District News

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling is calling the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference to a time of study, prayer and fasting. Her call coincides with a new proposed Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation, a proposed structuring of The United Methodist Church by separation to resolve what have become irreconcilable differences over the denomination's stance on homosexuality. Bishop Easterling was a member of the mediation team that created the protocol as a means to resolve our differences, while allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding. Read more about this proposed future.

The bishop's call, grounded in Isaiah 58:6-7, invites United Methodists, in each region of the Conference, to pray, opening their hearts and minds to the guidance of the Holy Spirit; to fast on Wednesdays and Sundays; and to participate in the study "Who Are We: A Journey from Head to Heart." The Western Region will officially begin the initiative for the BWC, Jan. 15 - Feb. 15. Learn more at www.bwcumc.org/fast .

 

2019 Stats are due Tuesday, January 28, 2020 – 12 noon

IMPORTANT!! Logging into EZRA (GCFA’s Stats Reporting Site)

Download EZRA Account Setup Guide BEFORE attempting to log on and create your user account. Account credentials from last year have been reset and will not work for 2019 Stats reporting. Please refer to the EZRA Account Setup Guide for 2019 credentials.

Statistical Reports 2019 (Step-by-Step):

• Prepare

• Gather your records & data
• Download & Review:

• Calculate utility expenses associated with Mission and/or Outreach Activities as well as the use of the church building by community groups (Boy Scouts, etc…)
• IMPORTANT: Churches who wish to claim a portion of their utility expenses as Mission/Outreach expenses MUST use the BWC Utility Expense Calculator (BWC-UEC") to make these calculations.
• The line 48b worksheet in EZRA and the BWC-UEC have been updated for clarity and ease of use.
• EZRA account setup guide
• Sample 2019 tables & Instructions
• Compensation Worksheet(GCFA Resource)
• Notes on Church People/Membership(GCFA Resource)
• Stats Training Workshop Presentation.
  
  
  
  • There are several statistical training workshops being offered in December.
  • The link above is the presentation being used during those training sessions.
• Utility Expense Calculator 
• Sample Verification Notice

• Create EZRA user account

• This can be done on/after December 16

• Report

• Enter your data in GCFA’s system

• Resolve errors
• Enter explanations as required
• Submit data before January 28, 2020 (12 Noon)

• Review and Approve

• On/about February 4, 2020, all churches will receive a verification notice via email asking for review/approval of key statistics along with an estimate of their 2021 apportionment.
• Please review and approve your stats data (or request corrections – if needed) before the deadline communicated at that time.

BISHOP'S LENTEN DAY APART

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Theme: Where Has All of the Prophets Gone

Presenter/Preacher:  Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown, Bandy Professor of Preaching, Emory Candler School of Theology

Location: Glen Mar UMC, Ellicott City.

Cost: $45 (includes lunch) - Retired Clergy: $30

Register Now!

 

Southern Region Connect Leadership Summit

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

LOCATION: BROOKS UMC, 5550 MACKALL RD, SAINT LEONARD, MD US 20685 and Waters Memorial UMC, 5400 MACKALL RD, Saint Leonard, MD us 20685

COST: $40.00

WEBSITE: HTTPS://WWW.BWCUMC.ORG/EVENTS/CONNECT-LEADERSHIP-SUMMIT/

Inspiring & Equipping Churches to Connect More People to Jesus

At this one-day training opportunity, you’ll hear from Daniel Im, author of “No Silver Bullets,” who will help you lead, thrive, and create a culture of discipleship in your church. You can also immerse yourself in one of six learning tracks.

Registration Now Open!

If you would like to volunteer to help with the event, please email .  

 

BWC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION OPENS JANUARY 3, 2020!

Once again, the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be awarding scholarships for qualified students currently attending college, as well as high school seniors who plan to attend college in the fall of 2020. The application process opens on Jan. 3 and closes March 5, 2020. 

A variety of scholarships are offered to fit the diverse needs of our students. To be considered for a scholarship, students must complete the full online application which includes uploading their current transcripts. In addition, the student must provide contact information for their pastor and one additional church reference. The pastor and reference will be contacted and asked to submit information on the student’s participation in the local church. The entire process will be done online for ease of the student, pastor, and reference.         

For details about the individual scholarships or to apply for a scholarship, please visit http://www.bwcumc.org/administration/local-church-resources/scholarships/. 

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO START PART 2 OF BWC STUDY, EXPLORING 'WHO WE ARE AS UNITED METHODISTS'

 Churches throughout the conference are responding to Bishop LaTrelle Easterling's invitation to begin Part 2 of the study "Who Are We: A Journey from Head to Heart," which explores our identity as United Methodists. These six, small-group sessions explore our Wesleyan heritage and the theology and passion of this movement of faith called Methodism.

Explore the curriculum as we continue the journey at

bwcumc.org/resources/who-are-we/

 

OTHER CONFERENCE-RELATED NEWS

 This year, the Pre-Conference Briefing, along with the Clergy Session and Laity Session traditionally held at Annual Conference, will be April 18 at the Ranson Civic Center in Ranson, W.Va., and Asbury UMC in Charles Town, W.Va.

The 236th Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be Wednesday through Friday, May 27 to 29, at the Waterfront Marriott Hotel in Baltimore. Resolutions to be considered by the session, must be submitted by Feb. 1. Learn more about submitting a resolution.

The denomination-wide 2020 General Conference will be held May 5-15 in Minneapolis, Minn.

 

SAVE THE DATE!

Maryland Legislative Advocacy Day 2020

Annapolis, Maryland

 Baltimore-Washington Conference  

Advocacy & Action Network and United Methodist Women

Thursday, March 5, 2020

8:30 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

  Issues Discussions, Office Visits with Legislators,

General Assembly Hearings

More Information to Follow

Asbury United Methodist Church

87 West Street

Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Rev. Dr. Carletta Allen, Pastor

 

Regional breakouts at ROCK - register today: This year at ROCK, there are new, exciting breakout sessions on Saturday evening. Join with churches from your region for a time of connecting with one another and with the District Superintendents and District Youth Leaders. Youth will have the opportunity to have their voices heard on the issues that affect and matter most to them. Youth leaders will be able to network and connect with other leaders and pick up resources to take back to their local church. To register your group to attend a Regional Breakout, email Darlene at or Becki at .