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May 12, 2025 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

Prayers of the People

We celebrate the possibilities as the Baltimore-Washington Conference receives a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., to enhance the lives of children through worship and prayer. Read more about the new Constellation Project.

During this season of appointments, we pray for Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, the Cabinet, and all the pastors and churches who will experience a change in pastoral leadership on July 1. See the appointment list.

Dwell in Joy!

Important notes for this week's Annual Conference session

The 241st session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be held Tuesday, May 13, through Thursday, May 15, at the Hilton Hotel at 401 West Pratt St. in Baltimore. See the Program Book for the information you'll need to participate in the session.

All clergy and lay members will want to be present for the dialogue session on the BWC's new structure on Tuesday, May 13, from 1 to 2:45 p.m. in the Key Ballroom. Everyone is invited to sit in the section marked for their new district. If you're not sure which district your church will be in, see the Church Directory. Learn more about the new structure for creating Vital Change.

Voting codes were emailed to clergy and lay members late last week. If you believe you are eligible to vote and have not received a voting code, please contact Debbie Albrecht.

If you are new to annual conference or would like a refresher, a New Member Orientation workshop will be held in the Paca A room on Tuesday, May 13, from 10 to 11 a.m. You may also see the Primer, containing information about the building blocks of our conference, our members, the business of annual conference, and more.

Rejoice and connect with everyone at Annual Conference. A new Annual Conference Session Facebook event page, will be the site to follow for real-time updates, important announcements, and connecting with fellow attendees. Use the discussion tab and #BWCUMC25 to join the conversation, share photos, and keep up with the latest news. Be sure to RSVP “Going” and invite your friends, so no one misses a thing: https://www.facebook.com/events/3364605273681990/?active_tab=discussion

Compass, a new clergy retirement plan, will be explained in detail at the Clergy Session on May 13. Read an overview of the plan, which is expected to give pastors more flexibility and control over their retirement account, and more investment options than they would have with a traditional pension plan.

New and Featured Ministries

Applications are now being accepted for the BWC’s Peace with Justice grants. Churches and United Methodist groups can apply online. The deadline is May 16. Learn more.

The Ana A. Brito Foundation of Epworth UMC in Gaithersburg invites everyone to a special Open House celebrating 40 years of empowering immigrants and newcomers through language, literacy, and life skills in the Gaithersburg community on Tuesday, May 20. The gathering will be concurrent with their ESOL, computer, and Spanish classes and the Let's Read Tutoring program. Come at 5 p.m. to take a peek at what the students are learning and stay to learn more from the leaders, share food, and learn about their bold steps for the future. The programs will continue until 8 p.m.

As part of its Juneteenth celebration, New Waverly UMC at 642 E 33rd St. in Baltimore will present the play “God’s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse” by James Weldon Johnson on June 14 at 2 p.m.

Applications for the next class of Certified Lay Ministers for 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.

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.

The Order of Deacons is planning a Day Apart for the Diaconate: Deacons and Deaconesses & Home Missioners for both annual conferences on May 30, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Calvary UMC in Annapolis. The Rev. Dr. Margaret Ann Crain will be the guest speaker. This in-person gathering welcomes ministry candidates, seminarians, provisional deacons, full-member deacons, retired deacons, deacons on loan to both annual conferences, and deaconesses and Home Missioners from both conferences. To RSVP, submit accessibility requests, and share food allergies, please complete this Google form no later than May 15. Questions can be emailed to Rev. Dr. Leo Yates at leoyjr@gmail.com.

Honoring District Superintendents at Retirement Celebrations

All are warmly invited to celebrate the ministries of the current Baltimore Region’s District Superintendents, the Rev. Dr. Ann Laprade and the Rev. Dr. Wanda Bynum Duckett, as they retire from active service.

The Rev. Dr. Ann Laprade will celebrate 42 years of faithful ministry at a special service on Sunday, June 8 at Fallston UMC. Join us for worship, fellowship, and joyful reflection—RSVP by May 16 at tiny.cc/AnnRetires and share a message at tinyurl.com/yc59ztrx.

The Rev. Dr. Wanda Bynum Duckett will celebrate with three Grace & Gratitude events honoring her ministry as poet, pastor, and superintendent. Everyone is invited to attend any or all parts of the celebration on June 6, June 28, and June 29. Click here to see the flier and here to RSVP through Eventbrite.

Mark your Calendars: Coming This Summer

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.

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 sponsorship support, including sponsoring a hole for $250. Register to play. For information, contact the Rev. Stacey Cole Wilson.

Save the Date: The United Women of Faith of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Area will host Mission u 2025 on Aug. 1 and 2 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Annapolis, MD. The theme will be “Practicing Hope Together.”

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

See a listing of more discipleship ministries and local church events

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

See church classified ads

The BWC is hiring a Terps HUB Ministry Coordinator to lead campus ministries on the University of Maryland campus in College Park. This is a part-time position. For those interested in a full-time position, this could be combined with a part-time Director of Community Engagement and Discipleship position on the same campus at University United Methodist Church, focused on community outreach, partnership building, and space utilization. To apply for this position, send a resume and cover letter outlining how you meet the specific requirements of the position to HR-BenefitsOffice@pdcbwc.org. Applications received through May 16 will be reviewed on May 17.