AN District News.......UMC Buzz.......June 24, 2021
We pray for all pastors, spouses, families, and congregations preparing for a new status or appointment effective July 1. Bishop LaTrelle Easterling offers this special video message. Also, see the many prayers of blessing and a sermon by Rev. Jenny Smith delivered at the BWC's Service of Blessing for the more than 100 clergy people making transitions in the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
Churches throughout the BWC are celebrating the establishment of Juneteenth as a national holiday. Read a story about yesterday's Emancipation Sunday.
Mark Your Calendars: Annual Conference is Oct. 25-27
Mark your calendars for this fall's 237th Session of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, which will be held Monday, Oct. 25 through Wednesday, Oct. 27 at the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore. The theme of this year’s session is “Still One: Standing, Transforming, Rising.” The Session will also be broadcast online.
Social distancing and other COVID-19 safety protocols will be observed. This year's Session will be a hybrid one. All clergy and lay members will have the option of attending in-person or virtually. Arrangements will be made to allow those attending online to participate in the voting.
Registration opens after Independence Day. During registration, members will be asked whether they wish to attend in person or online. Early bird registration is $139.
There will not be any registration for guests. The Session will be live-streamed on the BWC website.
A virtual Pre-Conference Session will be held Saturday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. The Connectional Table will meet Saturday, Aug. 28, to discuss resolutions coming before Annual Conference.
The deadline for submitting resolutions is Monday, Aug. 2. Resolutions should be sent to BWC Secretary Kevin Silberzahn See the guidelines and format for submitting a resolution. Committee chairs should submit their annual reports for the Conference Journal to Silberzahn by Aug. 13.
July 1 is grant application deadline for churches
The BWC is offering Mission Innovation grants to congregations and ministries in the areas of Advocacy and Action, Wellness and Missions, and Young People's Ministry.
Grants will be awarded to projects that connect and advance two focus areas: creating a more just and equitable (anti-racist) community or community recovery from the impact of the COVID pandemic.
Learn more and apply by July 1.
New This Week
ROCK survey for youth and leaders: With the affiliation of the BWC with the Peninsula-Delaware (Pen-Del) conference beginning Sept. 1, the youth who attend ROCK will now join in the Pen-Del youth rally on Jan. 7-9, 2022 in Ocean City. Planners are asking everyone involved in youth ministry to complete this survey. Your input will help tremendously as plans are made.
Navigating Church Change: Wespath Benefits and Investments will host a webinar on Navigating Church Disruption and Change on June 23 at 2 p.m. The interactive session presented by Andy Hendren, Chief Legal and Governance Officer at Wespath, will focus on the upcoming UMC General Conference, proposals to divide the Church, developments and consequences of the General Conference delays, and important missional and financial considerations for tax-exempt organizations affiliated with the Church. Register for the Zoom webinar.
Upcoming Events
Opportunities for Discipleship and Transformation
Annual conference resolutions due
Aug. 2
Send resolutions to be considered at the Oct. 25-27 Annual Conference Session to BWC Secretary Kevin Silberzahn See the guidelines and format for submitting a resolution.
ROCK 2022 has been rescheduled.
This year, youth from the BWC will be joining young people from the Peninsula-Delaware Conference at their youth assembly
Jan. 7-9 in Ocean City. The next planning meeting will be on Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. at the BWC Mission Center.
Church Sign Language Interpreting Academy
July 10, 10 a.m. to noon
The Zoom session will have three tracks: introduction to church interpreting; interpreting Scripture; and introduction to sign language. Register.
Mission u
Online July 23, 24
Hosted by the BWC's United Methodist Women, and Wellness and Missions, the theme is "Do Not Lose Heart." Event open to youth and adults. Learn more and register.
Manidokan and West River camps are looking for program staff, day camp staff, cabin counselors, nurses, lifeguards, drivers, maintenance workers, cooks, and kitchen aides to staff their summer camp programs in 2021. Apply at https://www.bwccampsandretreats.com/get-involved/summer-jobs/ .
"It's a camp season unlike any we've known before! At West River, we're excited that we have many young people who have stepped up to the challenge to show the love of Christ and the excitement of creation to campers. We'd love for your church to help support our staff by your prayers, connection, care packages, or baked goods! It would be great for the staff if every week they knew a specific church was praying for them and supporting them. If you'd like to sign up to deliver (in person or by mail) letters, care packages, or baked goods to the staff, email Jenna Johnson at " .
FUND BALANCE REPORT
Local Church Fund Balance Report (Audit): Word | PDF | Excel
We did not include this report with Charge Conference material so that it could cover the fiscal year of January 1 – December 31. This audit needs to be in your District Superintendent’s office by June 30.
Classifieds
Cecil Memorial UMC in Annapolis is seeking a sexton to help keep the church clean. Contact Pastor Patricia Turnage at 410-292-1823.