2024 Discipleship Ministry Reports

The following boards and committees from Discipleship Ministries submitted annual reports for 2024, which will be approved by a vote of the consent calendar and placed in the 2024 Conference Journal. 

Advocacy and Action

Answering God's call for justice, mercy, and advocacy by partnering with individuals and organizations to reform systems that are unjust and oppressive as guided by Scripture, The Social Principles, and the Resolutions of the UMC.

2023 Goals and Progress

• Partner with a sociologist and a statistician to analyze, refine, and support BWC equity goals across the conference. This effort will include mining data collected from various sources (including annual charge/church conference reports, statistical reports, and church accessibility audits) for the purpose of designing and implementing actionable equitable practices.
• In accordance with our Wesleyan values, we have begun identifying equity goals across the connection, reviewing policies and practices as existent, and reviewing data to ensure that we are monitoring and measuring metrics that lead toward greater equity.
• Create three resource pathways for congregations to advance racial equity in and beyond their local context. The three pathways are for (a) congregations that have not started the work and would like assistance in beginning their journey, (b) congregations who have started their journey, but who need extra support, and (c) congregations who have met or exceeded their initial goals, want to advance or are willing to serve as a resource for other congregations. 
• We have created these pathways and are working with K Scarry of the People’s Supper to intersectionality work to advance greater racial equity as it particularly relates to our social action teams
• Through our Social Action teams, connect with local congregations to increase Justice Advocates by two percent and measure this through ministry engagement data.
• Through our local and national legislative advocacy and community organizing trainings, we are working to increase justice advocates. Justice advocates are people of faith who are committed to advancing equity as aligned with our mission (as stated above). These advocates are particularly identified in the areas of environmental justice, gender equity, gun violence prevention, lgbqtia+ justice, racial justice, restorative justice, immigration reform, and wealth and health equity (which includes affordable housing). 

By the End of 2024:

The same three goals as stated remain and include renewing our Call to Action on Racial Justice as approved at NEJ 2016. In an intentional effort to love like Jesus, see all the people, multiply impact, and deepen discipleship, we have supported opportunities for:

1. Promoting Racial Equity (via Racial Justice Pathways):

• Connecting with 102+ Churches who’ve indicated that they are not on a pathway toward racial justice with specific resources and congregational support.
• Supporting Migrant Respite and Solidarity via UMCOR $10K Solidarity Grant. Led by Capitol Hill UMC and the Immigrant Justice Social Action Team, over 3500 migrants transported to the Washington, D.C. area, have been welcomed and supported.
• Working to connect and increase solidarity efforts of those 146 congregations who have signed the church antiracism pledge.
• AC Leaders to learn and practice interculturally competent behaviors for the creation of beloved community via:

• IDI and cultural awareness integration that now includes Living Well Participants
• Year III: Intercultural Awareness and Education with BWC Staff that includes IDI and IDPs, over 60 staff persons.
• IDEA+ Training Board of Ordained Ministry that includes Inclusive Language, Bias Reduction Training, Cultural Humility, IDI, and IDP for BOOM Members
• A Diverse Church by Design with Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural (CRCC) - Cohorts I and II are now connected to the Brave Conversation Resourcers, with 149 Registrants to date.
• The Journey to Beloved Community (offered in October and February), six actions for belonging and becoming, 161 total registrations.

2. Increasing accessibility in and beyond church property

• Via the Commission on Disability Concerns, church accessibility audits are being reviewed. Church consultations with individuals and churches are being scheduled to improve congregational accessibility.
• Raising awareness re: accessibility needs through Monthly Accessibility Conversations held on the first Friday of the month.

3. Practicing Justice as a Spiritual Discipline

• Creating local and national legislative opportunities for disciples to put their faith into action. Through Legislative Advocacy Days, participants can participate in systemic change regarding issues related to Creation Justice, School-to-Prison Pipeline/Mass incarceration (Restorative Justice), Gun Violence Prevention, Housing Rights, Voting Rights, and Immigration Reform.

Submitted by:
Rochelle Andrews, Advocacy and Action Chairperson
Rev. Dr. Stacey Cole Wilson, Executive Minister of Beloved Community

Creation Care

Calling United Methodists of BWCUMC to participate in God’s healing of creation through acts of personal, social, and civic righteousness modeling a new lifestyle and advocating for God’s people and God’s planet.

2023 Goals and Progress:

1. Promote awareness of threats to Creation and ways to address them via study and training including the GBGM Earthkeepers program.

Progress: Annual Conference activities, e-Connection items, information about the threat of nuclear weapons added to the website, several new Earthkeepers trained, monthly meeting to plan activities, maintenance of Facebook page with postings and Basecamp, participation in Fossil Fuel Free UMC and UM Creation Justice Movements.

2. Promote the establishment of Green Teams in each church of BWC

Progress: Annual Conference activities, networking, and promoting Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake Green Team Leader training. Coordinating with Interfaith Power and Light (DC.MD.NoVA) and having a representative attend our meetings.

3. Promote decreasing carbon emissions due to the BWC Mission Center and Bishops Residence

Progress: Contacted Trustees with suggestions, eg. Mission Center electrification.

4. Promote passage of bills advancing creation care in the Maryland legislature

Progress: Participated in 2023 Advocacy Day in Annapolis, collaborated with Interfaith Power and Light lobbying, signed petitions and sent letters about legislation, and testified at local government hearings.

Impact: The group impacted the forming of disciples for the transformation of lives, communities, and the world by advocating for the transformation of member lifestyles and church operations to be more sustainable with reduced fossil fuel use, tree planting, gardening, etc.

By the End of 2024: The group has the same goals as 2023 and the following specific aims for each:

1. To see more persons complete Earthkeepers training, educate clergy and laity at Annual Conference, place monthly eConnection items, support the Back from the Brink nuclear disarmament movement, plan a Hiroshima Day memorial service, and identify a new chairperson.
2. To sustain networking and promote Green Team Leader training.
3. To convince the Trustees to purchase electric power for the Mission Center and Bishop's residence through the Community Solar program, and support the Fossil Free UMC divestment movement.
4. To advocate at 2024 Annapolis Advocacy Day.

 Submitted by:
Creation Care Executive Committee (chairperson position currently vacant)

Gun Violence Prevention

Advocates for decreasing gun violence in all its forms and for helping to heal those dealing with trauma from gun violence.

 2023 Goals: To raise awareness within our conference of the impacts of gun violence in all its forms, to educate individuals about gun violence prevention strategies, and to participate in the reduction of gun violence.

