Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
May 25-27, 2006, Baltimore
Nearly 2,000 members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference gathered at the
Marriott Waterfront Hotel for their 222nd annual session. “Connecting Through
Christ” — the second piece of the Discipleship Adventure — was the theme, and
connection “moments” were everywhere.
Two separate sessions, led by Frank Aycox, a professor at Temple University,
showed the importance of play.
A new organizational plan was adopted, designed to ensure that the local church
is the main thing.
“Local churches are where disciples of Jesus Christ are made,” said Bishop John
R. Schol. “Our new conference structure will resource and support local churches
to make disciples.”
The new plan was developed by consensus, with nearly 1,900 clergy and laity
leaders in the conference offering input to the new structure over a year and a
half. The plan passed almost unanimously.
The “Plan Forward” will develop resources to help congregations become Acts 2
congregations and reduce the efforts to feed the needs of the conference and
institution. Schol said Acts 2 churches are needed more than ever to address the
spiritual and social issues facing people.
The new organizational chart features a connectional table, similar in function
to the denomination’s Connectional Table, which will learn best practices, align
all ministries with the vision, mission and strategy of the conference, and
account for fruits. The plan, conference leaders said, is designed to ensure
that diversity of representation and inclusion of voices around the
decision-making process — two values of the conference — would be cared for.
In his “State of the Church” report May 25, Schol stated the direction of the
conference in what he called a “Big, Holy Adventurous Goal.” That goal: to
create 600 Acts 2 congregations by 2012. Currently, the conference has about 100
Acts 2 congregations. To be an Acts 2 congregation, a church needs to be
reaching new believers, growing worship and engaging in vital mission in the
community and world, the bishop said.
In his report, the bishop offered three main points: The Baltimore-Washington
Conference “is a leader within the church, and connectionalism is a gift to the
world”; “We are called to be Acts 2 congregations”; and laity and clergy must
work with leadership to achieve this goal.
“Our purpose,” the bishop said, “is to become like Christ and to build Acts 2
congregations: Spirit-filled, Spirit-led congregations, practicing authentic
Christian community and bearing fruit.”
The conference celebrated the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women
in the denomination, setting aside the evening of May 25 to honor clergywomen.
Bishop Susan Morrison of the Albany (N.Y.) Area, opening worship preacher and a
former clergy member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, participated in the
celebration, offering a “Top-Ten” list on “How this is not your grandmother’s
church.” Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock, offered a
music-filled meditation before the celebration.
Conference members also:
- Learned about The Hope Fund, which has a
goal of raising $1 million for relief efforts on the Gulf Coast, in Zimbabwe
and for HIV/AIDS ministry. More than $266,000 has already been pledged by
conference leadership; congregations will make pledges in June.
- Received several new resources for local
churches, including the “Adventure Guide” daily devotional, and a DVD for
each local church that outlines the conference’s Discipleship Adventure.
- Heard two Bible studies from the Rev. Rose
Mary Williams, pastor of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in DeLeel, Miss.,
which was affected by Hurricane Katrina.
- Adopted, by a vote of 392-352, a resolution
that seeks to develop a culture in the conference that “expects and
encourages” congregations to understand that membership in the church is
open to anyone.
The conference also honored 33 clergy retirees,
representing more than 760 years of service, and witnessed Bishop Schol ordain
15 elders and commission 12 probationary deacons, with Bishop Violet Fisher of
the New York West Area preaching.
Conference membership stands at 196,847, down 1,994. Worship attendance stands
at 74,754, down 2,124. Professions of faith were at 4,940 in 2005, down 175 from
2004.
-- Erik Alsgaard |
