July 27, 2026 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives" | | |
Please keep the family, friends, and colleagues of Jeff Corey in your prayers following his death on June 13. As Senior Executive Director of Communications for the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, Jeff was a faithful advocate for justice and inclusion and was instrumental in helping organize several events in which the Baltimore-Washington & Peninsula-Delaware Area participated in Washington, D.C., including the Faithful Resistance witness this past February. We give thanks for his life and ministry, and pray for all who mourn his loss. Read his obituary.
| | |
For nearly 30 years, skilled servant leaders from the Baltimore-Washington Conference have partnered with United Methodists in Zimbabwe to support education and strengthen communities. This summer, follow their three-week mission through Postcards Home from Zimbabwe, a series of firsthand reflections, photos, and stories from the Rev. Doug Robinson-Johnson of the people, places, and mission work shaping this enduring partnership.
Read the first installment and join us in praying for them as they continue their ministry.
| | |
A Better Church Conference Forms Experience Arrives August 17
Same familiar access, dramatically better forms
This year, Baltimore-Washington church conference forms are getting a major upgrade. You will still access your forms the way you always have through Arena, but once you open them, you will notice the difference immediately. This launch builds on lessons learned from years of your feedback, and the improvements target the frustrations you have told us about most:
Stop and come back anytime. The most requested improvement for years is finally here. No need to finish in one sitting. Save your progress, gather the answers you are missing, and pick up right where you left off. Works on any device: computer, tablet, or phone. The forms adjust to your screen. Incorrect or missing responses are flagged before you submit, so forms arrive complete and correct the first time. Calculations are built in. Pastor compensation and benefits calculations update automatically as data is entered. No need to complete and attach Excel files. When you hit submit, you are done. A clean, print-friendly PDF is provided immediately to both you and the conference staff for your records.
These changes pay off on both ends. Complete and correct submissions mean less back-and-forth chasing corrections, and forms flow straight into conference systems, freeing staff in the weeks before church conference to help churches instead of processing paperwork.
The forms go live on the week of August 17, with a live Baltimore-Washington training seminar on August 19, at 7 p.m. (recorded and posted in short segments for later viewing). Forms are due October 1, and help is close by the whole way; including a dedicated telephone tech support line for each district, a tech support email and website resources. For non-technical issues, your district staff are ready to assist.
| | |
A Tax Message from GCFA
The IRS recently issued new rules for group tax exemption rulings. These changes don’t affect day-to-day operations or tax-exempt status for United Methodist churches, but they do require GCFA to send an annual notice to all UMC churches about tax-exempt status. Read the full notice.
| | |
Global Ministries has relaunched its Feeding Our Neighbors grant program to support established United Methodist church food pantries and feeding ministries. Our Annual Conference will apply for these funds on behalf of local congregations. Churches interested in being considered should contact Annemarie Schaefer, Area Wellness & Missions Coordinator, by July 31. Learn more about the program.
| | |
Registration is open for the Certified Advocate Development Program. The General Board of Church and Society is launching a new cohort-based training to equip United Methodists for faith-based legislative and policy advocacy. This inaugural U.S. cohort runs September 3–December 3 (online), combining self-paced coursework with monthly live sessions. Graduates join a network of Certified Advocates working directly with GBCS on policy engagement. Register by August 21.
| | The ministry of United Methodist Deaconesses and Home Missioners continues to grow, with increasing interest across the denomination following the United Women in Faith Assembly in May. If you are discerning God's call to this unique lay vocation, join a virtual informational session on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. to learn more. Register or email deaconess@uwfaith.org for additional information. | | |
Become a Certified Health Minister. As part of the Baltimore-Washington Conference's Abundant Health Ministry, individuals are encouraged to deepen their understanding of the connection between faith and health through Wesley Theological Seminary's online Fall 2026 Health Minister Certificate. Registration is open through Aug. 28, and partial and full scholarships are available for conference members. If you are interested in partnering with Wesley for a Health Minister Certificate scholarship, email Tom Pruski for more information. Learn more and apply.