Impact:

• In 2023, we attended Advocacy Day in Annapolis and on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. We were happy that the Maryland safe storage bill, Jaelyn’s Law passed which we believe will save lives. 
• We developed a survivor’s toolkit on our webpage with resources for those impacted by gun violence and shared resources at our exhibit booth at annual conference 2023.
• We issued a statement condemning the shooting at Morgan State University that was published in the e-Connection.
• We promoted the Silence the Violence benefit concert at National UMC in Washington, DC, benefitting the TraRon Center which supports young trauma victims of gun violence.
• We urged congregations to Wear Orange to Worship in June for Gun Violence Awareness – with prayers for victims, and literature on gun violence at coffee hour.
• We participated in the Legislative Advocacy Training Day at BWC-UMC Mission Center in November.
• We wrote an article for the Advocacy and Action Newsletter on the work our churches are doing with youth in Baltimore City.

By the End of 2024: Our goals for 2024 are to continue to help our churches discuss the role they can play in decreasing gun violence in our conference – whether by suicide prevention, safe storage, community violence intervention, domestic violence, mentoring, or other programs.  We will continue to educate and promote awareness and provide resources to help churches with their ministry to prevent gun violence. We would like to distribute safe firearm storage literature and trigger locks at community events/parades/farmer markets and develop relationships with our college ministers and local health professionals. 

Submitted by
Susan Bender, Chairperson

Racial Justice (Conference Commission on Religion and Race)

Seeking to inform the conference’s progress toward racial justice and equity and equip congregations to better engage in this vital work. 

2023 Goals and Progress: In 2023, we introduced and implemented the work of the Brave Conversation Resourcers. The Brave Conversation Resourcers are a group of persons trained to help congregations across the Baltimore-Washington and Pen-Del Conferences have brave contextual conversations that foster beloved community. Topics include navigating new or strained relationships, embracing differences, and advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and antiracism in your community. The resourcers are individuals who have facilitation experience, are culturally aware, emotionally intelligent, are a non-anxious presence in times of challenge, and are good listeners.

Within their first year, the Brave Conversation Resourcers were able to assist at least 8 communities in advancing racial justice using communal conversations.

Impact: Within our communities and in our relationships with others, the Racial Justice Team has sought to provide resources and assistance to those who are willing to undertake the important work of drawing the people of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference closer together in a common cause for justice and equity. Through our shared legislative advocacy work, members of the RJT and its fellow Advocacy and Action siblings, have made strides toward achieving those goals. There is much work left to do but, with God’s help, much can be accomplished as we strive to build the Beloved Community.

By the End of 2024: 

This year, the Racial Justice Team is working toward building collaborations across the Advocacy and Action Team so that we might assist in identifying and engaging resources across the connection. We hope to engage in the kind of grassroots advocacy that can help to rectify long-standing injustices and bring awareness to potential life-affirming solutions. Further, it is hoped that the latest cohort of Brave Conversation Resourcers will be called upon more extensively to help congregations bridge the gaps that threaten the connections within those churches and their communities.

Submitted by:
Rev. William Carpenter, Jr, Chair, Racial Justice Team/CCOR

Gender Equity (Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women)

Advocating for gender equity and equality across our connection and the full participation of women in the total life of The United Methodist Church. 

2023 Goals and Progress: Our team continues to be in rebuild mode after little activity for several years. Our primary goal was to conduct listening sessions on support gaps for clergy with children.

Impact: 

• We conducted listening sessions with 12 conference members and drafted legislation that is in development for the 2025 annual conference.
• We entered into an affiliate relationship with the COSROW Committee at the Peninsula Delaware Annual Conference.

By the end of 2024: We hope that a new team is seated and they can set goals and a rhythm of meeting that is sustainable and conducive to this important work.

Submitted by:
Rev. Cassandra Lawrence, Co-Chair 
Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton, Co-Chair

Restorative Justice

Assisting returning citizens and their families to a healed and whole state through connection with Churches. 

2023 Goals and Progress: Our goals for 2023 were to revitalize the Restorative Justice Team by planning what the next steps are for the ministry. We also worked in grassroots ways to reconnect to the communities through various Ministries.

Impact: Our impact for 2023 was having some persons who ministered inside the prisons through organizations such as Kairos. We also ministered with various areas of churches giving away food and personal items for the communities in which we serve. Some of us participated in Angel Trees during the Christmas season serving over a couple of hundred families with gifts since their loved ones are incarcerated.

By the End of 2024: In 2024 we are focusing on “Healing Communities Trainings” basic and the advanced levels to empower Faith Communities in this area of Ministry. Our goal is to have Clergy and Laity working together to be equipped for this area of Ministry.  We feel that the more places that have training we will be better positioned to transform and impact more lives of persons who are either incarcerated or returning citizens. 

Submitted by:
Margie Matthews, Chairperson

Commission on Disability Concerns

Purpose:  To advocate for and provide resources for persons with disabilities and to assist churches in removing barriers that prevent the inclusion of people with disabilities. 

While our goals for 2023 were to implement the Accessibility Audit Badge program we decided to re-evaluate our reach to churches which had proven to be insufficient for the year. 

We closed 2023 with a plan to create a virtual Service of Awareness to be streamed conference-wide with a focus on commission support, hospitality humility and our Godly call to end discrimination toward differently-abled people.  It is our hope and prayer that this service will inspire pastors and laity to create local disability ministries to address the barriers that prevent inclusion and create standing invitations to discipleship.  We ask that pastors and laity to make seats available at the table for all, “the poor, the crippled the blind, and the lame.” (Luke 14:21)

Yvonne Caughman, Chair Commission on Disability Concerns
Rev. Dr. Leo Yates, Jr., Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator

Deaf Ministries

Purpose: To support Deaf Ministries in its various models of inclusion throughout the BWC. Accessibility ministries seeks to support individuals and churches with Deaf and hard of hearing individuals and people with disabilities (differing abilities) so they can have equity and access to opportunities as a faith community.

2023 Goals and Progress:

• Continue to support Christ Church of the Deaf in Baltimore, MD and Magothy UMC of the Deaf in Pasadena, MD. Both congregations continue to thrive and connect with the Deaf communities in their locale. Both churches support leadership among Deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Impact: Both congregations have continued to grow in visitors and membership, such as 6 new members joined Magothy UMC of the Deaf on Easter Sunday.
• Ongoing Deaf awareness.
  • Impact: Assisted five churches with being awarded microgrants for observing Deaf Awareness Month.
  • Impact: Partnered with the General Commission on Religion and Race to submit legislation to General Conference related to deaf awareness and inclusion.
• Hosted in-person BWC & Pen-Del Deaf Ministries gathering on 9/30/23 with 22 persons in attendance.
• Implementation of Accessibility Coordinators among churches.
  • Impact: Three churches implemented accessibility coordinator positions.
  • Impact: Had conversations with four churches for consideration.
• Training new sign language interpreters to expand Deaf ministries.
  • Impact: Hosted the annual Church Interpreting Academy on 9/19/23 with 52 in attendance.

