March 18, 2024 | "Transformed Lives Transform Lives"

Prayers of the People

While members in our communities face "sorrow upon sorrow," Dr. Deborah Haskins, the featured speaker at the recent Next Level Leader event, shared how churches can faithfully and effectively participate in trauma-informed ministry. See the story. In her remarks, Haskins mentioned the BWC's Action and Wellness team's monthly plan to assist churches in exploring different areas of health and wellness. See the Abundant Health calendar and plan.

The historic Pearl Incident, which involved escaping slaves and members of Asbury UMC in Washington, illuminates the ongoing role that justice can and should play in The United Methodist Church today. Read the story.

United Methodist bishops recently called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. See their statement.

Kim Marie Walker, president of the Baltimore-Washington Conference's United Women in Faith, was recently honored by Maryland Governor Wes Moore with a citation for her integrity, ability, and outstanding service.

“I’m grateful to have an opportunity to share this Lenten resource. I’m hoping you will be able to put your heart and soul into your life. It may not be through writing something, or even doing something religious; it may be something that is about living into what’s possible for you – what you may have dreamed about. I’m hoping people will listen to their hearts, listen to the Spirit, listen to the whispers – God’s whispers, which are always there. … This is an invitation. I hope it’s fun.”

-- Rev. Rod Miller, author of the BWC's Living Like Christ

In this week’s Lenten exercises, participants explore "Making Space for the New to Emerge." Visit Living Like Christ: A Banquet of Spiritual Exercises.

For those seeking to learn more about Positive Intelligence and other themes in the Living Like Christ devotional, Miller recommends the following books:

• "Positive Intelligence" by Shirzad Chamine
• “The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us” by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
• “Tears We Cannot Stop” by Michael Eric Dyson
• “Sacred Rhythms: Arranging our Lives for Spiritual Transformation” by Ruth Haley Barton
• "Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power” by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone
•  “The Awakened Brain” by Lisa Miller

Register today for Tuesday's Restructuring Town Hall

Collaboration, working in connection in a shared ministry field, reducing administrative burdens, and building a culture of incarnational faith, which embodies God's love and power, are the spiritual foundations on which the BWC will create its new district structure.

A scenario with the outlines of this restructuring will be presented in a virtual town hall on Tuesday, March 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The scenario was designed by a conference task force, which based its work on feedback from a survey with more than 1,100 respondents and 11 listening sessions held throughout the BWC.

At the Annual Conference session on May 29-31, clergy and lay members will vote on the number of districts in the conference. The new plan, based on the scenario, will align with the members’ vote. Initial implementation would begin this summer and be finalized July 1, 2025.

The restructuring scenario, which the Connectional Table reviewed, renews efforts to increase church vitality and cultivate world-changing disciples. Register for the Restructuring Town Hall.

New and Featured

REMINDER: The 2023 Statistical Reports Verification survey to correct your 2023 statistical report is due by midnight on Wednesday, March 20. The link for the survey is in the PDF attached to the email about the statistical reports sent out last Friday.

The dates of the upcoming community organizing course have been adjusted to better accommodate participants' needs. The retreat, which will empower and equip congregations in their justice work, begins on Friday, April 5, at 10 a.m. and runs through Saturday, April 6, at 7 p.m. at West River Retreat Center, 5100 Chalk Point Road in West River. The deadline to register is Wednesday, March 20. The theme of the retreat is "Faithful & Fearless: Igniting Purpose, Organizing for Change!" Learn more and register.

Clergy Ethics: The workshop, Caring for Self & Others through Healthy Boundaries, will be presented by Rev. Lindsay Geist, LCSW on Thursday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Grace UMC at 5407 N. Charles St. in Baltimore. There will be two components of this training: an online learning platform portion and an in-person portion. The May 16 event will include lunch. Successful completion will earn 1.0 CEUs. The deadline to register is Friday, April 5, by noon. Learn more and register.

