Welcome to the Washington Region Blog! In an effort to reduce the number of emails sent from the region, the blog will be updated on a weekly basis. You will receive an email reminder every week to come and check out the blog.



Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Regional Administrator on Vacation
Pam Mullay will be on vacation from Thursday, July 28, 2011 through Monday, August 8, 2011. She will return to the office on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. For information in her absence, please contact the following:

Ordering a Journal – Kayla Spears, kspears@bwcumc.org or 410-309-3420

Information for the e-Connection – Linda Worthington, lworthington@bwcumc.org or 410-309-3423

Finance or Apportionment Information – Finance Department, bwcfinance@bwcumc.org or 410-290-7302

Information about the Mini-ROCKs or the Adventure Devotionals – Pam Bowen, pbowen@bwcumc.org or 410-309-3427

Information about reserving a conference room at the Conference Mission Center – John Gauthier, jgauthier@bwcumc.org or 410-309-3400

Information about Change the World Mission Day – Olivia Gross, ogross@bwcumc.org or 410-309-3430

Information about Mission Insite (Demographics Tool) – Christine Kumar, ckumar@bwcumc.org or 410-309-3422

General administrative information (that cannot wait until Pam’s return) – Sandy Cockrell, scockrell@bwcumc.org or 410-309-3442



Sale at Cokesbury
Stop in at Cokesbury at the Baltimore Washington Conference Mission Center Tuesday, July 26, 2011 through Saturday, July 30, 2011 for their Anniversary Clearance Sale. There will be 35% off the following books: Devotional, Inspiration, Self Help, Religion and Culture, Social Issues, Preaching and Bibles. This is only at the Fulton location. For more information call 301-317-6814 or email dkarau@cokesbury.com.



Gateway Training
Registration for our Gateway Trainings is now up and running. Please go to http://www.bwcumc.org/gateway/gatewaytraining to register. Registration is free but required since many of our trainings are limited due to space constraints. For most of our trainings we will be offering them at multiple locations and multiple times. You can select which location and time work best for you.



Discipler Groups/Charge Conference Schedules – Please check the listings since some changes have been made!
The Discipler Groups and Charge Conference Schedule listings can be found on the website. Discipler Groups at http://www.bwcumc.org/resources/disciplergroups and Charge Conference Schedule Listings at http://www.bwcumc.org/sites/default/files/pdf/WashRegionChgConf2011.pdf.

(Charge Conference Schedules can now be printed on 8.5 x 11 size paper! :) Please note that these are working documents and most likely will change over time. On each document you will see an “updated as of” date. Please be mindful of that date when viewing the documents.




Equitable Compensation Chart
Many of you have been asking for the 2012 Equitable Compensation Chart. You can find the most updated version of that at http://www.bwcumc.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2012equitablecompcredits.pdf.



Death Announcement
Pauline Sraver, wife of Rev. Charles 'Chuck' Sraver, passed away on Friday, July 22 at the age of 83.
Ms. Sraver's husband, Charles, served as a part-time approved "supply pastor" at Harwood Park Methodist Church in 1963 and then from 1966 to 1971. This category is equivalent to being a local pastor today. Mr. and Mrs. Sraver lived in Highland at the time and Mrs. Sraver was still living there at the time of her death. She was an active member of Mt. Zion, Highland UMC.

Viewings will be held at Slack’s Funeral Home in Ellicott City on Tuesday, July 26th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and at Mt. Zion UMC Chapel on Rt. 216 in Highland, MD on Wednesday, July 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; with the Service of Death and Resurrection at 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary. A dinner/reception will follow in the fellowship hall.



Blueprint for Wellness HealthCash Incentive Ends July 31, 2011
To All HealthFlex participants & Spouses enrolled in HealthFlex Active Plans:

Have you taken Step 1 of the HealthFlex "Three Steps to Wellness" incentives? If not—don’t miss out!

