Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

April 22, 2025 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

Prayers of the People

The BWC's Creation Care Team wishes you a happy Earth Day and reminds everyone that God calls us to love others and care for them by caring for the creation on which we all depend to live, move and have our being. Learn how you can make a difference.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case today concerning age-appropriate books featuring LGBTQ themes and characters in Montgomery County public schools, which is supported by 15 local faith leaders. “We want our children to be better prepared to live in the world as it actually is,” said the Rev. Rachel Cornwell, pastor of Dumbarton UMC, on behalf of the group that recently filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court. Learn more.

In her Eastertide message, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling writes: "As people of faith, may we always remember that Easter is not merely a historical event. Easter is not just a day or a season. Indeed, Easter is a way of being. Easter is a way of living. During this sacred season of Eastertide, we are invited to walk with the early disciples who, though stunned and scattered, found themselves caught up in the transforming truth of resurrection. Their grief became purpose. Their fear became proclamation. The very ones who once ran from the cross became ambassadors of an indestructible gospel." Read her complete message.

We mourn the death of two clergy spouses. Mrs. Arlene Kiely died on March 19. Mrs. Helen Gisselbeck died on April 10; a service will be held next month in Ohio.  

Rejoice in the Lord: Annual Conference Information

Registration for the May 13-15 session of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference closes tomorrow, April 23. There will be no on-site registration for the session, which will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore. Register online.

Bus capacity to and from the session has been increased. If you tried to register for one of our buses to Annual Conference and were advised that the limit was reached, please note that additional spaces have been added. Please contact Darlene Washington at ac2025@bwcumc.org if you want to add bus transportation to your registration.

Voting Codes will be delivered just prior to Annual Conference using the email address included in each clergy and lay member registration.

A commissioning prayer for conference members is available online. Congregations may use it to offer a blessing for the pastor(s) and lay member(s) attending the session. See the prayer.

An online pre-conference briefing, which will include important information about upcoming proposed Constitutional Amendments, will be held Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. until noon.

New and Featured Ministries

Early Educators Conference: The BWC's Directors Roundtable will host an Early Childhood Educators Conference on Aug. 7 at St. Andrews UMC, at 48 Wallace Manor Road in Edgewater. The cost is $75. The theme is "Choose Joy." Registration opens May 1.

D.C. Advocacy Day: Join United Methodist laity and clergy as they advocate for just policies and laws for the District of Columbia community at D.C. Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Asbury UMC in Washington, D.C. Learn more and register.

Intergenerational Ministry: If your church is interested in exploring intergenerational faith formation and ministry, consider attending the InterGenerate Conference, which will be held at Asbury Theological Seminary June 10-12. This year's theme is Connecting Heads, Hands, Hearts of Every Generation, centering on what it means to lean into 1 Corinthians 12:12: More than 50 presenters from all over the world, representing an array of Christian denominations, contexts, and aspects of intergenerational ministry will share academic research, practical workshops, and intergenerational experiences. BWC attendees can save $25 if they register by April 30 using the Promo Code H25Gen24. Find out more at InterGenerate.

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. The moderator of the session will be Mayuris Pimentel. The panelists will include Roslyn Smith, Rev. Stacey Cole Wilson, and Tre Murphy. Learn more and register.

Camp Open House: Camp Manidokan at 1600 Harpers Ferry Road in Knoxville is hosting an open house on Sunday, April 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. It will include an opportunity to meet Manidokan’s new director Theresa Eggleston.

"Live From Wespath" will air on Wednesday, April 30, at noon. This virtual four-hour event features information and insights from Wespath about the new Compass clergy retirement plan, investments, and benefits. Your registration allows you to participate in the entire event; you may also drop in for only the segments that interest you or receive a link approximately three to five business days after the event to view at your convenience. Learn more and register.

The BWC United Women in Faith are in need of financial auditors, with or without CPA licenses. Contact President Kim Walker at 443-534-1549 or kwalker@bwcumc.org.

A Deacon Exploration Session will be held May 17 from 10 a.m. to noon on Zoom. This webinar about the history and ministry of the deacon is open to ministry candidates, seminarians, persons discerning clergy orders, and SPRC chairs (or church leaders). Click here to register for the webinar. Questions about the webinar can be sent to Rev. Dr. Leo Yates, the chair of the Order of Deacons.

Mark your Calendars: Coming This Summer

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.

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 survivors 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. Register to play. For information, contact the Rev. Stacey Cole Wilson.

See a listing of more discipleship ministries and local church events

Learn more about 100% of churches at 100% vitality.

See church classified ads

Camp Manidokan, near Harper's Ferry, is in need of a Health Coordinator. This person would need to be either an EMT or a nurse within the state of Maryland. Duties would include collecting camper medications at check-in, distributing medication throughout the week, and returning medication to guardians at checkout. Learn more and apply online. If you have any questions, contact the Program Director, Jarrett Snider.

The Area is hiring a Young People’s Ministry Coordinator to oversee and support ministry efforts aimed at children, youth and young adults. Learn more.