The Non-Anxious Leader: Family Systems Basics is a free, four-week online course, from April 8 to May 5, that teaches you how to lead as a non-anxious presence, personally and professionally. Learning is self-guided and asynchronous, so you can cover the material when it works best for you. Learn more and register.

The 2024 Peace with Justice Grant application period is open. Applicants must show their commitment to social justice advocacy, including voting rights, immigration reform, gun violence prevention, human trafficking, and other justice-related concerns. The deadline is May 1. Learn more and apply.

Social media library: Are you ready to spring into fresh ways of engaging your community online? United Methodist Communications has a social media shareable library to help your church increase its online presence. Discover unique graphics for all your church’s spring and Easter celebrations.

General Conference is April 23 - May 3. Visit the official site for resources and information. See General Conference "by the numbers" at the bottom of this e-connection.

Everyone is invited to join the Baltimore-Washington Chapter of The Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m. on Zoom to learn more about the upcoming General Conference session. Mittie Quinn, a member of our conference and the co-convener of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) in Charlotte will present information about the plans and expectations of the LYNC in Charlotte. Register. For further information, contact Rev. Ken Hawes.

Registration is now open for the 240th session of the BWC Annual Conference, which will be held Wednesday, May 29, through Friday, May 30, at the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore.

• Register for the session before April 23 for the early bird special. Those who wish to attend the Laity Session with keynote speaker Michael Beck, director of the UMC's Fresh Expressions, can register as guests for just that session.
• Register for the hotel before May 5.
• Register for parking for the special $15/day rate using the code zxANywO6

A Pre-Conference Briefing will be held online on Saturday, May 11.

Additional Disicpleship Opportunities

Grants available to local churches: Do you have an innovative and exciting idea for a New Faith Expression or new worship service? Do you have a plan for a new ministry that will help your congregation go to the “next level”? Are you developing a way to reach new people who are not yet a part of any church? The Baltimore-Washington Conference Congregational Development Grants, offered through the Unified Funding Task Force, can assist you with a grant to launch your new ministry initiative, congregational renewal project, leader development ministry, or to reach new people. The application period closes on April 1. Learn more.

The Harry Denman Evangelism Award honors United Methodists in each annual conference for exceptional evangelism ministry. The BWC recognizes one clergy member, layperson, and youth at the Annual Conference session. The deadline for nominations is April 1. Learn more and see the application forms.

Necessary Ingredients, a training and retreat for youth, children, and family ministry leaders, will be held on April 5 and 6 at Westminster UMC. Leaders working in youth, children, and family ministries are invited to attend. Attendees will spend two days with other youth, children, and family ministry leaders to focus on the necessary ingredients for a thriving ministry. Learn from experts Chris Sasser and Chania Dillard as they teach mental health, intergenerational ministry practices, and recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers. Early bird registration is $50 through March 18. Regular registration is $75. Register online.

Renew -- Clergy Renewal Retreat: Join other clergy April 30 - May 2 at Pecometh Riverview Retreat Center in Centreville, Maryland. This Living Well retreat, led by the Rev Andy McClain, will not over-program you. In fact, you’ll be able to share meals, take walks, and simply be together. Time with a spiritual director or masseuse is available at an additional cost. The $319 registration fee includes two nights at single occupancy and five meals. Learn more and register.

Explore Baltimore's rich history of Methodism. The BWC will lead a pilgrimage on April 21. We will begin with worship and a tour of Old Otterbein UMC and travel to Lovely Lane UMC to see the church and museum. Full historical interpretation will be provided. Please note that there is no availability for May Confirmation Tours this year. Contact bonniemccubbin@bwcumc.org or archives-history@bwcumc.org for more details.

The BWC is hosting a Pilgrimage Bus Trip to Strawbridge Shrine near New Windsor on June 8. Join a journey that lets you see Methodism through the eyes of Robert Strawbridge, one of Methodism’s mavericks and founding leaders, and learn about the power of the laity. Learn more and register.

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