District News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

237th Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be Virtual
As announced in yesterday's E-connection,  Annual Conference will now be held virtually.  Annual Conference dates are Monday, Oct. 25 through Wednesday, Oct. 27.   Learn more about this decision, registration refunds and other important details -- https://www.bwcumc.org/events/2021-annual-conference/ 

• All voting members who wish to attend the online conference must register by midnight on September 27.
• A mandatory training session on voting will be held October 19 at noon and October 21 at 7 p.m. 
  
  

November 6 (3pm) – DS Dawn M. Hand’s Installation
The Installation service for DS Dawn M. Hand is confirmed for Saturday, November 6 at Epworth UMC located at 9008 Rosemont Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20877-1519.

 

2021 Church Conferences Virtual via Zoom
Zoom links for Church Conferences were emailed to clergy, church administrators and the church August 17 and 18.  Pastors and Administrators, please contact   or call 410-309-3493 if you have not received the Zoom invitation for your Church Conference.  Kindly distribute the Zoom link to ALL your church members and church leaders so that they can participate.  No pre-registration required.  Please ensure all your documents are uploaded into Arena by October 1, 2021, or 10 days prior to your scheduled Church Conference date, whichever comes first. 

Helpful tips:
• Need a copy of your church's 2020 Church Conference Reports? Log-in to Arena as the church > choose Church Conference Forms > Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the Prior Year Submitted Reports
• Missed the 2021 Church Conference Training Tuesday webinars? Playback the recordings now -- https://www.bwcumc.org/events/training-tuesdays/
• Visit the 2021 Church Conference webpage to find forms, worksheets, an agenda, a checklist and the schedule -- https://www.bwcumc.org/administration/church-conference-forms/

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EventS

AUGUST EVENTS

August 31 (7pm) -- Affiliation Town Hall Between BWC & Pen-Del
On September 1, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling will begin providing episcopal leadership for both the Peninsula-Delaware and Baltimore-Washington conferences. This affiliation will provide significant financial savings for the denomination and enable new connections and ministry opportunities between the two conferences. Register for the online town hall to receive information about the affiliation. The Zoom log-in will be emailed to you once registration is completed. Register now -- https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/default.aspx?page=3452&event=5984. If you have any questions ahead of the session, submit them to  .


SEPTEMBER  EVENTS

September 9 (6:30pm) -- Finding Hope and Healing After Traumatic Grief
This session will address the sense-losing aspect of traumatic grief, acknowledge the crippling pain that the bereaved experience as they navigate their grief journey, recognize the role of spirituality, religion, and social support in mitigating grief, and determine ways for the bereaved to begin a sense-remaking journey. Register here -- https://bwcumc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_05W5agvFRSiNb4ofIXn3vg 

September 9 (7pm) -- CRCC Next Step Workshop: Program Orientation
A Diverse Church by Design is a cross-racial and cross-cultural leadership program. The BWC is committed to multicultural ministry and successful Cross-Racial and Cross-Cultural (CRCC) appointment transitions. To that end, we’ve designed a workshop to meet those particular needs. We held the first workshop in July and are conducting an identical orientation in September. This zoom orientation is designed to provide pastors and five key leaders with a multicultural ministry framework, valuable tools for building community and an introduction to A Diverse Church by Design. You can register here -- https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/default.aspx?page=3452&event=5986 

September 15 (10am) -- 2021 Church Staff Workshop
The past 18-months have been extra challenging! When you combine staying on top of work with caring for family, friends, and church members, it has been easy to neglect your own well-being. Join us by Zoom as we welcome Dr. Deborah Haskins who will walk us through self-care and how we can focus on our own wellbeing. Dr. Haskins was recently awarded the National Council on Problem Gambling’s Monsignor Joseph Dunne Lifetime Award for Advocacy. She was celebrated for her pioneering work and unparalleled advocacy in problem gambling counseling, trauma-informed care, adverse childhood experiences, community mental health, grief and loss, health equity, faith-based work and more. This event is free but registration is required. Sign-up by August 30 and complete the assessment poll -- https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/default.aspx?page=3452&event=5985 

September 18 (10 am) -- ROCK 2022/Youth Rally Planning Meeting (BWC Mission Center)
This year, youth from the BWC will be joining young people from the Peninsula-Delaware Conference at their youth rally, January 7-9 in Ocean City. Learn more about ROCK -- https://www.bwcumc.org/rock/ 

September 21-23 & March 8-10, 2022 -- Living Well Initiative Clergy Care Retreat
The Center for Vital Leadership will host a seven-month, pilot program that offers clergy the opportunity to thrive. What do you do when you want to take your ministry to the next level? The program is comprised of two retreats, Sept. 21-23, at Camp Manidokan, and March 8-10, 2022, at West River Camp and Retreat Center, as well as monthly cohort meetings between the retreats to process their learnings and support each other throughout this journey. The $700 registration fee, matched by the Baltimore-Washington Conference, covers the full cost of the two retreats, the seven-month journal, and review instruments designed to create a personalized pastoral development plan. 3.3 CEUs will be offered. Register and get more information -- https://arenaweb.bwcumc.org/default.aspx?page=3452&event=5977 

September 29 -- Bishop’s Listening Session on the Washington Region
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling will be meeting in regional conversation sessions with clergy and laity in the Washington Region at First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville (6201 Belcrest Rd, Hyattsville, MD 20782). Mark your calendars for the Clergy session from 2 to 4 pm and the laity gathering from 7 to 8:30 pm.

