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This task force will report back to the 2015 annual conference session with its findings and recommendations. Members also postponed indefinitely a resolutions on divesting from Motorola, Caterpillar and Hewlett Packard – three corporations making money from the Israel-Palestine conflict.

With little debate, the members also reduced and more clearly defined the membership of the Connectional Table, which reviews and discusses Conference ministry objectives, strategies and practices. As part of perfecting the resolution, eight non-leaders, who are not involved in church leadership, were added to the Table to serve as “13th disciples” and provide fresh perspectives.

Jen Ihlo, chair of the conference Rules Committee, walked members through changes to the Rules of the Session and the policies that guide the election of 2016 General Conference delegates and episcopal nominees. These resolutions on rules passed with only slight changes.

Conference members also adoptetd resolutions that: outline how an outside group can partner with the Baltimore-Washington Conference; allow for the payment of moving expenses to local pastors; and renewed the BWC’s covenant with the Board of Child Care.

The conference Committee on DisAbility Concerns, under the leadership of the Rev. Nancy Webb, brought forth two resolutions that ask the BWC to study how the church might be stigmatizing people with mental illness. It calls for the creation of General Conference resolutions or other ways to address any conflicts with the United Methodist Social Principles that might be sent to General Conference in 2016. Both passed.

Conference members also affirmed the passage of the $10.10 minimum wage that will go into effect incrementally in Maryland by 2018 and renewed their commitment to push for a living wage for all people.

According to Board of Church and Society Chairperson Sherie Koob, for a family of one adult and two children, an hourly living wage is reported to be $32.95 in D.C.; $28.23 in Maryland and $20.89 in West Virginia.

For those interested in learning more, Koob recommended viewing the Living Wage Calculator at http://livingwage.mit.edu.