• Take the Blueprint for Wellness screening at a Quest Diagnostics facility.
• Earn $100 HealthCash (participants/spouses in active plans only; must be enrolled in Virgin HealthMiles).
• No cost to participants and spouses in HealthFlex.
• Incentive opportunity ends July 31, 2011.

Blueprint for Wellness is a comprehensive screening—just a blood sample and a few measurements for cholesterol, blood sugar, liver and kidney function, and much more.
Register Now - You must preregister. Preregistration is accepted up to the day of your screening, based on appointment availability.

By Phone: 1-866-908-9440 - Employer/group: "HealthFlex" or "United Methodist Church".

Online: www.gbophb.org
Log into HealthFlex/WebMD. Under HealthFlex Vendor Links, select "Quest Diagnostics." Registration Key: UMC2011

Learn More
If you have questions about the screening, the incentive, or do not have access to a Quest Diagnostics facility in your area, read the FAQs online http://www.gbophb.org/TheWell/Root/HFLX/4222.pdf for more information.

Your Privacy Is Valued
Your Annual Conference, church, employer, insurance company, HealthFlex or the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits cannot see your lab results or personal health data.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Call to Action Meetings – Final Meeting on August 20, 2011
A final Call to Action meeting will be held on August 20, 2011 from 9:00 am-11:30 am at the Conference Mission Center, 11711 East Market Place, Fulton, MD.

Please register at http://www.bwcumc.org/academy/ctawashington by August 15, 2011. We are asking that each pastor attend along with their Administrative Council Chairperson and two other church leaders of their choice. (No more than four people per church please.) Space is limited to the first 100 registrants at this location.



Youth Ministry and Encounters
One-Day Summer ROCKS - Registration still open - http://www.bwcumc.org/events/onedayrock

Mini-ROCK featuring music, dance, drama (Salt’ n Light ministry) and a special message from Stephen Gallaher, 2010 ROCK special guest. Breakout session for youth and youth leaders who want to learn more about ROCK and youth ministry and have fun too!

Locations and Dates:
• Saturday, Aug 6th at Good Shepherd, Waldorf, MD
• Sunday, Aug. 7th at Bel Air UMC, Bel Air, MD
• Saturday, Aug. 13th at Bethany UMC, Ellicott City, MD
• Sunday, Aug. 14th at Grace UMC, Hagerstown, MD

Encounter Weekend at Manidokan – Registration still open http://www.bwccampsandretreats.com/Encounter.html

September 9-11, 2011 – 1600 Harpers Ferry Road, Knoxville, MD 21758
An awesome outdoor Christian youth festival, with awesome music, outdoor adventures and inspirational speakers for youth groups featured bands: Willet, Jay & Nett and Ashes Remain. Special guest speaker: Jeremy Willet. Registration is still open – see website link above.

2011 ROCK Resource Videos for Youth Groups http://www.bwcumc.org/youthministryresource
Follow-up your awesome weekend at ROCK 2011 with a series of resources for your Youth Groups - FREE
Just print a copy of the instruction page on how to use these videos, plus additional activities to accompany them. Then watch the videos at your youth group sessions for a close encounter with ROCK 2011.

Session 1, Video 1 - Friday Night - This video is based on the scriptures and teachings of the first session of ROCK 2011 on Friday night Main Stage with Bishop Violet Fisher, special guest speaker from ROCK 2011. Watch this video first, and then watch Session 1, Video 2.

Session1, Video 2 - Friday Night - This video contains an interview with Bishop Fisher about the Friday night Main Stage message and contains questions for your youth group posed by their peers in CCYM. This video will allow the viewer to feel that they are part of the small group setting. Watch Session 1, Video 1 before you watch this video.

