News and Views

By Alison Burdett
Director of Communications

United Methodists from across the Baltimore-Washington Conference gathered May 27-29 in Baltimore for the 242nd Session of the Annual Conference, coming together for worship, holy conferencing, learning, celebration, remembrance, and the work of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Throughout the three-day gathering, members explored the conference theme, Rooted in Christ: Love Boldly, through Bible study, worship, plenary sessions, workshops, and ministry celebrations. Together, clergy and laity were challenged to deepen discipleship, strengthen connection, pursue justice, and embody Christ's love in their communities.

Visible throughout the week were two new symbols of unity for the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Episcopal Area. A newly crafted altar cross, created by Rev. Bonnie Hawk from reclaimed pews from congregations across the conference, stood as a reminder that worship unites God's people across generations and communities. A new Episcopal Area processional cross, created by Laurie Hill, entered worship as a symbol of the emerging Area, with copper and brass representing the individual annual conferences and beaten steel symbolizing the living water of Christ that unites us in the work of loving boldly, serving joyfully, and leading courageously.

Opening the Conference

The conference officially opened Wednesday afternoon as Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling called the 242nd Session to order. Richard Church, a member of the Committee on Native American Ministries, welcomed attendees to the ancestral homeland of the Piscataway people, reminding members that all people, creation, and history are bound together through sacred relationships.

The opening plenary addressed conference business, including amendments to conference rules and the adoption of resolutions related to fossil fuel divestment and encouraging congregations and conference leaders to reflect on their baptismal vows as a guide for faithful discipleship and public witness.

The afternoon also featured the annual Clergy and Laity Sessions. During the Laity Session, members were challenged to embrace evangelism as relationship-building, invitation, and witness. Conference Lay Leader Amelia Duroska encouraged participants to move boldly into the future, while keynote speaker Ken Willard reminded attendees that the most effective form of evangelism remains a simple personal invitation.

Earlier in the day, members participated in workshops exploring topics including artificial intelligence, congregational vitality, discipleship, immigration advocacy, adaptive leadership, Methodist history, and spiritual formation. Together, the workshops set a tone of thoughtful engagement and faithful discernment in a rapidly changing world.

Conference leaders also gathered to honor 24 retiring clergy representing a combined 566 years of service. During the retirement luncheon, Bishop Easterling expressed gratitude for clergy who carried hope, offered pastoral care, preached the Gospel, and faithfully led congregations through seasons of challenge and change.

Worship Calls the Church to Bold Love

Opening Worship on Wednesday evening deepened the conference's exploration of the theme, "Rooted in Christ: Love Boldly."

Drawing on Ephesians 3:16-19, Bishop Easterling preached a message entitled "Embodying the Call to Love Boldly," challenging the church to move beyond measuring ministry solely through attendance, budgets, and programs and instead ask whether congregations are embodying the transformative love of Christ.

"The church ceases to be a prophetic community and becomes merely another institution bowing at the altar of power, prestige and evil," she warned, urging worshippers to embody Christ's love through both compassion and courageous public witness.

The service included a baptism, remembrance of baptism, multicultural worship, scripture readings in multiple languages, and an offering benefiting Seeds of Security, a ministry supporting survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence. Conference members contributed $6,475 to the ministry.

Rooted and Grounded in Love

Each morning, retired Bishop Gregory Palmer led Bible study sessions that became a spiritual centerpiece of the conference.

Drawing from Ephesians, Genesis, Luke, and John, Palmer invited participants to understand themselves as people deeply rooted in Christ and connected to one another through God's love. He reminded the conference that the church is called to be a living witness to God's vision for humanity and "a small working model of new creation."

Building on that foundation, Palmer challenged attendees to consider what it means to love boldly in today's world. He described bold love as vulnerable enough to show up authentically, compassionate enough to see and serve neighbors in need, and courageous enough to pursue justice and address the systems that perpetuate suffering.

Returning repeatedly to the church's mission, Palmer encouraged congregations to move toward the margins, build relationships across differences, and embody Christ's love through both service and advocacy.

Holy Conferencing and Connectional Ministry

Thursday's plenary sessions highlighted the many ways connectional ministry is strengthening churches and communities throughout the conference.

Members approved the final conference resolutions, including a revised pastoral evaluation process and the establishment of Campus Ministry Sunday.

Reports celebrated the growing impact of Collaborative Hubs, advocacy ministries, young people's ministries, congregational vitality initiatives, leadership development efforts, and the work of the Board of Ordained Ministry.

Participants heard stories of churches partnering across traditional boundaries, young people finding their voices in worship and leadership, and congregations embracing new opportunities for discipleship and community engagement.

The Office of Congregational Vitality reaffirmed its commitment to helping churches become "100% vital" through the four strategic pillars of See All the People, Deepen Discipleship, Live and Love Like Jesus, and Multiply Impact.

