News and Views

If clergy are addicted to hurry and overdosing on over-commitment, then this year’s Clergy Pre-Advent Day Apart was an intervention. Erik Alsgaard explains in this report.

Change Makers create new kind of church

Posted by Melissa Lauber on Nov 15, 2018

Change-makers gather The church must rediscover its relevance, the Change-makers believe. It has the resources, it has the good ideas. It has the will and the way. What it is missing is imagination. And so, they offer opportunities for people to get out of their contexts and into their...

Ancient church mothers and fathers often greeted one another with the phrase, “Give me a word.” This greeting led to the sharing of insights and wisdom. Today we continue this tradition with this monthly column. Expect By Mandy SayersLead Pastor, Glen Mar UMC, Ellicott City Advent...

The Rev. Mark DeVries, an expert in sustainable youth ministry, presents a workshop at Bethany UMC in Ellicott City Oct. 20. The definition of youth ministry, according to Mark DeVries, is “one failure after another, with enthusiasm.” DeVries, the founder of Ministry Architects in...

Campus Ministry relies on Student Day gifts

Posted by Melissa Lauber on Nov 15, 2018

United Methodist Student Day is Nov. 25. On this Special Sunday, churches are asked to take up a Special Offering to support scholarships nationally, and to assist four area campus ministries using this link. Half of the amount collected will go to scholarships and the other half to BWC campus...

Editor's note: Bishop Easterling shared this 'sacred poem' on Facebook on Oct. 27, the day of the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings. I do not know exactly what lies ahead; how far we will have to travel on the road of unrest. I cannot foretell the number of bombs that will have to explode or the...

By Ginger Gaines-Cirelli* Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli The language of “resistance” has a long history. I’m not a political theorist or activist; I’m a pastor-theologian and a follower of Jesus. Thus, the language of “resistance” for Christians evolves through...

Lovely Lane UMC brings art into sacred spaces

Posted by Melissa Lauber on Nov 15, 2018

Ever since humans etched their story on caves more than 35,000 year ago, art and sacred space have been intertwined in human history. From its creation in 1884, Lovely Lane UMC in Baltimore has recognized this relationship. Recently, they moved to intentionally strengthen the link between art...

Shrine looks at how history illuminates today

Posted by Melissa Lauber on Nov 15, 2018

Marian Gottee, the Tour Guide Coordinator at Strawbridge Shrine, plays the piano during the Shrine's annual meeting. The called session of General Conference in February is raising many questions about the future of The United Methodist Church. Members of the Strawbridge Shrine Association are...

The Rev. Edwin H. Langrall, 91, a retired Elder, died Nov. 12, 2018, a couple weeks before his 92ndbirthday. A private service was held at Capitol Hill UMC in early 2019. Edwin Hilmore “Hil” Langrall was born Nov. 30, 1926, in Baltimore, to the Rev. Dr. O.B. and Isabel Moore...