Welcome to the new BWC Mission Center
BY CHRISTIE ZIMMERMAN
UMCONNECTION STAFF
After nine months of construction, which included a month of record-breaking snow storms, the new Mission Center of the Baltimore-Washington Conference opened, on-time and under-budget, Aug. 24.
Bishop John Schol and several conference leaders and dignitaries cut the ribbon to open the new center in the Maple Lawn community in Fulton, along Route 216 and Route 29.
“It was only nine months ago that we stood on this ground to begin building a new United Methodist Mission Center,” the bishop said. “Today, we assemble to officially open the building and declare: God is in the house! God is in the house because workers labored and used their gifts to create a Mission Center that will equip spiritual leaders for the transformation of the world,” said Bishop John Schol at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Schol reflected on the creation and purpose of the new space as he thanked the many leaders, laity, staff members, visionaries, craftsmen and craftswomen who helped the project come to fruition: “Our building honors God as it honors our tradition and seeks to transform our future. It captures transcendence, preserves creation and opens us to the light of God, demonstrates that quality and faithful stewardship can go hand in hand, pulls the outside in and the inside out and creates grace space.”
Conference Lay Leader Delores Oden spoke on behalf of the laity to declare how humbled she is that the new space will be one that allows all who enter it to glorify God. Council on Finance and Administration President Charlie Moore was pleased to announce that the $8.1 million project was completed as an act of exceptional stewardship.
The new 35,000 square-foot, three-story building, was designed by the firm Design Collective and built by Turner Construction.
It was created to be an efficient and attractive office space, but incorporated several theological elements into the design, including several spaces for people to gather in community, an extraordinary amount of sunlight, and five substantial water features as symbols of baptism and renewal.
“God is in the house because so many gave so much to make this project a gift to the ministry of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. But if God stays in the house, then we have labored in vain. Today we cut this ribbon so that the outside comes in and we turn the inside out. We invite spiritual leaders to come in and we send them forth in the name of God—Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer—to make disciples and grow Acts 2 congregations to transform the world,” said Schol.
On Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and also from 4 to 7 p.m., a celebration ceremony and book signing will take place and United Methodists throughout the region are invited to explore the new Mission Center. Visitors will also be able to visit Cokesbury, who will be opening a new store on the ground floor of the Center.
For conference members looking to reserve space in the new Fiesta Center for learning and fellowship events, space reservations can be made by contacting Sandy Cockrell via e-mail at scockrell@bwcumc.org until the new conference hospitality coordinator has been hired.
“We encourage you to stop by and tour your new mission center. I think you’ll find it to be a space to be worshipful, playful and hopeful as we move into the future of our ministry together. October 19th will be a special day of fun and fellowship and I look forward to seeing everyone there. I thank God for this project,” the bishop said. “God has led us on this journey and is the one who has brought it to completion aided through the powerful collaboration of so many special people.”