 Impact: The proliferation of Deaf Ministries began initially within the Deaf community and expanded to include hearing churches with deaf and hard-of-hearing members. The work of Deaf ministries includes deaf leadership, servant ministries, connectionalism, and deaf awareness and inclusion across the church. Sustaining these areas of ministry connects the church with the Deaf community and vice versa.

By the end of 2024: Deaf Ministries supports the ongoing work that fully represents the body of Christ with deaf and hard of hearing members through ongoing ASL classes, accessibility and ministry opportunities.

Submitted by:
Rev. Dr. Leo Yates, Jr., Accessibility & Inclusion Coordinator

Deaf Shalom Zone, Incorporated

Purpose:  Deaf Shalom Zone, Inc. seeks to empower Deaf and DeafBlind individuals toward greater Access, Equity, Independence, Opportunity, and Unity through our C.A.R.E. model of Case Management, Advocacy, Referral, and Education.

2023 Goals & Progress

Our 2023 aspiration to provide more than fifty in-person learning opportunities was lofty. Many of those opportunities came in the form of 1:1 coaching on topics like online banking and using apps to conduct personal business with utilities.  Thirty-seven individuals received this coaching. We conducted a few small groups and hosted a few speakers and classes.  Our target audience is better situated to conduct their own affairs and participate more fully in the life of the community and in the body of Christ.  A series of six classes was offered to deepen understanding and appreciation for the richness of the frozen texts which are a part of worship services.  In another, four-part workshop, participants developed their storytelling skills.  These experiences were of a high quality with great interpreting and full access for the Deaf and DeafBlind.  They were well attended, and reviews were positive. 

We expect to double the number of quality presenters and to focus more on physical, mental, and spiritual health.  We also hope to transform more of our case management efforts beyond meeting basic needs toward empowering people to achieve greater access, equity, and independence for themselves and toward building more unity within the Deaf community, the church, and our world. 

By the End of 2024: In 2024, we hope to engage six new community members to take on more food ministry work.  The Food Door, our pantry program provided nearly 2,000 bags and boxes of self-selected food to our neighbors in need.  Empowering these volunteers to take on leadership roles within the food ministry will help them develop marketable skills and free the staff to level up our fundraising, advocacy, and education efforts.

Deaf Shalom Zone, Inc. looks forward to a year of blessings upon blessings and new possibilities for service to the Deaf community. 

Submitted by:
Kathleen Jeffra, Coordinator

Wealth Equity 

Pursuing policies and actions in our communities that ensure equitable access to the needs of life for all. 

2023 Goals and Progress: In the beginning part of 2023, the committee worked with The Greater-Washington Adrienne Terry Affordable Housing Committee (AHC) to create new housing options and policy advocacy. We sought to :

• Help churches see housing options available on their property in lieu of closing or selling.
• Explore new affordable multi-housing options on church-owned land.
• Help congregations learn about affordable housing laws and ways to advocate in their respective areas.

As a result of a resolution passed at the 2023 Annual Conference Session, the work of the AHC expanded and a new BWC Property with Purpose Coordinator was contracted to lead this work. The Wealth Equity Social Action Team continues to focus on advocacy in this area.

Impact: We have been able to grow the Conference-wide knowledge of affordable housing and housing advocacy including the availability of free feasibility studies through students in the Georgetown University Real Estate Masters Program. We also were able to support legislation in Maryland and DC for the creation of more affordable housing and to make it easier for nonprofits to build affordable housing through HB003: Land Use Expedited Development Review Processes for Affordable Housing. As a result of this work, there is potential for many more units of housing to be built using church property. Affordable housing is a foundational aspect of creating wealth equity and eliminating poverty..

We continued our relationship with the Poor People’s Campaign and had 6 BWC leaders attend participate in the Moral Poverty Congress in Washington D.C. This event sounded the alarm on the crisis of poverty by bringing together poor and low-wealth leaders from across the country to highlight poverty as an American death sentence and demand action to end murder by public policy with congressional visits related to poverty reduction.

We worked to help pass the Safe Harbors Bill, the groundbreaking Prescription Drug Affordability Bill in Maryland Bill, and worked with Delegate Cullison to pass HB728, Health Insurance - Qualified Resident Enrollment Program.

By the end of 2024, we seek to rebuild the team in order to expand our advocacy of affordable housing legislation on the state and federal levels. An expanded team will also help us grow the creation and building of Universal pre-K, Health Equity (Health Care for All), Food Justice, and Financial Literacy through our partners:

• Bread for the World
• Financial Leadership Academy - Wespath
• Kairos
• Poor People’s Campaign

Please see the Property with Purpose Report to see property work formerly .

Submitted by 
Rev. Rochelle Andrews, Chair

Property with Purpose (formerly known as the Greater Washington Affordable Housing Committee)

This new role supports property needs of churches throughout the region who are participating in Missional Action Planning as they seek to grow in vitality and missional impact. The focus of this work is:

• To assist churches in discovering new ways to use their property and create new expressions of ministry that are relevant for making a difference in their communities. This includes supporting congregations in finding the resources and experts that will best help them take the next steps to move forward with the vision God has given them to serve their communities.
• To enable each congregation to respond in a manner that best suits their distinct context. This includes providing financial consultations, extensive discernment and planning, and assistance on how to best proceed in bringing ideas to fruition.
• To journey with congregations as they reimagine church property use (e.g. this includes but is not limited to affordable housing, community gardens, homework centers, offering community-based commercial kitchens, computer labs for seniors, galleries and studio space for local artists, dog-walking services, business workspace and conference room rentals, farmers markets, and more).

Brief Summary of Activities from Jan. 2023 through April 2024:

• 40 feasibility studies undertaken with Georgetown University Real Estate Masters Program
• Over 2,100 units likely to be developed
• 9 covenant agreements in place between churches and Affordable Housing Committee (AHC)/Baltimore-Washington Conference (BWC)
• 9 Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) in place with development partners
• 11 other projects moving forward

2024 Goals

• To fully onboard an advisory team with professionals in and beyond our conference.
• To pilot a Property with Purpose scorecard for local churches and dMAP to use and make available.
• To make available an informational handbook for congregations seeking to reimagine church property, specific to affordable housing.

