Annual Conference
Wednesday through Friday, May 30-June 1, 2012
Marriott Baltimore Waterfront
700 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Conference Highlights
Hotel | Transportation
Special Needs | Credential Cards
Pre-conference Information | Volunteer Opportunities
Important Dates for Annual Conference 2012
- May 29, 2012 - Preconference workshops
- May 30, 2012 - General registration
Please note that all registration options are now closed until general registration opens on-site. For more information see the on-site schedule.
Materials and Resources
- 2012 Annual conference FAQs
- Annual conference agenda (subject to change)
- 2012 nominations report (posted May 1, 2012)
- Pre-conference booklet (Copies for both clergy and lay members were mailed to churches the first week of April.)
- Pre-conference supplement: 2013 budget (posted April 10, 2012)
Resolutions to Come Before the 2012 Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference
- Resolution on Evolutionary Scientific Thinking
- Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure of the Baltimore-Washington Conference (BWC)
- Resolution on Disability Awareness Sunday
- Resolution to Create a Rules Committee for the Baltimore-Washington Conference
- Resolution to Stop Bullying in the Baltimore-Washington Conference
- In Support of Maryland Immigrant Youth
- Resolution to Change the Rules of the Session
- Resolution on Governmental Landmarking of Church-Owned Property
- Draft Vision for 2020
- Resolutions Relating to Rental/Housing Allowances for Retired or Disabled Clergypersons of the Baltimore-Washington Conference
- Commission on Equitable Compensation
Special Conference Speakers
Bishop Gregory Palmer - Resident Bishop of the Illinois Episcopal Area (Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference), North Central Jurisdictional Conference. Read his bio here.
J. Clif Christopher, CFRE - President of Horizons Stewardship Company and author of "Not Your Parents' Offering Plate: A New Vision for Financial Stewardship" (see Special Limited Offer below). Read his bio here.
Rev. Kenda Creasy Dean - Pastor in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, and author of "Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church" (see Special Limited Offer below). Click here for a BWC podcast with Rev. Dean about her book. Read her bio here.
Rev. Zan W. Holmes, Jr. - Pastor Emeritus of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church, Dallas, and retired adjunct professor of preaching at Perkins School of Theology, Dallas. Read his bio here.
Free Book Offer Has Expired. All available “free” books have been assigned. You may still purchase books by the guest speakers at the conference site Cokesbury bookstore.
Special Worship Service Musical Guests
Salvador - Christian band that blends their Latin heritage and contemporary pop songwriting. Thursday, May 31.
Bridges - the CCYM Alumni Praise Team. Wednesday, May 30.
Jimmy Sherrod with the Crossroads Band. Performing throughout Conference.
Online registration is now closed. On-site registration will open:
- Tuesday, May 29: noon-1:30 p.m - Pre-Conference Workshop Registration ONLY in Dover A (Level 3)
- Tuesday, May 29: 3-6 p.m. - Laity Registration (Level 4); Clergy and On-Site Registration (Level 3)
- Wednesday, May 30: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. - Laity Registration (Level 4); Clergy and On-Site Registration Dover A (Level 3)
- Thursday, May 31: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. - Laity Registration (Level 4); Clergy and On-Site Registration Dover A (Level 3)
- Friday, June 1: 7:45 a.m.-1 p.m. - All registration in Dover A (Level 3)
You can view your registration information online anytime. Simply log into Gateway, then click on the "My Account" menu and select "My Event Registrations".
Questions about your online registration? Call 410-309-3498; calls will be returned within two business days. You can also email AC2012@bwcumc.org.
Registration Costs
| On-site Registration | $149 |
Meal Option Costs - available for purchase with on-site registration (there are six meals at Annual Conference)
Conference registration includes a meal ticket for lunch on Wednesday. Standard (non-guest) registrants should choose either the “Best Buy Meal Plan” or individual meals.
| Best Buy Meal Plan (5 meals) | $129 |
| Breakfast | $19 |
| Lunch (note: no lunch on Friday) | $27 |
| Dinner | $42 |
Guest Meal Costs
Guest registration does NOT include meals. Guest registrants should choose either the “Guest Meal Plan” or individual meals.
| Guest Meal Plan (6 meals) | $176 |
| Breakfast | $19 |
| Lunch (note: no lunch on Friday) | $27 |
| Dinner | $42 |
Special Meal Options Closed
Note: Special meal purchases are not available with on-site registrations.
Additional Costs
| Child Care - Wednesday and Thursday (prior reservation recommended - call AC Registration office at 410-309-3498) | $30/day |
| Child Care - Friday (pickup at 1:30) (prior reservation recommended - call AC Registration office at 410-309-3498) | $15 |
| Journal - Print | $22 |
| Journal - CD | $10 |
| Adventure Devotional: 25 or less | $6.50 |
| Adventure Devotional: 26 or more | $6 |
Hotel reservations have closed for this event.
Important Note: Standard hotel check-in time is 3 p.m. on the day of your arrival. If your room is available earlier, you may be permitted early check-in based on hotel occupancy the previous evening – early check-in is not guaranteed.
