The BWC is joining the denomination in a focus on Abundant Health. [http://www.umcabundanthealth.org] In our global church, hula hoops are one way to exercise that transcends every culture. So “take heart,” live abundantly, as we invite you and your church to join us in a Hulapalooza. The Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church • Becoming fully alive in Christ and making a difference inDAILY a diverse and ever-changing world • Wednesday, May 30, 2018 BWC gathers as ‘One Beneath the Cross’ By Melissa Lauber ven as The United Methodist Church stands at a potentially divisive crossroads over its stance on homosexuality, members of Ethe Baltimore-Washington Conference are gathering May 30-June 1 for their annual session, grounded in the theme “We are One: Beneath the Cross.” The 1,500 lay and clergy members come from 628 churches in Maryland, Washington, D.C., the panhandle of West Virginia and Bermuda for a time of holy conferencing, learning, mission and worship. This is the 234th time the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference have Conference Lay Leader Delores Martin, left, and Bishop LaTrelle Easterling go over the agenda for the 2018 Annual gathered. They meet just a stone’s throw Conference Session. away from where the Methodist Church in America was founded in 1784. This year Friday morning, and Thursday and Friday experience, members are invited to a they also celebrate the 50th anniversary mornings, the Rev. Shively Smith of Wesley mission opportunity with some in the of the uniting of the Methodists with the Seminary will lead the Bible Study. homeless community in Baltimore. From Evangelical United Brethren Church, which An agenda of all the conference’s activities 5:30 to 7 a.m. the next two days, there will created The United Methodist Church. is on the new Conference app. (For be four routes available for a community Standing at this intersection of discerning download instructions, see the ad on page 8.) walk/run to benefit Back on My Feet. (Visit a way forward and honoring a sacred During the plenary sessions, members bwcumc.org/back-on-my-feet/.) Shoes for past, members are being called upon will vote on six resolutions: a new BWC those in need are also being collected. to be firmly and boldly in the present mission statement; the relationship between Over the next three days, the Baltimore- moment, to interact as children of God Africa University and the government of Washington Conference will gather for in this community of faith, as we live Zimbabwe; a change to the clergy moving sacred and holy work — living as people out our calling to “make disciples for the policy; a call for inclusive love; adopting the worthy of the call we received from God, transformation of the world.” Way Forward Accountability Covenant; and conducting ourselves with humility, “The ground beneath the cross is level,” a call for full inclusion from the 2019 Special gentleness and patience, accepting each said Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, the presiding Session of General Conference. other with love, and making an effort to bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Members will also vote on a proposed preserve the unity of the Spirit with Conference. “It is also a sacred space where $18.7 million budget for 2019, which will the peace that ties us together we can encounter the Kingdom of God.” include a slight decrease in the benevolence — one body, one The bishop will preach at the opening factor that determines local church spirit, one hope. wi-fi worship service tonight at 7 p.m. Tomorrow apportionment payments. This decrease is password: evening, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey a result of local churches’ faithful giving, AC2018 will preach at the Service of Ordination. which allows for mission and ministry The Memorial Service, at which the Rev. beyond the local church. Live Streaming: Craig McLaughlin will preach, will be As part of the annual conference bwcumc.org 1 Memorial Service to focus on running the race he Rev. Craig McLaughlin, Preaching to the conference members considers last will, in pastor of Mt. Zion UMC in Bel and the families of the 52 people who died fact, be first; while those Air, will preach at the Memorial last year, McLaughlin will share how the the world considers Service, Friday at 10 a.m. “loved ones who have gone before us put least will, in fact, be the TUnder his leadership over the past 31 a calling on our lives.” He’ll tell them how greatest.” years, Mt. Zion has become one the largest, “Jesus draws near to us in our seasons of McLaughlin is no fastest growing and most mission-minded grief, giving us strength, determination and stranger to grief. Four congregations in the Baltimore-Washington courage far beyond ourselves.” years