We are grateful for the faithful and skilled leadership of Dr. Sam Marullo who, along with the Rev. Adrienne Terry, was a significant driving force in the evolution of UMC affordable housing ministry as a part of InspireDC. We wish him well as he retires.We also celebrate the ministry of District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Gerry Green (who retired in 2023). Rev. Green championed the vision and work of Rev. Adrienne Terry and created an affordable housing fund in her memory.

Submitted by: 
Lucinda Kent, BWC Property with Purpose Coordinator

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Committee on Hispanic-Latino Ministries

The Baltimore-Washington Conference Committee on Hispanic-Latino Ministries operates with a clear purpose and set of goals, aimed at fostering the holistic development and engagement of Hispanic-Latino individuals within our community. Our guiding purpose, as outlined in the Book of Discipline 2016 (¶655), is to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive plan of action for Hispanic-Latino ministry, ensuring effective strategies for engaging individuals of all generations within the Hispanic-Latino community.

Our overarching goal is to identify, equip, and engage leaders to cultivate relationships and advocate for justice within the Hispanic-Latino community, thereby fostering a deeper connection to God and neighbor among 1st and 2nd generation Hispanic-Latinos.

Impact

• Over the past year, our committee has made significant strides in fulfilling our mission and goals, resulting in tangible impacts within our community:
• We have actively supported unaccompanied minors through our partnership with the Board of Childcare's Caminos program, as well as assisting immigrant communities through collaboration with Just Neighbors.
• Collaborative efforts with organizations such as the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA) and the Latinx caucus MARCHA have facilitated the nurturing of leadership skills across generations, thereby laying a foundation for future leaders within the Hispanic-Latino community.
• Our annual camp saw participation from over 100 Latinx individuals, fostering the sharing of stories and the development of intergenerational bonds.
• During Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognized and honored the influence of Latinx Methodist leaders and congregations, acknowledging their invaluable contributions during times of adversity.
• The committee, in conjunction with the Immigration Justice and Law Network, organized the 3rd Immigration Border Immersion, providing 18 participants with firsthand insights into the immigration system and policies, and facilitating connections with individuals directly impacted by these issues in Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California.

By the end of 2024, the Committee has outlined several key objectives:

• Advocate for the sustainability and growth of Hispanic-Latino congregations, ensuring their long-term viability within the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
• Conduct two training sessions through the Lay Leadership School, focusing on UMC Polity and Mental Health, aimed at equipping emerging Hispanic-Latino leaders with essential knowledge and skills to empower our community.
• Remain vigilant and adaptable in the face of the restructuring of the BWC, ensuring that the unique essence and resilience of our Hispanic-Latino community are preserved and strengthened throughout the process.

Submitted by:
Mayuris Pimentel, Committee Chair
Rev. Cassy Nunez, Committee Vice-Chair

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Wellness and Missions

The people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference support the Disaster and Volunteers in Mission ministries locally and around the world through their financial giving, short-term mission trips and prayer.  This year, we faced several interesting challenges, including our beloved Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Pastor Fred Sipes, stepping away. The Board continues to be in prayer for the next person that will serve in this vital role. We celebrate that the BWC now has three UMCOR certified trainers to develop our Early Response Teams and four local churches serving as HUBS – our pre-staging areas where we gather essential supplies to support disaster survivors. In the year ahead we look forward to engaging more people in service by implementing a whole community approach to disaster ministry.

In 2023, we hosted three missionaries to the Conference. These were our first visitors in more than seven years. It is our goal to help revitalize our Connection by increasing the missionary presence at events and encouraging local churches to covenant with a missionary. There is a dire need to increase the number of missionaries serving in the United States and we hope to help meet that need.

At the heart of the Abundant Health Ministry is YOU and your well-being.  This past year was an exciting and vital one.  The people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference trained with other faith partners at the 10th Annual Healthy Churches 2030: A Journey of the Black Faith Agenda Conference.  We are especially proud that more than 90 people (clergy and laity) received free Mental Health First Aid Certification. In the year ahead, there will be continued adult training offerings and additional training to equip individuals in rural areas and those working with young people. We are grateful to those who have trusted us with your lived experience related to mental health, stress, and anxiety.  And those struggling with diabetes, cancer, or dementia. We hear you.  We see you.  With God's help we will continue to strengthen our Ministries of compassion and mercy across the Annual Conference.

Submitted by:
Rev. Laurie Tingley, Wellness & Missions Board Chairperson
Thea Becton, Wellness & Missions Project Administrator

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Leadership Development Board

Equipping and nurturing a culture of mature lay and clergy leadership who know their purpose and use their gifts to build up the body of Christ for the transformation of the world.

2023 Goals and Progress: The goal of the Leadership Development Board for 2023 was to make progress on a pilot Individual Discipleship System (IDS) that would identify churches with effective systems (Teaching Churches) and partner them with other churches who were interested in increasing discipleship. We identified two potential Teaching Churches, but they were unable to participate in a pilot program. From this, we learned that we need to re-think the commitment we are asking of Teaching Churches.

Impact: The potential mission impact is to find ways to help churches become more methodical and effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

By the end of 2024 we expect to develop a different version of the Pilot Teaching Church Program. We still expect to share learnings from churches with effective Intentional Discipleship Systems, but plan to do so in a way that makes it easier for Teaching Churches to participate.

Submitted by:
Nona Colbert, Chair

Certified Lay Ministry

The Mission of Lay Servant Ministries’ Mission is to equip and power laity to be full participants in God’s mission to the world through the ministries of leading, caring, and communicating.

Built on the foundation of Certified Lay Servants and Certified Lay Speakers, the Certified Lay Ministry program of Lay Servant Ministries of the Baltimore-Washington Conference worked in 2023 to continue to increase the capacity of our CLMs to use their gifts to provide congregational leadership to the local church as they make disciples in and outside the church. This is done through training, communication, and leadership opportunities using the pillars of training, supervision, support, and accountability. CLMs provide ministry as response to God’s call and gifts. They receive no monetary compensation and are certified, not ordained.

In 2023, the program continued to grow as two cohorts were in training. The cohort of 2022-2024 completed all four modules under the direction of Rev. Bill Brown and Rev. Loretta Johnson and are completing their last steps to full certification. This cohort is one of the largest in recent years with 12 students. The cohort of 2023-2025 has completed two modules under Rev. Johnson.   This brings the total number of CLMs in the Conference to more than 120 CLMs in service or training, one of the nation’s largest groups.

Many CLMs are called upon by district superintendents to lead churches or provide pulpit supply, for which they are trained. Many other CLMs are ready to serve in mission and outreach.  We continue to make progress in our goal to increase communication about the CLM program so all CLMs can engage in ministry to meet their call and so that churches can use CLMs, who are not paid for their work, to fill necessary roles in churches. 