Bus transportation reservations from western Maryland and southern Maryland are closed.
Special needs transportation resources
Pickton Wheelchair Transportation Service (for local travel; 443-677-5387 for rates and reservations)
Eastern Royal Medical Transport (long-distance transport specialists for special needs; 800-696-1495 for rates and reservations)
Special needs accommodations will be available as follows:
Provided upon request with registration
- Special seating accommodations for wheelchairs
-
Listening devices
- The Conference provides an Assistive Listening System for use in the main ballroom. The system consists of a small radio receiver and your choice of either standard headphones or neck loop. The neck loop provides superior audio quality and convenience for those with telecoil compatible hearing aids. For more information on this system, please click here.
- Reservations for use of devices made with online registrations are guaranteed. Additional devices will be available in the Arrangements Office as long as supplies last.
Provided on-site
- Special ballots for visually impaired
- Single screen embedded real-time captioning displaying texts of all program speakers and videos during Sessions and Ordination Service (see on-site ushers and marshals to assure seating for visibility)
- Sign language interpreters are present during all Conference Sessions (see on-site ushers and marshals to assure seating for visibility)
- Parking assistance (for persons using wheelchairs or with severe mobility challenges; prior arrangements required through online reservation)
Please download and print the appropriate Credential Card and bring it with you to the Registration Desk at Annual Conference. You will need to turn in the Credential Card to receive your registration packet. There will be forms available at the Registration Desk, but please fill it out before getting in line to eliminate any additional delays. Please do NOT mail the card to the BWC.
Lay Members representing the local church MUST have the pastor sign the Credential Card BEFORE coming to the Registration Desk. No Registration Packet will be distributed unless a Credential Card is turned in for those who are required to do so. Only the Lay Member who is the ‘voting’ member from their church needs to have the pastor sign the credential card.
Download Clergy Credential Card (PDF)
Download Lay Member Credential Card (PDF)
Pre-conference Briefings
Pre-conference briefings were held April 14. Download the FAQs here.
Materials
- The pre-conference booklet can be downloaded here.
- The pre-conference supplement: 2013 budget is available here.
- Download the revised BWC staff chart.
2012 Pre-Conference Workshops
Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Registration for these workshops has closed.
Wills, Trusts, and Planned Giving - By Jack Brooks, Executive Director, and Frank Robert, Associate Director, Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation, Inc.
The Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation is thrilled to sponsor Clif Christopher at this year’s Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. A major component of proper Financial Stewardship is a better understanding of Planned Giving. Therefore this Workshop will help present information on transformational giving. The “ins and outs” of Planned Giving will be followed by a deeper discussion on Wills and Trusts. This will include how to approach these sensitive subjects with our members and ways to help those in our congregations to leave part of their earthly treasure to transform their church and community.
Finance Workshop: Oversight of Local Church Finances - By Paul Eichelberger, CFO/Treasurer, Baltimore-Washington Conference
The workshop is designed for the needs of Finance Committee members, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and counters. It will review the guidelines in the Book of Discipline that govern the oversight of local church finances. In addition, 11 considerations for how to improve church financial health will be the focus for group discussion and sharing of best practices between congregations. The workshop will conclude with an overview of online resources that can be used by the Finance team to support their ministry in the church.
How to Create Life-changing Small Groups - By Rev. Dr. Mary Dennis, Director for Discipleship, Baltimore-Washington Conference
How to Create Life-changing Small Groups is for clergy and laity who want to know more about the benefits of developing or growing small group ministry and practical ways to convert small gatherings of parishioners into life-changing small groups. Topics covered will include essential habits of life-changing small groups, strategies, roadblocks and life-cycles of small group ministry.
Leading Change: The Practice of Adaptive Leadership - By Rev. David Argo, Director of Connectional Ministries, Baltimore-Washington Conference
Adaptive Leadership is a leadership framework that helps congregations and individuals adapt and thrive in uncertain times. The practice of adaptive leadership involves helping congregations and people navigate through a period of disturbance as they sift through what is essential and what is expendable as they experiment with solutions to the challenges before them. This workshop will provide insights for identifying techniques and tools for leading change.
How to Maximize the Call to Action for Your Congregation - By Rev. Dr. Ianther Mills, Washington-East District Superintendent
Help your congregation become more vital and fruitful. This workshop will: (1) provide an overview of Call to Action; and (2) introduce resources and tools to assist your congregation in developing a ministry plan and implementing key strategies associated with congregational vitality.
Dealing with Conflict Effectively - By Rev. Dr. Karin Walker, Baltimore Suburban District Superintendent
Participants will discover their own conflict management style and recognize styles of others, learn how to identify the kinds of conflicts that impact congregations, assess levels of conflict, and learn how to be a meditative presence in the midst of conflict. The skills learned can be applied to family life, the work place, and congregational life.
If you are interested in serving as an usher or a marshal at the 2012 annual conference session, call the Rev. Yvonne Mercer-Staten at 202-882-2122. If you are interested in serving as a page or teller, contact the Rev. Pauline Wilkens at 410-362-8547.
