District News

News & Events  

Summer Schedule
The Mission Center’s Summer schedule begins on July 5. The Mission Center will be closed every Friday in July and August; regular business hours Monday-Thursday during these months.

2019 Church Conference Schedule
Download the schedule and agenda to learn when your Church Conference will be held and where.  Please keep these points in mind as you prepare for Church Conference season: 
•  View the checklist to learn what's required for Church Conference and begin to download required forms.
•  Church Conference reports are due 10-days prior to your Church Conference.
•  Update the Committee Leader Toolbox in Arena to ensure those who are responsible for completing reports have permission to do so.  
•  Sign-up for a  training session and bring those responsible for church reports with you to the Mission Center.   Space is still available 
    •  August 5—Church Conference Training ~ 10 am & 2 pm   
    •  August 14—Church Conference Training ~ 2 pm & 7 pm    
    •  August 22—Church Conference Training ~ 10 am & 7 pm  

Glen Mar Summer Concert Series
Thursday, August 8 at 7 pm
Glen Mar Church will hold the second of its two-part Summer Concert Series when the Quantico Marine Corps Brass Band and Jazz Combo perform. This free event will be held in the Spirit Center at Glen Mar Church, 4701 New Cut Road, Ellicott City.  Refreshments will be served, and child care for preschool-age children and younger will be provided.  For more information, visit http://glenmarumc.org/summerconcerts/.

2019  Washington Region Lay Servant Ministries Academy   
Saturday, August 24 (9 am-5 pm) and Sunday, August 25 (3-5:30 pm) 
Join us at the BWC Mission Center in Fulton for the Lay Servant Ministries Academy (formerly known as Discipleship Academy).  Sign-up for the Basic course or register for an advanced class.  Both sessions are 10 hours (1 CEU).  For full details and pre-reading text, download the course guide and register.

Discipleship Systems: The 3D Journey
Friday, September 6,  9:30 am – 3:30 pm,  BWC Mission Center, Fulton MD 
Join presenter, Rev. Dr. Quincy D. Brown in a workshop designed to help clergy and laity walk through a transition of: discern / dream / develop.  The mission of the church is about making disciples. Simply put the church is in the business of connecting people with Jesus through relationships.  Click here to learn more and the register ($35 per person and includes lunch) - https://www.bwcumc.org/event/1330108-2019-09-06-discipleship-systems-the-3d-journey-fulton-md/.  Sponsored by The Baltimore-Washington Conference UMC, Office of Leadership and Congregation Development.   

Gary Memorial UMC Vesper Service 
Saturday, September August 8 at 3 pm
You are invited to join the Gary Memorial UMC congregation and community for an afternoon of music, readings, and silence designed to settle your mind and open your heart.  A free event for all to enjoy.  Download the flyer for more details.

Fall Clergy Gathering
Monday, September 23,  9:30 am – Noon, Mission Center
Registration coming soon. 

 Church Administrator Workshop
Tuesday, September 24,  10 am – 3 pm, Mission Center
Registration coming soon. 

Gatherings with Bishop LaTrelle Easterling
Join Bishop Easterling at these gatherings in October:
•  October 3—Bishop meets with the Order of Elders from 1:30-3 pm (Reisterstown UMC, 246 Main St., Reisterstown, MD)
•  October 3—Bishop meets with the Order of  Deacons from 6:30-8 pm (BWC Mission Center, 11711 E. Market Place, Fulton, MD) 
•  October 5—Bishop meets with Fellowship of Local Pastors at 9:30-11:30 am (Linden-Linthicum UMC, 12101 Linden Linthicum Ln., Clarksville, MD) 
•  October 29—Bishop’s Day on the CM District:  Clergy at 2 pm & Laity at 6:30 pm (St. John United, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., Columbia, MD)

From Franchise to Local Dive: Multiplying Your Church by Discovering Your Contextual Flavor
Friday, November 8, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, BWC Mission Center, 11711 East Market Place, Fulton MD 
Saturday, November 9,  8:30 am - 3:30 pm,  St. Matthews UMC, 14900 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD
Jason Moore will lead a workshop to assist churches in learning to multiply ministry by starting a new worship service, new campus, or some other expression of faith.  The cost is $35. Learn more.  