Financial stewardship also remained a focus throughout the conference. Members celebrated the payoff of the mortgage on the Conference Mission Center in Fulton, approved the 2027 conference budget, and set clergy compensation levels for the coming year. Conference members also prayerfully marked the closure of Oldtown United Methodist Church and Asbury United Methodist Church in Hagerstown, giving thanks for their faithful witness and ministry.

Service, Mission, and Ministry

The conference's commitment to putting faith into action was evident throughout the week.

During the Project SPIRIT Sickle Cell and American Red Cross blood drive, conference members donated 35 units of blood, a gift expected to save 105 lives. Participation was so strong that organizers eventually had to turn away additional donors after all available donation opportunities were filled.

Thursday evening's Celebration of Ministries recognized congregations, clergy, and lay leaders whose ministries exemplify the conference vision of loving boldly, serving joyfully, and leading courageously.

Awards honored ministries focused on discipleship, youth engagement, cross-cultural outreach, hunger relief, justice advocacy, and innovative forms of church. The service also recognized Certified Lay Minister candidates, retiring clergy, ordination anniversaries, and ordinands preparing for ministry.

One of the evening's most moving moments came as retiring clergy placed mantles upon ordinands, symbolizing the passing of leadership and the continuing work of ministry across generations.

Remembering the Saints

The Service of Remembrance provided a sacred opportunity to honor clergy, clergy spouses, and lay members who entered eternal life during the past year.

Preaching during the service, Rev. Narae Kim reflected on a Korean proverb that teaches, "Shared joy becomes double joy, and shared grief becomes half grief," reminding worshippers that even in seasons of loss, the church grieves together and holds one another in hope.

As names were read aloud and the historic Cokesbury Bell tolled, water was poured into the baptismal font, connecting remembrance to the promises of baptism and resurrection.

Preaching from the conference theme, Rev. Narae Kim reflected on the hidden work of roots beneath the soil, reminding worshippers that even in seasons of grief and loss, life remains alive in Christ.

Families received amaryllis bulbs as symbols of hope, resurrection, and new life, reinforcing the service's message that faith, hope, and love endure.

Living the Call to Love Boldly

Friday morning's plenary featured reports highlighting the many ways congregations are already living out the conference theme.

Stories shared by lay leaders, mission volunteers, discipleship leaders, Hispanic/Latine ministries, and leadership development ministries demonstrated how churches are building relationships, serving communities, nurturing disciples, and helping people encounter Christ in meaningful ways.

The morning concluded with the fixing of appointments as Bishop Easterling and the Appointive Cabinet introduced clergy beginning new appointments on July 1.

Chosen to Bear Fruit

The conference concluded with the Service of Ordination and Commissioning, where clergy, laity, family members, and friends gathered to celebrate those answering God's call to ordained ministry.

The service also marked the 70th anniversary of the ordination of women in The United Methodist Church, with many clergy and laity wearing red shoes in recognition of generations of women whose leadership helped shape the church.

Preaching from John 15, Bishop Gregory Palmer reminded candidates that ministry is rooted in Christ's call and sustained by remaining connected to the true vine.

"Your assignment is not pruning other branches," Palmer said. "Your assignment is bearing fruit."

The conference commissioned one provisional elder, ordained three deacons, and ordained eight elders. Through prayer, the laying on of hands, and the celebration of Holy Communion, the church affirmed God's continuing call to raise up leaders for ministry.

An offering totaling $7,011 supported the Clergy Renewal Leave Fund, providing opportunities for clergy rest, renewal, and spiritual growth.

As the service concluded, Bishop Easterling sent worshippers back into their communities with a final charge to remain deeply rooted in Christ and to love more boldly.

Continuing the Journey

While Annual Conference has ended, the work it inspired continues.

Following the gathering, congregations throughout the Episcopal Area are invited to participate in Rooted in Christ: Love Boldly, a five-week worship series designed to help churches explore what it means to embody Christ's love through repentance, justice, accountable community, belonging, and discipleship. Resources include Bishop Easterling's Annual Conference sermon, worship materials, prayers, music suggestions, and graphics. Learn more at pdcbwc.org/love-boldly-worship-series.

Those wishing to revisit the conference or share its story with others can access a variety of resources online. Photos from the 242nd Session of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference are available for download on Flickr, and all worship services, Bible studies, plenary sessions, and other livestreamed content can be viewed on the Baltimore-Washington Conference YouTube channel.

To explore these moments more deeply, read the full-length news stories from the 242nd Session of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference on the conference's Annual Conference 2026 webpage.

Annual Conference is more than a gathering; it is thousands of moments of worship, learning, service, and connection. We invite attendees to share those moments with the wider church. Post your photos, videos, and reflections on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok using #BWCUMC26 so we can experience Annual Conference through your eyes.

Together, conference members left Baltimore reminded that when God's people are deeply rooted in Christ, they are empowered to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously for the sake of the world.