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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Preparations are underway as conference leaders prepare for the 228th session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference to be held May 30 to June 1 at the Waterfront Marriott Hotel in Baltimore.

The adoption of a vision for 2020, creating a secure financial outlook for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, addressing several social justice issues, setting conference rules and policies, nominating a candidate for bishop are the legislative and voting actions of this year’s annual conference. The conference will also hear from national speakers about passing the faith on to new generations and extravagant generosity, particularly for mission.

The Revs. Kenda Creasy Dean, author of “Almost Christian: What the Faith of our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church,” and Clif Christopher, author of “It’s Not Your Father’s Offering Plate,” will be the plenary speakers. Bishop John Schol will deliver a state of the church address at 2:45 p.m. May 30; the Rev. Zan Holmes, narrator of the Disciple I Bible Study series will preach at opening worship; and Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Illinois Area will preach at ordination at 7 p.m. May 31. The award-winning band Salvador, along with the Rev. Jimmy Sherrod and the Crossroads Band, will provide the music for the event.

On Feb. 8, conference leaders met at a Connectional Table meeting to prepare for the session. In addition to learning about and providing feedback on the 2020 Vision and the 2013 budget, they voted concurrence with several pieces of legislation. Among them:

• A resolution on evolutional scientific thinking from the Rev. Henry Schwarzmann, who calls on the church to “give great consideration to how in the fact of contemporary thinking and science we will be open to learn and understand the vastness of this God-created world.”
• A resolution promoting the celebration of Disability Awareness Sunday on the first Sunday of February or some other Sunday of a congregation’s choice.
• A resolution to stop bullying and violence in area schools and communities; and
• A resolution in support of Maryland Immigrant youth in the upcoming referendum which allows immigrant students to pay in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities.

In addition, members will be fine-tuning the rules of the session, voting to on whether to create a rules committee and considering a revised conference policy on sexual misconduct.

The revised policy, which is being fine-tuned at the request of the Connectional Table, is intended to streamline and clarify the conference’s current policy on sexual misconduct. This resolution was submitted by the Discipleship Council, and emphasizes protecting those who are most vulnerable, said Cynthia Taylor, chair of the council.

On the afternoon of May 29, the day before the session begins, several training sessions for local church leaders will be held at the hotel. They include:

• The Most Common Church Financial Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, led by Frank Robert and Jack Brooks of the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation’s Genesis Funds;
• Oversight of Local Church Finances, led by Paul Eichelberger, conference treasurer;
• How to Create Life-changing Small Groups, led by the Rev. Mary Dennis, director of discipleship;
• Leading Change: The Practice of Adaptive Leadership, led by the Rev. David Argo, director of connectional ministries;
• How to Maximize the Call to Action for your Congregation, led by the Rev. Ianther Mills, superintendent of the Annapolis District; and
• Dealing with Conflict Effectively, led by the Rev. Karin Walker, superintendent of the Baltimore Suburban District.

On Saturday, April 14, regional preconference sessions will be held. Morning session from 9 a.m. to noon will be at Mount Oak UMC in Mitchellville and Arbutus UMC in Arbutus. Afternoon sessions from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. will be at Woodside UMC in Silver Spring and Harmony UMC in Falling Waters, W.Va.

Information about the annual conference session is updated regularly on the website.