ROCK 2012 Registration will Open September 5, 2011 - http://www.bwcumc.org/rock
January 20, 21 and 22, 2012 - Ocean City, Maryland

Special Guest Speaker: Steve Fitzhugh http://www.powermoves.org/bio.html

Watch Steve’s latest video on tobacco free society: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h3RuSrZ9tE&feature=related

More information about Youth Ministries at: http://www.bwcumc.org/youth-ministries

Help Plan ROCK 2012 - CCYM Meetings: http://www.bwcumc.org/youth-ministries/meetingsevents



Bus Trips – Sponsored by First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville
The Caribbean Alliance of First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville is sponsoring several bus trips and would like to invite anyone in the conference who is interested to come along. All of the trips will leave from First United Methodist Church, 6201 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MD

The trips are:
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - August 13 for swimming or shopping - cost $35 per person. The bus leaves the church at 8 a.m. Deadline to sign up is July 22.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - September 23-26 - cost $255 for accommodation and transportation. Deadline to sign up is August 12.

Jersey Gardens, New Jersey - November 19 for shopping - cost $50 per person. Deadline to sign up is October 14.

Sight & Sound, Pennsylvania - December 3 for the Christmas Show - cost to be determined.

For more information or to sign up please contact Pamella Miller, pamella_miller@hotmail.com and put bus trip in the subject line.



2011 Journal Order Form
To order your 2011 Conference Journal, please go to http://www.bwcumc.org/events/2011journal.



Apportionment and Arrearage Information
Article addressing 2011 Benevolence Factor and proposed 2012 factor
http://www.bwcumc.org/news/connectional_giving

Article addressing approval of 2012 Benevolence Factor at Annual Conference. http://www.bwcumc.org/news/connect_one


Safety Seminar
The Conference Mission Center is hosting a Personal/Office/Church Safety Seminar for all churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference.  A local county police officer and representative from the fire department will be present to discuss:

• Your personal safety
• The prevention of office theft and robberies.
• Office and elevator safety
• Parking lot/Garage safety
• Identity Theft
• And other useful information

This event is free and we encourage pastors and church administrators to attend. To register, please go to www.bwcumc.org/events/safetyseminars.



Pension and Medical Statements
The July Pension and Medical statements are ready to be viewed. For churches with a change in appointment or new appointments effective 7/1/2011, please review your statements and advise Francess Tagoe (ftagoe@bwcumc.org) no later than August 1, 2011 if there are any discrepancies. Changes will be made going forward.



Exploration 2011
The next national gathering for young adults considering ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church - Exploration 2011 - will be held November 11-13, 2011 at the Millenium Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. The theme is Passion and Possibilities: Ordained Ministry in The United Methodist Church.

Patricipants may register via the Exploration website at www.gbhem.org/exploration. Registration begins in mid July with an early registration discount until September 5, 2011.

Please share this information with the young adults who you believe have the gifts of grace for ordained ministry.


LIVING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST 2011

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! SATURDAY JULY 23RD 2011 8am-6pm

FEEDING OF 3000!
…Jesus welcomed them & spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, & healed those who needed healing.
He replied, “You Give them Something to EAT”!.....Luke 9

Come join us as we show Christ love & take the church into the streets. Come & be a part of a miracle in 2011! Let’s have CHURCH in the Streets!

Music, Fellowship, Prayers, A Word, Food for your body & spirit & More!
All are welcomed as we reach out to our homeless brothers & sisters in the streets. Come join us as we feed Spiritually & Physically.

Asking all churches to join together as we spread the Gospel to the ends of the world!! We are called to be Disciples of Christ! No denominational barriers, No color barriers, no age barriers, all are servants of Jesus Christ!

Some may say it’s impossible but with God all things are possible!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER

Prayers & a willing heart to use your gift to serve the Lord

8am-12pm: Volunteers to help prepare & bag the meals Saturday morning
12:30pm-6pm: Volunteers to go to the shelters & streets to assist & car pool

Donations : hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, chips, deserts, juices & water, brown lunch bags (monetary donations will also be accepted)

Place: First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville
6201 Belcrest Rd, Hyattsville Md 20782
Pastor: Joan Carter-Rimbach 301-927-6133 www.fumchy.org
For more info contact Sharon Milton 301-404-6628

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Please be sure your contact information is updated in Gateway!
Journal Information and Updates Needed –
Dear pastors: Your personal and church contact information is stored in the Baltimore-Washington Conference’s database, Gateway. Each year we print a physical copy of these addresses in the Journal.

