By Erik Alsgaard Every church in the Baltimore-Washington Conference has a deed, a legal document pertaining to property rights and ownership. The language in those deeds, as far as United Methodist churches go, often centers around the “Trust Clause.” “All properties of...
July 8, 2020 My Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Over the past four years, we have proclaimed, together as a conference, that "We are One." (Ephesians 4:1-16) We are one in times of celebration and joy, and we are one in times of challenge and struggle. As the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna...
By Erik Alsgaard Two days. Two marches. Two rallies. One message: The church must rise against racism. Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, episcopal leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, put prayers into action at two events June 18 and 19, one in Baltimore and one in Washington, D.C. Both...
Pastoral Letter from the Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops We, the College of Bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church, prayerfully stand with our pastors, members and churches during the aftermath of the recent deaths of unarmed African American...
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, right, prays with Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.Photos on this page by Melissa Lauber. By Erik Alsgaard On a blistering hot early June day, in the shadow of St. John’s Episcopal Church across the street from the White House, they gathered to pray. In the...
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling was scheduled to make remarks at the Interfaith Prayer Vigil in Washington, D.C. June 3. The vigil, which you can read about here, was interrupted. Below are her remarks. I want to thank Bishop Mariann Budde for the invitation to participate in this vigil. May God...
Faith leaders throughout the world have responded to the death of George Floyd on May 25. Floyd, a black man, was arrested by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the process of that arrest, a white police officer knelt on Floyd's neck for more than 8 minutes, according to video that...
Adopted by Council of Bishops on November 6, 2018 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent...
