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Discipleship ministries were the focus of the morning's plenary session, May 23, as the Rev. Robert Slade of Mount Zion UMC in Washington and Delores Oden, the lay leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, presented many of the ministries that fall under this banner.

Bishop Schol led a participatory exploration of the history of the church through small groups of people across the floor answering two questions: "What would be some key markers or milestones for the Baltimore-Washington conference?" And "what have we learned from them?"

The answers ranged from events that took place two centuries or more ago to this year's ROCK and Shalom zones, and covered such topics as the inclusion of women, the establishment of colleges and schools, and the merger of the Baltimore and Washington Conferences, as well as the denominational merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist churches in 1968, and in the Baltimore conference three years earlier.

Answers to lessons learned also ranged widely from the importance of laity to the life of the church to being a church of radical hospitality to using God-given gifts. "God is moving, even when the church has struggled," the bishop said.

The Commission on the Status and Role of Women's recommendation to continue the 2003 "Study of Clergy Remuneration, Mobility and Retention," was approved.

Members celebrated the full inclusion of the Bermuda churches, Centenary UMC and Marsden UMC, into the Northeastern Jurisdiction, following action at the 2008 General Conference. They are now officially two new churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

Discipleship ministries were shown in videos and were presented from the podium, including:

• An update on Nothing But Nets. Slade included appreciation to many people, both in the conference and outside who have helped the conference distribute more than 7,100 nets in Zimbabwe and raise thousands of dollars more for the next shipment of nets.
• Two young members of the Rev. Karin Walker's soccer team who raised more than $1,000 for nets by scoring, helped to launch a new campaign with a basketball. The bishop challenged conference churches to make pledges and contributions for Nothing But Nets.
• Oden presented the ministries of lay leader training, including Lay Speaking Ministries. She said that more than 50 lay speakers attended a three-day training event last fall. Lay speakers fill many roles in churches, in some cases serving as local pastors. The conference has about 1,800 trained lay speakers.
• Oden also gave brief reports and updates of the Discipleship Academy, which will begin Sept. 27, at two locations in each of the four regions. A second semester will follow in January. The Certified Lay Ministry course of study will begin Sept. 27, as part of the Discipleship Academy. More than 150 people have registered for the course.
• Leadership training day for leaders of Staff-Parish Relations, Trustees, and Finance will be held Feb. 7 in each region at two locations. If you're called to teach and would like to help with training, contact the Rev. Rod Miller at
• The Immersion Series will also begin in the fall, focused on making disciples, reaching new people, growing worship, forming small groups, engaging congregations in community ministry and strengthening children's and youth ministry with the church, Bishop Schol said.
  The first study that the bishop called churches to participate in is scheduled for October, and is based on John Wesley's teaching do no harm, do good and stay in love with God and will use Bishop Reuben Job's "Three Simple Rules."
  The second Immersion series is set for January 2009 and is based on the five practices of a fruitful congregation.
• The Rev. Byron Brought, through a video, campaigned for stopping slots in Maryland when it comes up as a referendum this fall; and he made a strong case for not participating in the state lottery. Both forms of gambling are "predatory and addictive," he said, and added, "Slots are much worse."
• Slade expressed appreciation to several people who are instrumental in the Retreat and Camping programs, and assured the audience that the camps are doing well. He mentioned that the West River Dining hall renovation has 80 percent of its money raised through the capital campaign and will begin building as soon as Anne Arundel County permits are obtained.