We are grateful to Conference Lay Leader Delores Martin, who has always supported our CLMs and has helped us spread the word about the availability of CLMs to serve where needed.

Our Lay Servant training program, open to all, continues to add new courses from Discipleship Ministries, as well as BWC Conference-approved alternative courses, including the “Congregational Leadership” series of courses from the Center for Vital Leadership and “The Nonanxious Leader” online course with the Peninsula Delaware Conference.  Our District Directors of Lay Servant Ministries manage and schedule course offerings during the year.

The Conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries, made up of our District Directors, the Conference LSM Chair, and the Lay Leader, will meet for two workshop retreats in the Summer of 2024 to review policies and set long-term goals. 

We will work in 2024 to continue to increase communication, diverse course offerings, and consider fresh approaches for equipping laity to serve in their roles.

Minister Linda D. Flanagan
BWC Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries 

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New Faith Expressions Board

Equipping and encouraging change-makers to gather new people in new places and spaces in order to bring the Church Jesus loves closer to the people Jesus loves.

New Faith Expressions continues to guide and equip our local churches to take their next step towards becoming 100% vitatal. Our strategy begins with helping congregations understand what we mean by vitality. Church vitality is not about the number of members nor worshippers but the intensity of a church’s love for God and neighbor. 12 people can change the world! Vital churches see and value all people, deepen discipleship, live and love like Jesus, and multiply their missional impact.

2023 Goals and Progress:

This past year we have focused on providing resources to help local churches not just understand the importance of moving beyond the walls of their church buildings but actually provide them with the tools to engage the people in their mission field, which surrounds their location. This understanding was at the heart of our goals for 2023.

As we have moved through this season of disaffiliation, one constituency we knew would be in our mission fields were those who might be displaced by a disaffiliation congregation, specifically those who wished to remain United Methodist.  We provided a process and training for local churches to engage in becoming places where those who were affected by disaffiliation could find a place to heal as they discerned their next faithful steps. We currently have 20 congregations that have completed the process: and several more still in the process: 

• Asbury UMC in Washington, D.C.
• Centenary UMC in Shady Side
• Christ UMC in Columbia
• Fairhaven UMC in Darnestown
• Faith UMC in Rockville
• Glen Mar UMC in Ellicott City
• Grace UMC in Gaithersburg
• Havre de Grace UMC in Havre de Grace
• Hopewell UMC in Havre de Grace
• Liberty Grove UMC in Burtonsville
• Linden-Linthicum UMC in Clarksville
• Middletown UMC in Middletown
• Mill Creek Parish in Derwood
• National UMC in Washington, D.C.
• Saint James UMC in Marriottsville
• St. John’s UMC of the North Carroll Cooperative Parish
• Silver Spring UMC in Silver Spring
• The Gathering Faith Community in Hanover
• Wesleyan Chapel UMC in Aberdeen
• Westminster UMC in Westminster

We’ve also provided training opportunities to equip individuals to discern whether or not God may be calling them to launch a new church or new faith expression. Through our Church Planters Discernment Academy, five individuals explored their strengths and giftedness and learned strategies for launching new things, as well as providing renewal to existing congregations. 

We also launched our Fresh Expressions Academy with 29 people engaged. Over the course of a year these Innovators will be learning a process to engage their local communities and launch new expressions of Church. Finally, we launched a redesigned Readiness Initiative in order to give congregations an opportunity to get a clear picture of their current reality so that they could discern God’s next faithful step for their congregation. We had 17 congregations begin the journey with us, 11 of whom completed the entire process. Once these congregations completed the in-depth, reflective study, customized recommendations were made which each congregation has begun to implement. It is our hope that these recommendations will help move them closer toward vitality. 

Our overarching goal is to remind us all that Jesus did not encourage the world to go to the Church, he encouraged the Church to go to the world.

Submitted by:
Deborah Johnson, New Faith Expressions Board Chair
Rev. Bill Brown, Director of Innovative Evangelism

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Young People’s Ministry Board

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we activate, connect and engage more young people as disciples of Jesus for the transformation of lives, churches and communities.

The YPM board coordinates, oversees, supports, and contributes to the crafting of the vision of all young people’s ministry within the conference (including, but not limited to campus ministry, the work of Young Adult Council, and the work of the Campus Ministries Task Force).

2023 Goals and Impact:

As our context changes rapidly, many churches continue struggling to keep up with the next generation. Like many local churches, we continue to be in a learning and experimentation cycle required for this adaptive challenge. We continue to use the simplified objectives created out of the goal areas set in 2018.

• Objective 1 - Growing Local Church Youth Engagement. We hired two part-time Young People’s Ministry organizers who have been contacting local churches to learn what the vital needs are at the local level and are providing resources to local churches to help them grow youth engagement.
• Objective 2 - Expanding the Impact and Places of Campus Ministry. Please see the Campus Ministry Task Force Report for details.
• Objective 3 - Increasing Young People’s Engagement Beyond the Local Church. From internships to virtual meet-ups, to events, to an ever-growing database and listening sessions we continue to expand engagement. Our youth members at large from Annual Conference 2023 met multiple times on Zoom to continue to be connected to one another and conference opportunities. A mini-golf outing was held in Aug 2023 where youth from several districts participated.  Based on feedback from youth and youth leaders in 2022, we organized an affiliated one-day event on September 30, 2023.  We postponed the event due to lack of registration but learned that future events can’t be held in the fall due to church programming and school schedules. 26 youth (under 18) and 34 young adults participated in the restructuring survey and youth and young adults who were unable to make the scheduled Listening Sessions were given an opportunity to participate in their own listening sessions.
• Objective 4 - Developing Innovative, Discipling Leaders (Students, Young Adults and Adults). Youth who served as members at large for Annual Conference 2023 took on additional leadership opportunities by joining the Young People’s Ministry board, participating in Connectional Table, and will be serving as delegates to the Northeast Jurisdictional Conference in July. We continued our IDEA intern program in 2023 and placed 5 young adults in organizations that provided opportunities to experience justice-based encounters in local churches and communities. Participants focus on Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable and Anti-racist work.
• Objective 5 - Cultivating an Ecosystem of Innovation. Four of the original group of 10 ChangeMakers are continuing to inform the next iteration of the ChangeMakers Project and the experiment of how to best invest in young Christian innovators.
• Objective 6 - Special Needs Ministry. The Commission on Disability has been hard at work increasing awareness, audits and accompaniment as congregations make accommodations necessary for all God’s children to experience places of belonging. They have recently added a special education educator to support this critical work.
• Objective 7 - Mental Health. We continue to point people to our YPM Wellness site for resourcing and are hosting a YPM Mental Health Symposium in May for youth and young adults to receive training As our context changes rapidly, many churches continue struggling to keep up with the next generation. Like many local churches, we continue to be in a learning and experimentation cycle required for this adaptive challenge. We continue to use the simplified objectives created out of the goal areas set in 2018. 
• The YPM board awarded Missional Innovation grants totaling $25,000:
  • $5,000 Friendship Beyond Borders, Baltimore-Suburban District
  • $1,000 MLK Day of Service, Glen Mar UMC, Central Maryland District
  • $1,000 Youth Ministry Tech Team, John Wesley UMC, Annapolis District
  • $5,000 DC Project Transformation, Greater Washington District;
  • $3,000 More Tasty Blessings: To Go Youth Community Service, Washington East District
  • $5,000 God’s Work Through Our Church, Mt. Nebo UMC, Cumberland-Hagerstown District
  • $5,000 Youth Warriors-District Youth Conference, New Waverly UMC, Baltimore-Metro District