ago, his 19-year- Conference. As a pastor, he sees his role as As a pastor, McLauglin embraces a faith old daughter, Hannah, bringing the love of Jesus to a brokenhearted in Jesus that gives him confidence that “the died of a drug overdose Craig McLaughlin world. His greatest joy, McLaughlin said, “is struggles and difficulties of this life do not after struggling with seeing God’s people love as they have been define our existence. Life in this world isn’t addiction for years. “As I continue to think loved.” even Chapter One in the story of our lives, about her life,” he said, “I see more and This love is expected to shine through his it’s only the prologue,” he said. “That’s more how very true everything Jesus ever message on Hebrews 12:1-2 titled, “Run.” why Jesus would say that those the world said really is.” Bible study to focus on Ephesians 4:1-16 he Rev. Shively T. J. Smith diaspora. Smith illuminates this peculiarly Letters and Luke-Acts, joined the Wesley Theological Petrine understanding of diaspora by Call Narratives, and Seminary faculty in New situating it among three other select biblical discourses on Testament studies in 2014 perspectives from extant Hellenist Jewish diaspora. Ordained in Tafter completing her doctorate at Emory writings: the Daniel court tales, the Letter of the African Methodist University. Smith leads the Bible study Aristeas, and Philo’s works. Episcopal Church, session on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. and Friday Her work has been supported by Smith has actively at 8 a.m. organizations such as the Louisville worked in ministry Smith will be looking at Ephesians 4:1-16. Institute, the Ford Foundation, the Fund and academia for more Thursday’s Bible study is “Re-Imagining for Theological Education, and the Mellon than 15 years. Shively Smith Our Connections;” Friday’s Bible Study is Mays Fellowship Program. She has also Smith will be “Re-Imagining Our Oneness.” studied abroad at Oxford University as departing Wesley for Boston University Smith is author of the 2016 book, an English-Speaking Union (ESU) Luard School of Theology, where she will be an “Strangers to Family.” In it, she reads the scholar in the Theology Department. Her Assistant Professor of New Testament. Letter of 1 Peter through a new model of research interests include: the General Louisiana Bishop Harvey preaches at Ordination ishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey Louisiana Annual Conference follows a Communications. is the speaker for the Ordination mission and vision focus to: lead others to A native of Texas, service, scheduled for Thursday, an abundant life in Christ; engage in the the bishop is a May 31, at 7 p.m. Bishop Harvey community; learn, live and tell the gospel graduate of Southern Bserves as bishop of the Louisiana Annual story; and reach out and draw in people Methodist University, Conference, having been assigned there in from all walks of life resulting in vibrant, Perkins School of September 2012. alive and vital congregations. The vision Theology in Dallas, Bishop Harvey was elected president- and mission are undergirded by Core where she earned a designate of the Council of Bishops last Values: integrity, accountability, unrelenting Master of Divinity. November, and she began serving this two- love for all people, courage and risk, and Bishop Harvey and Cynthia Fierro Harvey year term earlier this month. She would, holding nothing sacred but the mission. her husband, Dean, love to cook but can pending confirmation by the Council of She continues to draw upon the vision and also give you recommendations for the best Bishops in the fall of 2019, assume the office mission at every opportunity. restaurants from Houston to Baton Rouge. of president after General Conference 2020. Bishop Harvey is the Vice-Chair of Let’s add Baltimore to the list! Under Bishop Harvey’s leadership, the the Commission on United Methodist 2 Retirees leave legacy of 695 years of service ach year at annual conference, in life, and John Bragg, are part-time local Director for Information at Howard it is with a mixture of sadness pastors. Arthuree E. Wright is an ordained University Libraries. and gratitude that the retirees are Deacon, who for 22 years has been Assistant recognized for their years of service Eto the church. This year there are 24 retirees, made up of 12 women and 12 men. A luncheon in Retirement Class of 2018 their honor was held yesterday, with Bishop Forrest Stith, retired, as the keynote speaker. RETIREE YEARS SERVED RETIREE YEARS SERVED Professionally, the retirees served in dozens of ways both in and out of local churches: as district superintendent (Terri Harold P. Atkins 23 Paulette V. Jones 10 Rae Chattin); assistant to the bishop (David Reg D. Barss 48 Charles A. Parker 31 S.