By Linda Bloom* Aquilino (Pong) Javier Jr. remembers living through many natural calamities while growing up in the Philippines. But the stark television images of people who had lost family and homes to Typhoon Haiyan , including “the parent who was cradling a dead child in his arms...
2013APPORTIONMENT REPORT BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING In an effort to help congregations finish the year strong, we’re sharing a listing of the apportionment payment totals for BWC churches for the first 10 months of 2013. Churches are up- to-date with their connectional giving if...
By Melissa Lauber UMConnection Staff Advent is a season of anticipation. We celebrate the birth of a baby in Bethlehem and look forward to the coming of Christ anew in our lives. We tell the ancient stories of the newborn infant as savior, and dream of the world that will be created when...
By Hal Recinos* Apparently, in American politics, anything can happen and even God cannot make sense of it. The world-renowned African-American neurosurgeon, Dr. Ben Carson, remarked at the recent Values Voters Summit, “You know Obamacare is really, I think, the worst thing that has...
By Tom Pruski* As the Affordable Care Act has rolled out, we have seen the impact of the new healthcare legislation on hospitals, communities and congregations. The new law is moving the previous healthcare system from a focus on fee-based patient services to a population-based care delivery...
By Don Llewellyn* United Methodist Community Services (UMCS), an agency of the Baltimore-Washington Conference’s Board of Global Ministries, is a Conference-wide initiative that provides assistance to persons living in poverty and refers them to resources that are reliable and...
By Erik Alsgaard UMConnection Staff The United Methodist Men of the Baltimore-Washington Conference have elected new leadership for the next four years. Meeting Oct. 12 at Arbutus UMC, elected were: President, Bill Weller; Vice President, Hampton Conway, Jr.; Secretary, Steven Hill; and...
By John W. Coleman* After nearly 30 years of living with HIV, Bill Taylor, 48, says he’s surprised and grateful that he’s still around, especially after years of substance abuse and reckless behavior. But he admits he might not have survived this long without the help of Quality...
By Erik Alsgaard UMConnection Staff On a warm, late September Friday night, near one of the meanest streets on the west side of Baltimore City, a small group of police officers, clergy, politicians and concerned citizens gathered at St. James UMC. Dozens of eyes, connected to dozens of people...
By Linda Worthington UMConnection Staff As the church strives to maintain or regain its membership, most put an emphasis on reaching young adults. But there’s another way to look at it, said the Rev. Richard “Rick” Gentzler, Jr., at a daylong seminar, “Exploring the...