By the End of 2024:

• A two-day “Necessary Ingredients” training and retreat for Youth, Children and Family Ministry Workers is being held in April to continue training and resourcing our church leaders.
• Plans are underway to begin building a conference-wide faith formation and relationship-building strategy for youth, which includes a bonfire kickoff in the fall, a large, weekend-long conference for youth in Ocean City on March 7-9, 2025, as an affiliated event called IGNITE. This event will give our young adults additional leadership opportunities as they will be team leads and help develop this new event. IGNITE will also provide space for students and youth leaders to find motivation, inspiration, and support for starting and growing 25 youth groups in local churches and hubs.

 Submitted by:
Rev. Shemaiah Strickland, Young People’s Ministry Board Chair
Cheryl Cook, Discipleship Ministries Manager

Retreat and Camping Ministries

Providing camp and retreat opportunities that utilize experiential learning and communal Christian living to guide individuals as they grow in love of God, self, neighbor, and nature.

2023 Goals and Impact: 2023 finally saw summer camp return to full capacity after the pandemic!  We saw an increase in participation of nearly 35% for a total of 1152 summer campers. This compares to a pre-pandemic level of nearly 1400.  However, this overall increase was not reflected evenly between the sites, as West River saw an increase of 51.5% while Manidokan decreased by 11.5%.

Part of West River’s success resulted from the continued work to adapt our summer camp ministry to meet the increased demand for day camp programs.  As a result, day camp participation increased by 60%. Manidokan’s location makes day camp logistics more challenging, but this coming year they will offer their first ever day camp program.

We also saw renewed interest in retreats. In 2023 we served 220 groups and 9836 participants which represents an increase of 25% and brings us to about 80% of pre-pandemic levels.  We continue to look for new partnerships and opportunities to work with organizations and help them achieve their goals with our Christian hospitality.

There were many updates and improvements at our sites in 2023. At West River a bungee trampoline system was added with funds from a UMCRM grant, campus-wide internet and security cameras were installed, new free-time games were constructed, and much of the giant swing was replaced due to woodpecker damage. At Manidokan the aerial park was expanded, the benches and staging at campfire hill were replaced, the interior of the Chaplain’s Apartment was remodeled, and exterior lighting around the camp was improved.

In the past 10 years, more than 50 camp and retreat centers across the denomination have closed. The causes behind these decisions are varied and make us reflect on the phenomenal support of Retreat and Camping Ministries throughout the Baltimore-Washington Conference.  We are grateful for clergy and laity serving as volunteers and recruiting young people to come to summer camp.  We are blessed to see churches using our facilities for everything from picnics to leadership development events to confirmation retreats and everything in between. We are empowered by the guidance and support of the conference’s leadership, Council on Finance and Administration, and Trustees. Thank you.

When the case was made in 1949 to purchase Manidokan and start our camping ministry, the experience of camp was described as providing “unique opportunities for total Christian growth.”  While much has changed since 1949, the holistic impact of retreat and camping experiences on individuals and groups in a setting unlike any other in the church, has not.

By the End of 2024 we hope to:

• Live into Manidokan’s streamlined summer schedule and new day camp opportunity.
• Meet the goal of 93 percent summer camp registrations and 90 percent of retreat group participants compared to 2019.
• Launch new websites for Retreat and Camping Ministries. 

Submitted by:
Chris Schlieckert, Retreat and Camping Ministries Director

Campus Ministries

Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world on campuses and with college students.

The Baltimore-Washington Conference remains committed to campus ministry in the midst of a radically shifted landscape. We celebrate the fact that in 2023 our campus ministry has touched 322 students and that we have begun the slow work of visioning new ministry at Towson University and restarting our ministry at Gallaudet University.

Student leaders are discerning and responding to the call into ordained ministry and students are sharing their testimonies and trials in inclusive faith communities.

United Campus Ministry @ Frostburg State University

Frostburg State University’s United Campus Ministries is alive with the fire of young minds and hearts that are eager to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ from Frostburg Maryland to the four corners of the globe! Through our newly implemented monthly Sunday afternoon worship experiences, our weekly Bible studies and the ecumenical and interfaith engagement we are building upon at FSU, I am excited to say that ministry is growing AND glowing thanks to the dedication of our beloved bobcats! We are reaching the FSU community through several other means as well. These include activities such as formal dialogues in connection with Alumni about life post undergrad, DEI forums on faith, forgiveness and reconciliation between our multifaceted relationships and partnership with other campus organizations and offices to address needs such as student mental health and academic performance.  The support of and connection to local United Methodist congregations and other churches of varying denominations, has created a bridge of connection and opportunity for community service, such as the “warm nights” food pantry event we saw take place in April, in partnership with Frostburg United Methodist Church. FSU campus ministries has also expanded its reach from the Frostburg State campus to Washington DC through connection in ministry with American University’s campus ministry, for a group immersion experience that we are hoping to recreate again next year alongside other campus ministries such as UMD College Park as well! I am extremely thrilled for what is to come as we continue to pursue the call of Christ as the Bobcat community! 

Submitted by
Chaplain Elijah Ferebee

United Methodist Faith Community @ American University

The words that best describe the United Methodist Faith Community at American University are growth and sacred space. This was lived out this year in two ways. One, our students have grown in discipleship as a group of our leaders went on a retreat and explored their spiritual gifts and how best to use these gifts for our ministry. They are taking the gospel and finding ways to transform the world around them for Jesus Christ. Two, our students have sought to create space for those in the margins, those who have been shut out because of sexuality. And because of their love and compassion have affirmed the being of so many, which has allowed a renewal of their relationship with Jesus Christ. In this year ahead, we seek to learn more about who God has created us to be through exploring our identity as Christians and as Methodists. We are grateful that God is showing up in the lives of our students.