| | In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) | | |
The UWFaith group of Severna Park UMC will be hosting a gathering of women to explore together a timely but sensitive subject - intimate partner violence and domestic abuse. “HELP IS AVAILABLE” is the topic of the Summer Women’s Gathering on Wednesday, July 29, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Rd., Severna Park, MD. All adult women are warmly invited to join in for free dinner followed by a panel discussion with lively Q&A. Experienced voices will share practical insights on recognizing the signs of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse (both physical and emotional) – and discuss ways to support, protect, and connect survivors who may need help with available resources. Child care will be available (please register). Register online or call the church office (410) 987-4700. Questions for the panel may be submitted anonymously or in person at the gathering.
| | If you're attending college anywhere within the Baltimore-Washington or Peninsula-Delaware Area, we invite you to connect with one of our campus ministries. Find a community where you can grow in faith, build lasting friendships, and discover where God is calling you next by completing our Campus Ministry Interest Form. | | |
United Women in Faith invites you to Mission u 2026: Experiencing Emmanuel, a time of learning and spiritual growth centered on how we encounter “God with us” in both joyful and challenging moments, and how that shapes our call to live out faith, hope, and love in action. Mission u will take place at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel, 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD, from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2, 2026. This gathering offers an inspiring opportunity to deepen your faith, connect with others, and be renewed for meaningful service. Learn more and register.
| | |
The Fall 2026 In-Person EarthKeepers Training Applications are now open. The deadline to apply is August 1. Commissioned EarthKeepers are welcome to apply again for the 2026 In-Person Fall training taking place in Atlanta, GA, from October 1-4. The program will include a field trip on Saturday, October 3, to the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design. Learn more and apply.
| | Join the Baltimore-Washington Conference United Women in Faith Charter for Racial Justice Committee this August for a four-week virtual discussion of I Love to Tell the Story: A Pilgrimage Towards Racial Justice in The United Methodist Church by Rev. Bonnie McCubbin. Through historical archives and firsthand accounts, the book explores the United Methodist Church's journey toward racial justice. Sessions begin Aug. 9 and continue on Sundays throughout the month at 7 p.m. Register. | | |
Strengthen the part of your mind that serves you and quiet the part that sabotages you.
Positive Intelligence® mental fitness training gives you the breakthrough, research‑based tools to handle life’s challenges with a calmer, more grounded presence. Over seven weeks, you’ll learn what drives your automatic, unhelpful reactions, build the capacity to neutralize them, and grow your ability to lead as a non‑anxious presence. Participants consistently report dramatic improvements in performance, wellbeing, teamwork, empathy, and stress management. Join our fall cohort, which meets every Tuesday from September 8 through October 20 at 5 p.m. The full program cost is $495, with an early‑bird discount of $100 when you register by August 7. Scholarships are available to ensure access for anyone who wants to participate. Learn more and register. Questions? Email Jack Shitama.
| | |
The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) will host a Form I-9 Training Webinar on Aug. 12 for supervisors, managers, and administrative staff responsible for completing employment eligibility verification. Participants will receive step-by-step guidance on the I-9 process, learn how to avoid common mistakes, and gain practical tools to help ensure compliance. Learn more and register.
| | |
Celebrate 50 years of Stephen Ministries at a special one-day Celebration and Learning Event on Saturday, Aug. 15, in the Washington, D.C., area. Whether you're involved in Stephen Ministry or simply have a heart for caring for others, you'll be inspired by presentations on empathy, grief, mental health, and Christ-centered caregiving. Learn more and register.
| | |
Living Well is a clergy renewal program designed for clergy by clergy to empower them to reflect on and assess their life and ministry through the lens of health and wellness. The program intends to guide clergy on a journey of self-reflection and exploration, individually and with colleagues, as they consider what it means in their life and ministry to love God with all their heart, all their mind, all their strength, and all their soul. Join us in engaging in a seven-month process of in-depth review and spiritual renewal through weekly journal reflections, monthly group gatherings, and two retreats. The Living Well Program is open to all clergy, licensed, commissioned, or ordained. Participants earn 3.3 CEUs for completing the entire program. Scholarships are available. Contact bomstaff@pdcbwc.org with questions. Learn more and register.