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MORE Opportunities 

Ministry Hatchery 
Bring your team and idea to the Ministry Hatchery this November and leave with a pitchable plan. Begin with an idea for a new kind of ministry that meets a tangible need with and in your community, spend a few days with experts and coaches in an incubator environment, and leave with a polished pitch to apply for grants and obtain other types of support. The cost of $250 per team, plus food and lodging per person, will be an investment of time and money that will get replenished through the fruits of your new ministry. Don't miss this opportunity for launching your ministry strong! Questions? Contact Christie Latona at  . 
 
St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute 
The Baltimore based Institute announces a new scholarship/internship covering both the cost of four courses and book expenses for one year. Preference will be given to a United Methodist interested in the MDiv partnership with Lancaster Theological Seminary. For more information, contact Kaye Guidugli at . 

Spiritual Direction Opportunity 
Life is filled with paradox: times of great joy and times of great suffering; times of certainty and times of indecision. Of course, the list could go on and on, but in all times God is present with us and wants us to know that. Making the time to seek God, to explore the question “What do I hear from God in this situation?”, and to explore the complementary question “Who am I called to be in this situation?” describe the core of a Spiritual Direction relationship.  Cathie Leimenstoll is a retired Elder from the Tennessee Conference and moved to Maryland seven years ago to be near family. She will soon become a certified Spiritual Director in May. At no charge, she is approved to begin meeting with people who are interested in spiritual direction. Her commitment in this is to be a non-anxious companion with a person during a specific time in his/her spiritual journey, to pray with and for the person, to offer resources when appropriate, and to listen deeply to the individual and to the Holy Spirit who is ever-present when two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name. It is a privilege to walk with one another as we seek a deeper relationship with the God we serve in all our life-situations.  If you would like more information about such an opportunity, email and use the subject line Spiritual Direction.

Introducing Winter Grace Senior Ministries, Inc.   
WGSM is a non-profit organization with a mission to “Enrich and Empower the Lives of Older Adults through Christian Initiatives Connecting People, Ideas, and Resources.” WGSM seeks to assist churches in starting and growing their Older Adult ministries with a holistic approach that addresses the wide variety of needs of Older Adults and their families. Ministry for, by, and with Older Adults values the dignity and worth of each individual, encourages engagement of the gifts and talents of each person, and grows disciples of Jesus Christ until a person’s last breath for the transformation of the world. Additionally, WGSM connects Older Adults and their families to the resources in the community that can help each Older Adult live each day to the fullest by addressing needs from spiritual to practical. Founder and president, Debbie Burgio, is a candidate for Deacon, recommended by the Board of Ordained Ministry for Commissioning as a Provisional Deacon at the 2019 BWC Annual Conference.  For more information, go to www.wintergrace.org, email or call 443-832-3805.

United to Love: Advocacy and Action Team Sign-ups
We would like your voice at the table. The Baltimore-Washington Conference has six active teams to mobilize across our connection and they are: Creation Care (Climate/Eco-Justice), Gender Equality, Gun Violence Prevention, Immigration Rights, Racial Justice and Wealth Equity. If you are called to serve in one/more of these areas, if this is your passion and/or your faith community is leading in one or more of these areas, we would like to hear from you. Please go to http://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/advocacy-action/ to sign-up so that we can connect with you.

Criminal Justice Mercy and Ministries Resources and Survey for Faith Communities
The Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church has a new CJAM website that has been created for congregations to become more aware and resourced in this vital area. You are invited to go to, http://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/advocacy-action/criminal-justice-and-mercy-ministries/ check out the resources and take the questionnaire so that we can better connect with you in this area. To go directly to the survey, please visit http://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/advocacy-action/criminal-justice-and-mercy-ministries-questionnaire/.

Are You Called to Lead Beyond Your Local Faith Community?
The Nominations Committee is seeking a few good men and women to serve in key leadership roles including in the areas of Leadership Development, New Faith Expressions, Young People’s Ministry, Abundant Health (including local and global missions, holistic health and ERT), Advocacy & Action, Native American Ministry, Gender Equality (COSROW), and the Board of Trustees. In addition to passion and experience in the above, some boards are seeking persons with expertise in training, coaching, grant administration, project management, and data analysis and evaluation. Please complete this leadership interest form and encourage gifted young leaders (30 or under) to do the same: https://www.bwcumc.org/conference-agency-leadership-nominations/.

Download the Central Maryland District calendar for more opportunities to learn and network.