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BY CHRISTIE ZIMMERMAN
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Stewardship and discipleship ministries connected as one at the 227th session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference as conference leaders talked candidly with lay and clergy members about "leaning into adaptive spiritual challenges" and facing technical challenges head on.

The session also highlighted the recommitment of conference leadership to partner with passionate congregations committed to overcoming challenges and pressing on toward Jesus' goal.

The eight key ways to meet the needs of congregations included:

1. Assistance with setting metrics and goals.

2. The development of a comprehensive leadership development program to strengthen and train laity and clergy.

3. Reduction in the benevolence factor from 19.5 to 16 percent.

4. Assistance for congregations in need of repurposing their buildings for mission and ministry.

5. A commitment to supporting congregational growth through Immersion Series resources.

6. A commitment to strengthening the Gateway system.

7. Assistance in improving stewardship in congregations with the help of the new Mid-Atlantic Foundation.

8. A commitment to start 20 new congregations over the next 10 years.

"Your congregation is not alone. None of us are. We are diverse strands of thread and textures and colors. But our strength, our capacity to comfort and transform the world around us, only comes from us being woven together, like a tapestry. We become this tapestry as we unite in our mission, trust one another and support each other in achieving ministry goals," said the Rev. Katie Bishop, team leader for young adult ministry.

"Let us commit to pray for and work side by side with all of the congregations and communities throughout the Baltimore-Washington Conference," said Bishop, "in hopes that we all succeed in experiencing the joy of passionate worship, radical hospitality and spreading God's extravagant grace."

Charlie Moore, president of the Council on Finance and Administration, helped conference members see the budget as a theological and missional document that provides a road map for world transformation.

The 2012 apportionment budget of $15.1 million with an overall budget of $18 million was presented and approved, reminding conference members that there was no increase between 2010 and 2011 and in 2009, the apportionment budget was reduced by 10 percent.

Paul Eichelberger, treasurer and CFO, reported that there will be no increase in health benefit costs to local churches in 2012, in hopes that the relief will strengthen resources for ministry in local churches.

"All of the great ministry shared over the last two days is because you have given yourself faithfully to the ministry of Jesus Christ here in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. You have grown in your faith, given generously and taken risks to further the cause of Jesus Christ," Eichelberger said.

"As we seek to serve and resource your congregation, we need the following from each of our congregations and each United Methodist disciple," said Robert Slade, chairperson of the Discipleship Council.

1. Save souls. Engage and connect with the nominally and non-religious.

2. Grow mission. Live outwardly and see the community as the mission field.

3. Grow spiritual leaders. Create greater opportunity to provide more and better ministry to save souls.

4. Grow disciples. Expect Bible literacy and make deep faith and participation in worship, Bible study and mission a prerequisite for leadership in the congregation.

5. Grow congregations. Growth occurs when churches offer spirited and quality traditional and contemporary worship that connects with the nominally and non-religious people in the communities.

6. Give generously. Apportionments strengthen the ability to provide quality services in the Baltimore-Washington Conference and to do justice and mercy around the world.

7. Practice the Wesleyan Means of Grace. The vital work of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is a spiritual adventure based on John Wesley's Means of Grace. He taught that God's grace is unearned and that you are not to be idle waiting to experience grace, but to engage in it.

"We know we are calling you to a greater challenge, but these are challenging times that require deeper faith and greater acts of service. This is a time to give ourselves to a higher calling and increase our commitment so that we become like Christ as we make and engage disciples for the transformation of the world. We must lean into the wind, we must press on," said Bishop Schol.