June 12 was the 50th anniversary of the Loving v. Virginia case, in which the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional any state laws barring marriage based on race. This is of special significance to me as my wife, Dana, and I are an interracial couple living in Maryland, which also had...
Rev. Emmanuel M. Gitlin, 94, of Hickory, North Carolina, died June 13, 2017. He was an extension minister who was part of the Baltimore Conference in the mid-1960s, then withdrew in 1968. He spent most of his ministerial career as a professor and missionary. He was reinstated to the conference...
Tara “T.C.” Morrow is a Certified Candidate for Deacon in The United Methodist Church, and for the last two Annual Conference Sessions of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, our clergy session has considered her candidacy. In 2016, T.C. did not receive the required vote majority of our clergy...
To appreciate my age, when I drove my first car, to signal left or right required me to hold out my arm outside the window to signal a turn, even in rain or snow. There was also a time, 51 years ago, that I was watching my 13-inch black and white TV—albeit with a snowy screen in spite of the...
The Rev. Leslie Gordon Metcalf, 80, died June 10, 2017, at Gilchrest Hospice Care in Towson. A private graveside service was held June 19.
Leslie Metcalf was the youngest of nine children born to William and Norma (nee Bruce) Metcalf July 18, 1936. He grew up in Baltimore City...
Now that the 233rd session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference has come to a close, it's time to share the remarkable work that was done in our holy conferencing. We know you'll want to view the videos from the conference session again as you report back to your congregations, so we've set up...
Nestled in a grove of old oak trees northwest of Baltimore is a place where time has seemingly stood still. Small cottages line narrow streets where cars are forbidden to go. Majestic trees tower over a large tabernacle, while a 150-year old hotel with a wrap-around porch greets both guests and...
Ancient church mothers and fathers often greeted one another with the phrase, “Give me a word.” This greeting led to the sharing of insights and wisdom. Today we continue this tradition with this monthly column.
By unanimous vote, members of the 2017 Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference approved the 2018 expense budget of $18.4 million. Of that amount, $14.3 million is budgeted to be received by apportionments, the connectional system of giving used by the church to support mission and ministry around...
The image of bread was central in the message given to those commissioned, ordained and readmitted June 1, as Bishop LaTrelle Easterling presided at her first such worship service.