Spirit who is ever-present when two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name. It is a privilege to walk with one another as we seek a deeper relationship with the God we serve in all our life-situations.  If you would like more information about such an opportunity, email and use the subject line Spiritual Direction.

Introducing Winter Grace Senior Ministries, Inc.   
WGSM is a non-profit organization with a mission to “Enrich and Empower the Lives of Older Adults through Christian Initiatives Connecting People, Ideas, and Resources.” WGSM seeks to assist churches in starting and growing their Older Adult ministries with a holistic approach that addresses the wide variety of needs of Older Adults and their families. Ministry for, by, and with Older Adults values the dignity and worth of each individual, encourages engagement of the gifts and talents of each person, and grows disciples of Jesus Christ until a person’s last breath for the transformation of the world. Additionally, WGSM connects Older Adults and their families to the resources in the community that can help each Older Adult live each day to the fullest by addressing needs from spiritual to practical. Founder and president, Debbie Burgio, is a candidate for Deacon, recommended by the Board of Ordained Ministry for Commissioning as a Provisional Deacon at the 2019 BWC Annual Conference.  For more information, go to www.wintergrace.org, email or call 443-832-3805.

United to Love: Advocacy and Action Team Sign-ups
We would like your voice at the table. The Baltimore-Washington Conference has six active teams to mobilize across our connection and they are: Creation Care (Climate/Eco-Justice), Gender Equality, Gun Violence Prevention, Immigration Rights, Racial Justice and Wealth Equity. If you are called to serve in one/more of these areas, if this is your passion and/or your faith community is leading in one or more of these areas, we would like to hear from you. Please go to http://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/advocacy-action/ to sign-up so that we can connect with you.

Criminal Justice Mercy and Ministries Resources and Survey for Faith Communities
The Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church has a new CJAM website that has been created for congregations to become more aware and resourced in this vital area. You are invited to go to, http://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/advocacy-action/criminal-justice-and-mercy-ministries/ check out the resources and take the questionnaire so that we can better connect with you in this area. To go directly to the survey, please visit http://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/advocacy-action/criminal-justice-and-mercy-ministries-questionnaire/.

Are You Called to Lead Beyond Your Local Faith Community?
The Nominations Committee is seeking a few good men and women to serve in key leadership roles including in the areas of Leadership Development, New Faith Expressions, Young People’s Ministry, Abundant Health (including local and global missions, holistic health and ERT), Advocacy & Action, Native American Ministry, Gender Equality (COSROW), and the Board of Trustees. In addition to passion and experience in the above, some boards are seeking persons with expertise in training, coaching, grant administration, project management, and data analysis and evaluation. Please complete this leadership interest form and encourage gifted young leaders (30 or under) to do the same: https://www.bwcumc.org/conference-agency-leadership-nominations/.