Listening Sessions to be solution-oriented and forward-focused
As the Restructuring Task Force continues its work within the Baltimore-Washington Conference, you are invited to attend one of the Listening Sessions that will held over the next several weeks. The first sessions will be held this Thursday, Jan. 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
The listening sessions are intended to be solution-oriented and future-focused. Our goal is to enhance our collective mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The task force encourages deep listening and fruitful conversation rather than a critical or divisive evaluation of our past.
Please read the updated and expanded version of the Restructuring Survey Results to get a sense of the wide range of responses. After the listening sessions have been completed, the task force will bring potential options or scenarios for restructuring to the Connectional Table and the Annual Conference for consideration.
By attending one of six at-large sessions, you will have the opportunity to help discern how the Conference positions itself for greater vitality and effectiveness. Your input, ideas and creativity are important to this work. Please make every effort to attend a session. The Task Force will also meet with specific ministry teams such as the Board of Ordained Ministry, Discipleship Council, Youth and Young Adults, and the Connectional Table. See a video from Bishop Easterling on restructuring.
As we prepare for those meetings, we also have a request.
Since 2016, we have focused on a unifying concept: We Are One. Those three words, which served as our foundational theme for holy conferencing, were the basis of a conference-wide Bible study and became a common refrain in our ministry, still form the basis of our skilled servant work. There is power in moving together and being of one accord. Therefore, as we continue the deep listening, dialogue and discernment necessary to prepare a recommendation on restructuring for our 2024 annual conference, we want to incorporate a call for prayer into the process. As our founder John Wesley, taught, “Prayer is the grand means of drawing near to God.” While it is important that we hear from and listen to one another in this work, it is also critically important that we hear from God through the Holy Spirit. Further, we believe that praying together as a conference will enhance our ability to really listen to one another. See Bishop Easterling’s New Year’s Message on Forging A New Path. Therefore, please incorporate this process into your daily prayers, and we ask that we join at 12:01 p.m. every Wednesday for common prayer. Thank you for your participation.
The Task Force looks forward to seeing and hearing from you. May the God of all hope and love be with us as we strive to serve the present age.
The listening sessions are as follows:
January 18 - Two At Large Sessions
BWC Mission Center
11711 East Market Place, Fulton, MD
1 – 3 p.m. and 7 – 9 p.m.
January 27 - Under 35 Youth and Young Adult Session
Emmanuel United Methodist Church
10755 Scaggsville Rd., Laurel, MD
1 – 3 p.m.
(This session for young people is tailored to help them better understand what it means to be part of a district and how restructuring can impact them and their church. Pizza will be served, so a headcount is needed. RSVP by Jan. 24.)
January 30 - At Large Session
Towson United Methodist Church
509 Hampton Lane, Towson, MD
7 – 9 p.m.
January 31 - At Large Session
Epworth United Methodist Church
9008 Rosemont Drive, Gaithersburg, MD
7 – 9 p.m.
February 6 - At Large Session
Otterbein United Methodist Church
108 E. Franklin St., Hagerstown, MD
7 – 9 p.m.
February 7 - At Large Session
St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church
14900 Annapolis Rd., Bowie, MD
7 – 9 p.m.