| | The Board of Ordained Ministry is introducing a new online workshop, Clergy Ethics 2.0, to provide an easier way to fulfill the annual clergy ethics requirement. This Zoom training will explore topics including wellbeing, vicarious trauma, burnout, resilience, AI as an ethical stressor, and mandated reporting, and will be held on Thursday, September 10, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $25 and participants will receive 0.4 CEUs; register by September 4, and contact Hilary Ann Golden at bomstaff@pdcbwc.org with questions. Register. | | The Board of Ordained Ministry is hosting a Candidacy Process Webinar on Thursday, September 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This webinar is designed for anyone interested in learning more about the candidacy process or serving as a candidacy mentor. Inquiring candidates, certified candidates, provisional members, current and prospective mentors, pastors, SPRC members, District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) members, Board of Ordained Ministry members, and others exploring a call to ordained ministry are encouraged to register and participate. Whether you are beginning your journey toward ordained ministry or seeking to support others through the process, this webinar will provide valuable information and training. Register. | | |
Are you interested in discovering new ways to connect with your community? Do you want to learn about launching new forms of church? Do you want to know how Fresh Expressions ministries can help your church reach people you may never see in the pews on Sunday morning? Learn how God is moving beyond the church walls, and join us Saturday, September 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Whatcoat UMC in Dover, DE (341 Saulsbury Rd, Dover, DE, 19904) for a Fresh Expressions “Garden Day” led by our Congregational Vitality Team. Discover ways you can reach people where they are through Fresh Expressions ministries. The registration fee is $20. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Space is limited. Register today. Click the image above to download a save-the-date.
| | |
Get ready to experience a new season of worship across our Episcopal Area. Rooted in Christ: Love Boldly is a brand-new five-week worship series, launching for the first time following the 2026 Annual Conferences. Grounded in our baptismal vows, this series invites congregations to rediscover what it means to love boldly. Designed with flexibility in mind, this series can begin whenever it best fits your summer calendar, offering a meaningful and unified worship experience during a season that often calls for simpler planning. Each week provides everything you need to lead vibrant, intentional worship:
- Scripture and brief commentary
- Hymn and music suggestions
- Call to worship, opening prayer, confession, and benediction
Plus, you’ll have access to overarching resources, including ready-to-use graphics and a meaningful remembrance of baptism. This summer, join congregations across the Baltimore-Washington & Peninsula-Delaware Area as we root ourselves in Christ.
Learn more. Download PDF overview.
| | |
Bishop Easterling invites clergy and laity of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Area to join in a sacred pilgrimage, Journeys of Paul, in Greece. This is more than travel; it is an invitation to encounter the living story of our faith in the very places where it unfolded. Together, we will stand in the landscapes that shaped the early church, listen for God's voice amid ancient streets, and rediscover the courage, conviction, and calling that carried the gospel into the world. Download brochure. Learn more and register.
| | The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women has opened registration for the Do No Harm virtual conference on Nov. 12-14. The conference is designed to equip individuals and churches for the urgent work of preventing sexual harm and fostering trauma-informed care. Ashley Judd and Rachael Denhollander will headline the event, alongside several United Methodist bishops, an experienced slate of advocates, mental health practitioners, scholars, and church leaders. Learn more and register. | | |
The Baltimore-Washington Conference continues to develop student-led United Methodist campus ministry through planting HUBs on campuses. HUB stands for Here You Belong. It is a faith community where people find their place of belonging so that they might journey toward becoming all that God has created them to be. Two campuses in need of Campus Ministry HUB Coordinators: Morgan State and Towson University. This is a great opportunity for someone who loves college students and enjoys building collaborative, impactful ministry from the ground up. Learn more.
There are also opportunities for Campus Ministry HUB Internships at these campuses. Learn more and apply.
See church classified ads
| | |
Submissions?
Alison Burdett, Director of Communications
11711 East Market Place, Fulton, MD 20759
410.309.3428 | aburdett@bwcumc.org
| |
| | | |
