Breaking New Ground
UMCONNECTION STAFF
Fierce winds and pouring rain were no deterrent for more than 130 people who gathered on Nov. 13, to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the new
The crowd chuckled as the Rev. Tony Love read from Matthew 7:24-27. “The rain fell, the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock,” said Love as the rain pour down sideways into the tent. The crowd moved their chairs closer together.
“Today we break ground to transcend what is earthly and then to be sent right back to earth by the Creator to grow leaders, who will grow congregations to make disciples who engage in mission for the transformation of the world,” said Bishop John Schol.
"The building that will rise up from this ground will rise up from this ground will foster leadership and partnerships that renew and sustain a movement upward and outward--an unbound and outbound people. Unless the Lord builds this house, those who build it labor in vain. God will be in this house," said the bishop.
The new three-story building will capitalize on available light with the strategic placement of windows, provide a number of well-designed meeting spaces for conference members and events and allow for more than 200 parking spaces. In addition, the building will house the episcopal offices and nearly 60 members of the conference resource team.
“Our hope with the new conference center is that people realize this is not just another office building we are building, but a sacred place where we can further the mission and vision of the conference,” said the Rev. Deborah Scott, chair of the building committee. “In addition, moving out of a leased space allows us to build equity for our future.”
The new Baltimore-Washington conference center will be centrally-located in the community of Maple Lawn just off of Route 29 between Baltimore and Washington.
“We are moving into a neighborhood, where we can invite those who work, live and shop there to come into our conference center as a place to seek respite and peace,” said Scott.
Cokesbury Bookstore will occupy a leased retail space within the new conference center to serve as a satellite retail location and a resource to the community and everyone who visits.
Turner Construction, which built the new dining facility at West River Camp, will be the general contractor for the new building project. Design Collective, an architectural firm that designed many well-known buildings in the Baltimore area, is the architect. The new Baltimore-Washington Conference Center is slated to open in late summer 2010.
See photos, sermon and video from the Groundbreaking Ceremony
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