Discipleship Opportunities

 
The Baltimore-Washington Conference offers a number of opportunities for learning and growing in faith and discipleship. Scroll down this list of some of the offerings to put your faith into action.

Action and Advocacy 

Your help needed to support migrants: The Baltimore-Washington area is receiving a new influx of migrants from the Southern Border. Conference leaders are noting a significant need for basic items and temporary shelter. They are also calling on United Methodists to call on congressional leaders to end Title 42. Learn more.

The history of Mt. Zion UMC, the area’s oldest African American congregation, will be part of a new immersive musical theatre experience called Voices of Zion.  Performances of Voices of Zion will be offered in Georgetown on the evenings of May  20, 21 at 7 p.m. On-site performances start in the Mt. Zion & Female Union Band Society cemeteries (2501 Mill Rd NW; the entrance is off Q & 27th Streets) with an introduction to the characters before the audience joins in a procession to Dumbarton UMC (3133 Dumbarton St NW) for Part II of the work where the orchestra and members of the two church choirs will join the ensemble. Learn more. Buy tickets online.

Shifting the moral narrative: United Methodist will gather and bear witness at the Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls in Washington, D.C., on June 18. Learn more.

Save the Date: Virtual People’s Supper Conference-wide Brave Conversation on Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to noon. During this time together, the Confernece will host a brave conversation regarding how we can be disciples of Jesus Christ who love well across all dimensions of difference, be a church that embodies antiracism, and build beloved community. This virtual session is free and open to all. Registration will open June 1. 

This week, Refugee Council USA is hosting Refugee Advocacy Days, conducting more than 200 virtual legislative visits with more than 500 advocates across the country. Even if you’re not participating in these visits, we invite all community members to join us in telling Members of Congress to protect refugees and invest in the U.S. resettlement program. Here are the top ways to take action:

  • Contact Congress: Click here to contact your senators and representative in support of refugees, asylum seekers, and all forcibly displaced people.
  • Amplify on Social Media: You can click here for a digital toolkit to amplify your message on social media.

May's Asian American Language Ministries’ "Raise Up Your Voice Against Racism" webinar will be on May 24 from 8 to 9 p.m.  The conversation, moderated by Rev. Neal Christie, will focus on "Migration, Immigration, and Racism."  Register.

Creation Justice Ministries is partnering with other organizations to offer the Faithful Climate Action Fellowship for young adults from July 7 through Aug. 18. Apply before May 23. Learn more.

Young People's Ministry

Confirmation Class Rally: As Lovely Lane UMC, founded in 1772, commemorates 250 years of ministry we invite all confirmation classes to come (after waiting two long years) for a celebration on May 21, at 1:30 p.m. Rev. Wanda Duckett, the Baltimore Metropolitan District superintendent, will speak. There will be a history quiz, name that tune (Wesley hymn version), and much more. Email for questions and reservations. This will be the first of three unique events at Lovely Lane UMC for its 250th anniversary.

Young Adult Summit: The Peninsula-Delaware Conference invites all young adults, ages 18-35, to a summit on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wyoming UMC, 216 Wyoming Mill Road in Dover, Del. This is a free event, but pre-registration is required.

The annual Early Childhood Educators Conference will be held Thursday, Aug. 4, at La Plata UMC. Doors open at 7 a.m. The cost to register is $65. The event is sponsored and presented by The Directors’ Roundtable of the BWCUMC. Six clock hours from MSDE will be awarded, plus two PAUs for attending. Learn more and register.

Lives change at summer camp. This summer, the BWC's Retreat and Camping Ministries offers a vast array of experiences for those entering third grade through adults in residential and day camps.

Wellness and Missions

A free community health fair will be held at Glen Mar UMC in Ellicott City on Saturday, May 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be school children’s immunizations (K to 12); COVID vaccinations (5+); vision checks; health screenings; and more. Learn more.

Mark your calendar: Baltimore-County Christian Work Camp, which includes a large number of United Methodist leaders and volunteers who perform home repairs for the needy, will be held July 17-22. Learn more.

The One Journey Festival, June 25 on the lawn of the National Cathedral in Washington, celebrates the talents, stories and contributions of refugees and other displaced people around the world with art, food, music, dance, storytelling, soccer and technology. Learn more.

Leadership Development

Becoming a Certified Lay Ministers (CLM): Applications for the 2022-2024 CLM class of the Baltimore-Washington Conference are now being accepted. Learn more and see if you qualify. The application process includes meeting with the pastor, local SPRC, and the district superintendent before the July 1 deadline. The class starts in September and is a two-year commitment. Questions may be directed to Linda Flanagan, Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries.

Church/School/Community -- Forging Partnerships: This month’s Leadership Forward Resource webinar, on May 19 at 7:30 p.m., is sponsored by SBC21. It features Rev. Lia McIntosh, who will share key ways to forge partnerships that will impact our community and transform lives. Register now.

 Deacon Coffee Chats: A monthly deacon coffee chat, which is open to deacons and soon-to-be-deacons of both the BWC and Pen-Del Conferences, is held on the third Friday of the month at 3 p.m. Join via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87014319537#success) Meeting ID: 870 1431 9537; Phone in: 301-715-8592.

New Faith Expressions

Learn how to be vital in your community: Get ready to participate in understanding your congregation and community through your ComparativeInsite report on June 25. Your district Missional Action Planning (dMAP) team is working to ensure that your church has the data it needs to develop meaningful relationships and ministry with your community using the ComparativeInsite report from MissionInsite. One of the first steps in this process is to upload resident, active participants in order to run the ComparativeInsite report–the most ministry-impacting MissionInsite standard report. Click here for a step-by-step guide. Registration opens soon.

The Annual Festival Gathering of the Network of Biblical Storytellers, International, will be held at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Aug. 3-5. Tracy Radosevic will be the keynote speaker of the gathering which will focus on "Patterns, Pathways, and Play: the primacy of story for life, growth and community.”  Learn more.