Clergy called to celebrate baptism in new ways
With a focus on returning to the root of faith through baptism and strengthening church membership, more than 300 clergy gathered at Severna Park UMC for the Bishop’s Day Apart.
This annual event is designed to strengthen the spiritual leadership of the clergy of the Baltimore-Washington Conference and help pastors and congregations reach new believers, which is one of the conference’s 2010 goals.
The Bishops Day Apart, on Sept. 22, had a celebratory tone as the clergy began the morning by seeing who can juggle the most balls, while others kept several beach balls afloat in the sanctuary.
“We juggle many things in the air at the same time every day,” said Rev. Vicky Starnes, one of the coordinators of the day-long event. “But we are held together in the common unity of Christ.”
Bishop John Schol reflected on the theme of the day: “Baptism and Membership: Theology, Liturgy and Preaching.”
“One of the things I enjoy is being by the water,” Bishop Schol said. “Being near the water brings me closer to God in terms of creation and I feel deeply renewed by it. God knew the importance water would have in our lives. And today, we gather to remember our baptism and how important water is to us.”
The Rev. L. Edward Philips, one of the guest presenters, said that every time a clergy baptizes someone, they are directly obeying a commandment of Jesus.
“When you are baptized, it is your job – it is your vocation – to pray for the world,” said Philips, an associate professor of worship and liturgical theology at Emory University. “Baptism should be a dissolution from the world. Baptism intends to destroy everything in our life that makes us less like Jesus.”
Marcia McFee, another guest presenter who works as a worship consultant, encouraged the clergy to remember their own baptism by going to one of the baptismal stations that were set up in the sanctuary. Each person dipped their hands in water as an act of renewal and then prayed around the altar. 
During that time, McFee emphasized the importance of making the sacrament of baptism a moment to always remember.
Kendrick Weaver, pastor of Union UMC, said that the presentations gave him new ideas on how to reintroduce baptism and the renewal of church membership vows. Others appreciated the examples of the symbolism that was presented.
“I appreciated how [Edwards] broke down baptism and its symbolism,” said Lena Marie Dennis, pastor of Eastern UMC. “It gave me new light on how to share it with my congregation. I’m filled and charged to go tell the world.”
“[Today] was a fascinating and stimulating discussion,” said Rev. Dean Snyder of Foundry UMC. “It was really helpful to sit back and think about what we do, because sacraments and how we communicate them are critically important.”
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