Submitted by
Rev. Dr. Rachel Livingston, Pastor of Congregational Care, National UMC

The Terp HUB @ University of Maryland College Park

This year, The Terp HUB is being reborn and reimagined at University of Maryland - College Park. We celebrate the rich history of Methodist ministry at UMD - and we’re prioritizing listening to the campus to hear the needs, passions, and hopes of students. We’re not yet able to sustain weekly worship gatherings, but we decided to focus on pop-up ministry (Walk-up Worship) connecting with students over food, rest and creativity. Rather than offering a program to follow, we offered conversation and connection - hoping to offer respite at an industrious institution like UMD. Often, students paused to answer a spiritual questions, engage in a craft, or sit and chat - we heard hundreds of answers to different variations of, “How is it with you soul?” We talked about current events, issues on campus, celebrated new beginnings and classes - hoping to reassert our identity as a campus ministry that is present and discerning where the Spirit is arising on campus. Our hearts were broken. Our hope was stirred, and we’re learning what our connection and Wesley theology can offer to the diverse and wonderful community at UMD.  We’re building relationships with students, student groups, campus offices and faculty/staff so that in the coming year Terp HUB can create our ministry anew and invite students to commit to a journey with Christ’s love during their time at UMD. This year we partnered to feed student, connect faculty, and offer counseling to students in crisis. We also refurbished our space in Memorial Chapel to prioritize a future of community and Sabbath. We worked with groups to feed students, to offer spiritual insight to their studies, and help them mark the liturgical times of year. 

The next year will be filled with new ministry, and a commitment to discipleship. We’re thankful for our connection - the support from the conference, the future partnerships we’ll cultivate with our camps, our agencies, and our fellow campus ministries. This year, we’ve been tending the soil and finding the streams of life springing up so in the future we can “bring forth fruit in season” and “ . . .prosper . . .” for a long time in College Park.

Submitted by
Rev. Will Newton, Terp HUB Coordinator

The Wesley Foundation at Howard University

2023 Goals and Progress: The 2022-2023 academic year was a transition year where we sought to rebrand, rebuild, and reimagine this iteration of United Methodist ministry at Howard University. In 2023, we leveraged the momentum from the first half of the academic year and organically saw the growth of dynamic students who love God and are committed to doing life together. At the heart of The Wesley Foundation at Howard University is community. We have created a space where love is kindled and hearts are strangely warmed.

Impact: As we continue to live out our mission of making disciples and Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, we celebrate the sparks of grace that we have experienced. There are countless testimonies of how this ministry has impacted the students and the Howard University community. Our hearts were broken as we learned about the experience of the migrant siblings through a border immersion. Our hands got dirty as we served communities across the country through the Howard University Alternative Spring Break Program. Our spirits were lifted every Wednesday as over 40 students gathered weekly for food, fellowship, and faith-filled conversations.

By the End of 2024: As we approached the 2023-2024 academic year, we sought to bring the vibes of HU Wesley to life. One way we did this was by designing a T-shirt that reflects the culture of the community that was built during the previous year. The chaplain gave the vision and one of the students brought it to life. As we look ahead, we are reminded of the phrase on the back of our HU Wesley T-Shirts: “Life be Lifing. God be Goding.” Our experiences at The Mecca are a constant reminder of the power of the Holy Spirit and the impact of the divine flame. To quote an old hymn that struck up one Wednesday night, “Somebody needs to catch on fire…and burn with the Holy Ghost.” 

Submitted by
Rev. Jacob Cogman, United Methodist Chaplain
DaShawn Jones, Peer Minister

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Global Partnership with Zimbabwe

Over the past 25 years, the Baltimore-Washington Conference has created a strategic partnership with The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe,  developing strong and lasting personal relationships.

Our primary focus has been on a bi-annual Pastors' School. Over the years, dozens of BWC pastors have traveled to Zimbabwe to work closely with several hundred Zimbabwean pastors

COVID caused a pause in our Pastors' Schools – but the work through Community UMC in Crofton and Bel Air UMC has continued. 

Zim Vim Teams from Community UMC in Crofton have worked in parallel with our Zimbabwean partners on the building of many churches, parsonages, clinics and schools. Over 70 lay and clergy have traveled at least once – some many times.

Chabadza - Healing Hands Across Zimbabwe at Bel Air UMC funded and assisted in the completion a new medical clinic at the Munyarari Mission.

The BWC has provided over $400,000 over the past three to four years to support theological scholarships and numerous ZIM VIM and Chabadza Healing Hands construction projects. Among them:

• $90K+ in theological scholarships
• $50K Cyclone disaster recovery in southeast Zimbabwe near Mozambique
• Munyarari Clinic - $40K in 2021 for new medical clinic – dedicated in Feb 2024
• Mashambanhaka Mission Schools - $90K for Primary School disaster recovery – 2022 thru 2024
• Hanwa Mission Schools- $54K in 2022 and another $75K in 2023-2024 for Classrooms and Greenhouse Project

This has been a ministry of presence that has nourished the mind, the body and the spirit of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. With your continued prayers, financial support and presence, this ministry of presence will continue to strengthen our UMC connection and nurture our personal relationships well into the future.

Submitted by 
Charlie Moore, Zimbabwe Partnership

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Global Partnership with Eurasia: In Mission Together

The In Mission Together - Eurasia Committee exists to support the covenant partnership between the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the South Russia Annual Conference, for the purpose of strengthening the work of the Gospel through relationships, financial support, enhanced understanding, and joint projects.  The partnership also encompasses support for the United Methodist Seminary in Moscow.  Furthermore, since the escalation of the war in early 2022 and the separation of work in Ukraine from the Eurasia area due to conflict, IMTEC has also sought to offer support for relief work through the church in Ukraine and with Ukrainian expatriates in the surrounding countries.

Goals for 2023.  In the Russian Federation, our goals for the year entailed maintaining relationships and ministry support with our partners, including:

• Support for the ministry with Roma children and families in the Stavropol (northern Caucasus) region, providing educational enrichment and helping families to address basic needs, as well as sharing the message of Christ’s love;
• Offering financial help for district-level work in both the Central Black Soil and South districts, which helps the resourcing of pastors and providing leadership for ministries such as the “Camp Trinity” program for persons with disabilities and their families;
• Via the Moscow Area office, assisting the work of the congregation in Luhansk, in the part of eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia;
• Providing scholarship support for the training of pastoral leadership at the Seminary in Moscow.

