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March 24, 2025 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

Prayers of the People

Phyllis May, the widow of a former BWC bishop, Felton E. May, will be 90 on March 28. Those wishing to send her a card can mail it to 4301 Dawn Place, Baltimore, MD 21229.

We pray for Bishop Easterling and the Cabinet, along with pastors and churches experiencing changes in pastoral appointments. See the appointment and retiree list. See a list of Clear Opening church profiles.

Golf Tournament raises money for Seeds of Security

The Seeds of Security Charity Golf Tournament will be held at a new location this year, Renditions Golf Club, in Anne Arundel County, on Monday, June 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seeds of Security supports the Area’s ministries with victims of intimate partner violence and develops safe havens for them.

There are a number of opportunities for sponsoring support, including sponsoring a hole for $250. For information, contact the Rev. Stacey Cole Wilson.

Churches reach out to federal workers

Glen Mar UMC in Ellicott City took out a newspaper ad with a message to the nation’s Federal public servants, telling them, "We see you. You matter. You are not alone.” The church has put together a website with resources for those affected by the layoffs. 

Bethesda UMC recently launched a Heart for Public Service program to create a supportive community where public service workers feel valued, appreciated, and connected. Learn more. They are actively seeking individual and church partners to assist in this work. Contact them.

New and Featured Ministries

Interested in participating in the worship experiences at the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference Session on May 13-15 in Baltimore?

• Opening worship will be at 7 p.m. on May 13.
• The Memorial Service will be held May 14 at 1:30 p.m.
• A Service of Celebration honoring people and ministries will be on May 14 at 7 p.m.
• The Service of Ordination on May 15 at 4 p.m.

Willing hearts and all sorts of worship-related talents and skills are being sought. Express your interest.

A workshop on Models of Faith-Based Engagement with Public Life will be held on April 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Religious leaders, scholars, and community activists will explore strategies for engagement from faith-based organizing to populist movements. Also, take a special workshop on an issue that draws on your passion for faithful witness and advocacy, from immigrant rights to environmental justice. This event is co-sponsored by the Interfaith Conference Metropolitan Washington and the Interfaith Power and Light, DC. Learn more and register.

The key to effective leadership is the ability to be a non-anxious presence. The Non-Anxious Leader: Family Systems Basics is a four-week online course, held April 7 through May 4, that will help you learn the principles behind this approach and how to put them into practice. 3.0 CEUs are awarded for successful completion. There is no cost to lay and clergy members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Learn more and register.

New Certified Lay Minister class applications are now being accepted -- Applications for the next class of Certified Lay Ministers, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Class of 2025-2027, are now being accepted. Learn more and see the online application. The deadline to submit your application is July 1. The next cohort will start in September and is a two-year commitment. Questions can be directed to Linda Flanagan, Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries.

Please Note: Those interested in taking the CLM modules online through Beadisciple.com must also complete the application process above before registering for the online modules and meet the BWC requirements during the training.

You're invited to the third annual Grazing on Maryland dinner fundraiser at the West River Center on April 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. Proceeds from the dinner will go toward the camp scholarship fund. Come out to the beautiful West River Center at 5100 Chalk Point Road in West River and enjoy an evening of local flavors, including a pig roast, live oyster bar, wonderful local salads/field greens, and great desserts. There will be live music and a silent auction, too. Tickets must be purchased in advance at $85 per plate.

Learn more about Critical Race Theory: The BWC’s United Women in Faith will host a Critical Race Theory Workshop on April 26 at 1 p.m. at the BWC Mission Center in Fulton. Learn more and register.

Seeking inspiration? A Clergy Renewal Retreat will be held June 3-5 at Pecometh Retreat Center at 401 Jack Elliott Way in Centreville. The session, facilitated by the Rev. Dawn Stewart, will be a time to renew your spirit with creativity and reflection. The cost is $255, which includes a single room and meals. Optional spiritual direction is available for $75. Register.

Seeking your nominations for Conference awards

Help Us Celebrate What We Want More of: Love in Action! Don’t forget to nominate or apply for one of the Annual Conference Awards! These include Advocacy and Action, Evangelism, Wellness and Missions, and Young People’s Ministry Impact. Learn more.

This year, there will be a new award that will honor how young people are making a difference in their churches, communities, and the world. A $1,000 award will be presented at the Annual Conference session in May. The deadline to apply is April 1. See the nomination form.

Washington Conference Pilgrimage Bus Trip: On June 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Conference’s annual Pilgrimage Bus Trip will explore the former racially segregated old Washington Conference as we wrestle with questions about race, justice, and equality. This year’s trip focuses on Baltimore sites. Free parking is available at Lovely Lane UMC at 2200 St. Paul St. in Baltimore, where the day will begin and end. The cost is $50 (scholarships are available), which includes the bus, lunch catered by a Black-owned catering company, admission to all sites, interpretation, and a lesson on pilgrimage theology. Full participants can earn 0.6 CEUs. Learn more and register.

Discipleship Opportunities

Application form for Congregational Development Grants is now available. All materials must be uploaded by April 1. Do you have an innovative idea or a plan for a new ministry that will help your congregation go to the “next level"? Are you developing a way to reach people who are not yet a part of any church? The BWC's Congregational Development Grants can assist you in launching your new ministry initiative, congregational renewal project, or leader development ministry. Learn more and apply.

Urban Ministry Conference: Wesley Theological Seminary will host its inaugural two-day conference on urban ministry on March 27-28 at the Hyatt Place BWI Airport Hotel in Linthicum Heights. The theme is “Fostering Urban Vitality and a Heart for the City." The cost is $160. Register.

The deadline to apply for BWC college scholarships is March 31. Learn more about the requirements and application process online.

Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century will sponsor workshops on Black Wellbeing Collective with Dr. Ronald Bell beginning April 28. These sessions will cover topics from Identity and Managing Stress to Conflict Resolution and Mental Health. It is open to clergy in Pen-Del and BWC. Participants are asked to attend all sessions and commit to one in-person gathering for the closing ceremony. Registration closes on April 18. Register.

Disaster Relief Kits: In an effort to assist with disaster relief, local groups are offering opportunities to pack health and cleaning kits. Everyone is invited to a packing session at Frostburg UMC with students and pastors from the Cumberland-Hagerstown District on April 5 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship: J. Howard Kucher, an associate professor of social innovation at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, will hold an online seminar, “An Introduction to Social Enterprise for Faith Leaders” on April 8 at 8 p.m. The seminar, which is hosted by United Theological Seminary, will explore how church leaders can discover new ways to stabilize finances and enhance their mission. Visit unitedseminary.edu for more information.

Suicide Prevention webinar: The BWC's Gun Violence Prevention ministry team will host a webinar, "Talk Saves Lives: an Introduction to Suicide Prevention," on May 5 at 7 p.m. It will cover the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide.

See a listing of more discipleship ministries and local church events

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