| Signs of revival and hope proclaimed during conference By John W. Coleman Jr.
UMCONNECTION STAFF 'There are valleys of dry bones all over the world,' Bishop Felton Edwin May exclaimed May 28 at annual conference, as he denounced militarism, self-righteous church traditions and other signs of death and separation from God. He lifted up signs of revival and hope for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, however, when he chartered a new church, welcomed a new faith community and commissioned 14 ministerial candidates as probationary members of the conference.  | JOHN W. COLEMAN JR./UMCONNECTION | Bishop Felton Edwin May commissions Kim Hall, one of 14 candidates for probationarymembership at a worship service May 28 during annual conference. |
Bishop May called on those to be commissioned to worship and serve God above all else by seeking peace and caring for the needs of Gods people. 'If we have claimed Jesus Christ as Lord, then we must follow the cross first and the nation second,' said the Bishop. 'We cant wrap ourselves in the flag but in the blood of the Lamb. The flag cant protect us.' Bishop May criticized President George Bush, though not by name, for leading the nation into war and for refusing to meet with the United Methodist Council of Bishops for prayer last November when the council met in the Washington, D.C., area. Recounting five requests by the bishops for the meeting, Bishop May said the president repeatedly responded, 'Im too busy.' He said the president also stopped publicly talking about prayer and peacemaking as solutions to conflicts in Iraq. He warned against turning our backs on God and recalled the consequences suffered by Gods favored people in the Bible for taking such a course. 'If we took a fraction of the billions we are spending on war and used it to feed and clothe and care for those who are hungry and hurting, then wholeness and healing would come.' Noting the Memorial Day weekend celebration of the new World War II monument on the Mall, Bishop May recounted the failures of past world wars. 'God is not on any one side,' he admonished. 'God is on the side of truth, love, mercy and justice.' Bishop May asked the candidates for ministry if God had spoken to them in their commitment, 'or is this just another job?' As a spirit of Pentecostal fervor spread across the room and worshipers stood, clapped, waved their hands and shouted 'Amens,' Bishop May told the candidates to preach the word and to prophesy Gods justice and concern for his people above any concern for patriotic duty or staid religious traditions. The stage filled with the candidates who responded to the questions of examination. Each came and knelt before Bishop May as he laid hands on them and hung a silver cross around each of their necks. The bishop also invited anyone who felt a call to ministry to join him on the stage, an invitation he also extended during the ordination and closing worship services. Each time, several people came forth. The night ended with the chartering of FaithPoint UMC, a two-year-old church located in Urbana, and the surprise official welcoming of the Mizo fellowship group as the newest faith community to form in the conference. 
Poole | An intergenerational group of more than a dozen FaithPoint members joined the Rev. Matt Poole, pastor, on stage for the chartering ceremony, as Bishop May read and presented the official charter document. The Mizo group is composed of immigrants, mostly refugees, from Myanmar, formerly Burma. First organized as a house church in 2003, they now worship and participate in ministries with the congregation at Ager Road UMC in Hyattsville. The Board of Congregational Life report, which followed Saturday morning, announced the addition of two church starts among the 20 conference initiatives that receive board support for developing new churches and faith communities and innovative outreach ministries. Sue Conway was recognized for serving as board chairwoman for the past eight years. She presented the report and introduced the boards new video, 'Stir It Up!' which promotes new church development. | 
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