For Ukraine and Ukrainian expatriates, the goal has been to stay abreast of current developments, and to support relief work and ministries which help children and families to adapt to their new lives outside their homeland.

Impacts.  We are able to report the following effects of our partnership:

• In Russia, growing trust within the Roma community and acceptance in the area where the work is located has resulted in growth of the children’s outreach and the number of families served. In addition, several persons have come to profess faith in Christ as a result of the ministry’s impact.
• Direct help has been made available to support ministries in Ukraine, in partnership with GBGM and local church leadership, and for trauma clinic work through the Czech UM outreach.
• Assistance in the form of food relief and program support has been made available to refugees at Camp Dorcas, an ecumenical transitional housing camp for Ukrainian families in eastern Hungary. Some of these families may ultimately return to Ukraine; others will settle in Hungary, Germany, or elsewhere.  Program support was also provided for ministries with Ukrainian children and youth in the Cluj region of Romania.
• In addition to financial support, three BWC members serve on the trustees or advisory board for the UM Seminary in Moscow.

Goals for 2024.  Since the current war and political situation make direct participation in Russia difficult, if not impossible, at present, we plan to continue supporting key outreach opportunities, such as the ministry with Roma people, support for churches working with international students, leaders and congregations in conflict zones, and the Seminary. 

With the approval of the General Conference for the separation of the Eurasian annual conferences from the UMC, which will be effective in 2025, we can anticipate changes to the partnership.  The nature of those changes will become clearer as the final status of the Russian conferences and churches and any affiliation to the UMC is clarified.

In Ukraine and with Ukrainians living temporarily outside their country, we look to develop deeper ties through ministry support, such as work with refugees and for a new center for trauma healing in western Ukraine.

When travel becomes advisable once more for church-related groups, we look forward to re-engaging in a more immediate way both with rebuilding projects in Ukraine, and with our partners on the ground in the Russian Federation. 

As we did last year, we invite all congregations and clergy to join us in continuing to pray for a just peace and an end the war in Ukraine, and for the people who are caught up in it.  We seek to follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul to the Romans: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Ro 12:18).  We continue to give thanks to God for the witness of our United Methodist sisters and brothers throughout the countries of the region, and for the privilege of sharing with them in the work of the ministry of the hands and feet of Christ, and reflecting the heart of Christ, in the region.

Rev. Charles L. Harrell
In Mission Together Eurasia Committee (IMTEC) of the Baltimore-Washington Conference

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Commission on Archives & History & BWC Historical Society: A Joint Report 

Purpose: To preserve and maintain closed church records, historical documents, and stories of the Church from the past for current and future generations.

Archives & History and the Baltimore-Washington Conference Historical Society have been expanding our impact to be felt around the Annual Conference and the denomination.

• Archaeological dig at Old Otterbein UMC with the Maryland Historical Trust. We found the location of Bishop Otterbein’s cabin and many artifacts that are under the care of the State of Maryland. We anticipate another dig in future years.
• Partnership with Goucher College to receive interns who helped with a church seal display and plate display.
• Co-taught a class inside the Women’s Correctional Institution in Jessop, Maryland for Goucher College, focusing on Black Baltimore religious history, especially Sharp Street Memorial. The students are transcribing letters from clergy who served there.
• Assisted GCAH with research and presented for Local Church Historian School. We will be the largest stop in a Fall Northeast Jurisdiction Pilgrimage in October modeled after our own pilgrimages.
• Guest speaker at Springwell Senior Living (formerly, The Wesley Home) and Emory Grove Camp Meeting.
• Handled over 250 research requests via email, phone, mail, conference website, and even Facebook! More than 50 of these requests dealt with disaffiliation questions.
• Helped proofread the Journal.
• Provide services to local churches who are celebrating anniversaries, and workshops on historical preservation and document management.
• The Commission met for the first time this year in March at Lovely Lane where a tour was given of the renovated museum spaces.

 Archives

• Worked with Conference Trustees to secure records from closed and disaffiliating churches, processed them, and filed them for archival storage.
• Cataloged over 300 new entries and 30 transcriptions of handwritten letters, including the Henry Slicer collection.
• With the help of Lovely Lane and Conference Trustees, dealt with a major leak in the vault in April of 2023 caused by a sinkhole.
• Exploring ways to capture “born digital” records.

 Museum

• Procured several additions to our collection: Evangelical Association material has doubled in size thanks to Rev. Dick Stetler; Staffordshire Wesley memorabilia from Rev. Charles W. Lightner and his widow, Harriet.
• New display items added monthly, including a Book of Common Prayer that belonged to Mary Wesley, John’s wife that he gave her after she let him the first time, and left behind when she left him the second time.

Library

Our library on Methodist and Baltimore history has over 7,000 volumes. Many of these are primary sources. We continue to add volumes to it, and this year’s additions include expanded content on EUB history and Black Methodism. It is available for research by appointment, and is not a lending library.

 Pilgrimages

• Our second annual Pilgrimage Week and first bus trip was a success last year! Our group of pilgrims included an embedded UM Communications reporter who wrote an article on us and our Social Justice Pilgrimage. We also produced 4 videos that provided an overview of several of our sites. Our video series won an award from GCAH for how we present local history!
• Join us June 3-8 for Pilgrimage Week 2024! During the week leading up to June 8, we will release videos on the history of several sites, including Strawberry Alley and Stone Chapel. Then, on June 8, join us for a bus trip that explores the Ministry of the Laity through the eyes of Robert Strawbridge. The bus departs and returns to Lovely Lane UMC, Baltimore, and costs $50.
• Mini-pilgrimages are available at most sites on a regular basis. Our Baltimore Confirmation route is the most popular.

 Future Plans for 2024

• A new video series, “Dive into the Archives,” where we will have very short (two-minute) videos showcasing a single element of our Archives and Museums for social media.
• “Touch Boxes” for our youngest visitors to engage with displays.
• Upgraded lighting in the museum from fluorescent lights that can degrade artifacts over times to LEDs.

These are just a few highlights of the amazing work our staff and volunteers do on a regular basis. Please come visit for a mini-pilgrimage (tour), conduct research, or simply to learn more about who we are and where we come from. This history is your history.

When you have major anniversaries or events, please send the archives a copy of the bulletin/program, any handouts you have, and updated church histories. We file them for archival purposes. If you think you have something we might like to have, contact us to find out.

Respectfully submitted by:
Rev. Bonnie McCubbin, Director of Museums & Pilgrimage/Conference Archivist
Rev. Dr. Emora T. Brannan, Conference Historian, President of the Baltimore-Washington Conference Historical Society, President of the Conference Commission on Archives & History

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