OCTOBER  EVENTS

October 7 (6pm) -- See Me, I Am Here: Men of Color Mental Health
This webinar  will provide practical approaches, intervention strategies, and resources that foster effective engagement and active participation of men of color in their mental health trajectory. Register --  https://bwcumc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m6PUeqRGRG-BYrBbpxXojA 

October  25-27 -- 237th Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be Virtual
As announced in yesterday's E-connection,  Annual Conference will now be held virtually.  Annual Conference dates are Monday, Oct. 25 through Wednesday, Oct. 27.   Learn more about this decision, registration refunds and other important details -- https://www.bwcumc.org/events/2021-annual-conference/ 


November  EVENTS

November 6 (3pm) – DS Dawn M. Hand’s Installation
The Installation service for DS Dawn M. Hand is confirmed for Saturday, November 6 at Epworth UMC located at 9008 Rosemont Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20877-1519.

November 28 -- UM Student Day Sunday
On this special giving Sunday, this offering is collected to provide scholarship funds for United Methodist College, university and graduate students.  Order your materials here -- https://umcgiving.outreach.com/partners/united-methodist-special-sunday#Top 

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RESOURCES
 

Church Stat Reports are Available in Arena
Statistical data submitted via EZRA, the data collection system of the United Methodist Church, can now be viewed in Arena. And, Arena users can view 2017-2020 reports for their church if they serve in one or more of the following roles:
• Chair or President of a local church, district or conference committee 
• Church Pastor
• Church Administrator 

100 Man Mission to Support the NEJ United Methodist Men
Men’s Ministry Specialists will lead this effort and be supported by Conference Men who have a love for God and their fellow men. To do this 100 GENEROUS Men are needed to pledge to the NEJ, fifty cents per day, or $15.00 a month for 12 months, or a total of $180.00 per year. These men pledge to send their contribution MONTHLY to their UMM conference treasurer, who will forward one-half of these funds to the Northeastern Jurisdiction Treasurer, Mr. John Conklin. The conference will retain the other half for their expenses and to purchase education materials to support the NEJ efforts. Learn more here -- https://www.bwcumm.org/100man-prayerwalk

TAKE ACTION! DACA and Immigration Priorities
President Biden met with DACA recipients to discuss his immigration priorities and encourage Congress to act to protect Dreamers. Take action by contacting your Senators and asking them to pass the Dream Act of 2021, which would provide a permanent lawful status to nearly two million Dreamers and would shield them from deportation and allow them to work and support their families. Click here to contact your senators.

TAKE ACTION!  Raise the Refugee Admissions Level
The Guaranteed Refugee Admissions Ceiling Enhancement Act, or GRACE Act, would protect and restore the U.S. resettlement program by setting a minimum refugee admissions goal of 125,000 and increasing congressional oversight over the administration's operations of the resettlement program.  Ask your legislator to restore the U.S.’s role as a global humanitarian leader by passing the GRACE Act. Click here to contact your congressperson.

BWC's Racial Justice Committee has been committed to shining a light on systemic racism within our churches and within our society at large.  We Rise United Bi-Weekly Prayer Call – We all must look to God for help, guidance, and support during this time and as we journey forward towards reaching the goal of being an antiracist Church, let's lift our voices and be heard so that together, We Rise United. To join the prayer call and for more information, visit https://www.bwcumc.org/event/1946656-2021-02-03-we-rise-united-prayer-call/. The prayer call is held the first and third Wednesday every month until December 16, 2021.

Prayer in a Time of National Crisis – In this prayer from The United Methodist Church's Book of Worship, 517, we seek God's direction and enlightenment for our nation as it experiences turmoil and conflict. Take a moment to say and reflect upon the prayer, and then share it with your congregation -- https://www.umc.org/en/content/prayer-in-time-of-national-crisis?utm_source=thesource&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=resourceumc&utm_content=01/26/21paid 

Lay Servant Ministries Grace Period Extended – The Conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries has extended the grace period begun in 2020 for those who cannot take necessary courses during the COVID 19 pandemic. Download the form. 

 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.  

Download a 12-month schedule of Health & Wellness topics to keep your congregation and community safe and well year round.

 

Free 2021 Worship Bundle Package – Download the Discipleship Ministries’ 2021 Worship and Music Planning Calendar and the 2021 Revised Common Lectionary Sundays and Special Days Calendar -- https://store.umcdiscipleship.org/product/2021-worship-planning-bundle/ 

  Who Are We?  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 

BWC News
• Find current BWC news and share your stories at https://www.bwcumc.org/news/ 

Church Resources
• Where do you go to get a grant or loan for your church? There are resources to help you and your church. Visit https://www.bwcumc.org/administration/local-church-resources/

Coronavirus Resources 
• A number of resources are available to assist local churches in their response to the Coronavirus—https://www.bwcumc.org/article/coronavirus-resources/