2024 Annual Conference

Clergy and lay members will gather in holy conferencing at the 240th session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference on Wednesday, May 29, through Friday, May 31, at the Hilton Hotel, 401 West Pratt St. in Baltimore.

The registration fees vary.

Early bird registration, which closes April 23 at midnight, is $149.
Standard registration, from April 24 to April 30 at midnight, is $159.
Late Registration, from May 1 through May 8 at midnight, is $199.

There will be no on-site registration.

The meal prices, which can be ordered during registration, are $30 for breakfast, $40 for lunch, and $50 for dinner.

Those who wish to stay at the Hilton should book their own hotel rooms through the Hilton. The cutoff date to make reservations for the Annual Conference session is May 5. The Passkey Link is: https://book.passkey.com/gt/219576866?gtid=b6c30463a95b24fcf9a2e82316d4b109

Those attending should register for parking, which is $15 a day. Visit Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor - Self Parking (lazparking.com) Please note, while completing the steps, there is a clickable section called “Have a discount code?” Guests will need to enter the word United to have the Annual Conference discount applied.

This year, as part of our fellowship time together, members can attend a baseball game on Wednesday, May 29, when the Baltimore Orioles play the. Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards, which is next door to the hotel. Game time is 6:35 p.m. Tickets can be ordered during registration and will include funds towards concession items.

Dr. Carla Works, Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. will be the preacher at the service of ordination, which will be held on Friday afternoon, May 31; she will also lead this year's Bible study sessions. A Memorial Service, to honor the saints of the church who have died this year, will be held on May 30. The Rev. C. Anthony Hunt of Epworth Chapel UMC in Baltimore will preach.

Workshops on a variety of topics will be held on Wednesday morning. Learn more. The wide variety of workshops, which focus on deepening discipleship and vitality, will explore such topics as:

Gardens in the Desert: How the Adaptive Church (and Fresh Expressions) Can Lead to a Whole New Life
The Art of Neighboring: Reimagining Church in our Literal Neighborhoods
Becoming Yourself: An Introduction to Positive Intelligence
BLESS: 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World
Connecting for Change: Introduction to Missional Action Planning (MAP)
How ‘Truth or Dare’ Can Lead to Birthing a Fresh Expression
Leaders Aren't Born, They're Grown
Living Well: A Holistic Approach to a Balanced Life
The Power of Prayer in Congregational Transformation and Outreach
The State of Humanitarian Immigration
Funding Ministry through Planned Giving, Endowments, and Major Gifts

Or, take a small excursion into history and discipleship with “Rooted in Faith: A Mini-Pilgrimage Experience,” a walking excursion to Old Otterbein UMC, the Mother Church of the United Brethren in Christ.

Bus transportation to and from the Conference will be provided from various locations around the conference. Sign up for the buses during registration. See the bus schedule.

Several groups will host special meals. They include:

Wednesday, May 29, Retirement Lunch (by invitation only)
Thursday, May 30, Wesley/Nexus Buffet Breakfast
Thursday, May 30, Hispanic-Latino Ministry Breakfast
Thursday, May 30, BWARM/MFSA Lunch
Thursday, May 30, Memorial Lunch (by invitation only)
Thursday, May 30, Local Pastors & Associates Lunch
Thursday, May 30, Order of Deacons lunch
Thursday, May 30, Duke Divinity Alumni lunch
Thursday, May 30, BMCR Dinner
Thursday, May 30,Appointments Beyond the Local Church Dinner
Friday, May 30, CRC Breakfast with Retiring Clergy
Friday, May 31, Wesley Seminary Alumni lunch
Friday, May 31, UMM/UWF Lunch
Friday, May 31, Living Well Alumni Lunch

An online Pre-Conference Briefing will be held Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon. See the link for the Zoom session.

The theme of the conference, presided over by Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, is “Like Fire Shut Up in Our Bones,” inspired by Jeremiah 20:9. The guiding Scripture passage for the Annual Conference session is Romans 12:1, 9-12: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. … Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.”