We will be pulling your contact information from Gateway on July 8, 2011 to include in this year’s Journal. You are solely responsible for keeping your contact information up-to-date, so please take this time to make sure your personal information is correct (address, phone, email) as well as your church’s information (address, phone, email). If you are unsure how to verify and change your information in Gateway, please check out this easy to follow tutorial video on how to change your information. If you have further questions, please contact your regional administrator. http://www.bwcumc.org/resources/videos/updateprofile

Thank you for ensuring the accuracy of this permanent Baltimore-Washington Conference record.

If you are transitioning July 1, you can find helpful resources on the pastoral transitions resource page: http://www.bwcumc.org/resources/pastoraltransitions
Blessings - BWC Journal Team



Discipler Groups/Charge Conference Schedules
The Discipler Groups and Charge Conference Schedule listings can be found on the website. Discipler Groups at http://www.bwcumc.org/resources/disciplergroups and Charge Conference Schedule Listings at http://www.bwcumc.org/sites/default/files/pdf/WashRegionChgConf2011.pdf. (I hopefully made the charge conference schedule easier for everyone to read :) Please note that these are working documents and most likely will change over time. On each document you will see an “updated as of” date. Please be mindful of that date when viewing the documents. In an effort to not overload everyone’s mailboxes with attachments, I will do my best to link everything to the website.



Registering on Gateway – Important!
Please remind your staff and congregation when registering for events on Gateway that each person must register individually. The only group registration is for ROCK only. If you log in as yourself and register someone else, there is a chance that the person’s name and email will replace yours in the system. This is especially important not to do if you are a pastor. It will affect your medical and pension if you register someone else in Gateway and their name takes over your account. If you have any questions about this, please contact Pam at pmullay@bwcumc.org.




Call to Action Meetings – July 11 is the deadline to register for the July 16 meeting
For Central Maryland pastors and churches, the workshop will be held on July 16, 2011 from 9:00 am-11:30 am at Montgomery UMC, 28325 Kemptown Road, Damascus, MD.

For Greater Washington pastors and churches, the workshop will be held on July 16, 2011 from 1:30 pm- 4:00 pm at Colesville UMC, 52 Randolph Road, Silver Spring, MD.

For those who have a conflict on July 16, 2011, a make-up session is being offered on August 20, 2011 from 9:00 am-11:30 am at the Conference Mission Center, 11711 East Market Place, Fulton, MD.

Please register at http://www.bwcumc.org/academy/othertraining by July 11, 2011. We are asking that each pastor attend along with their Administrative Council Chairperson and two other church leaders of their choice. (No more than four people per church please.) Space is limited to the first 100 registrants at each location.

Please have as much of the plan completed as you can before coming to the workshop. You will find a blank copy of the Ministry Plan at http://www.bwcumc.org/sites/default/files/pdf/ctaplanning.pdf.




Fall Discipleship Academy Online Registration
Fall Discipleship Academy classes are now open for online registration. Please go to http://www.bwcumc.org/academy/cls/washington for class information and to register.




IRS Increases Mileage Rate to 55.5 Cents per Mile – Effective July 1, 2011
The rate will increase to 55.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven from July 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2011. This is an increase of 4.5 cents from the 51 cent rate in effect for the first six months of 2011, as set forth in Revenue Procedure 2010-51. In recognition of recent gasoline price increases, the IRS made this special adjustment for the final months of 2011. The IRS normally updates the mileage rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.
"This year's increased gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans. The IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the recent increase in gas prices," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "We are taking this step so the reimbursement rate will be fair to taxpayers.". For more information visit http://www.irs.gov/.


CHURCH AND CHURCH OFFICE SAFETY
In response to recent break-ins at churches, the Regional Administrators are sponsoring "Church Office and Church Safety," a workshop, Aug. 25, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Baltimore-Washington Mission Center, 11711 East Market Place in Fulton. Church staff and trustees are urged to attend. The workshop will be presented by the Howard County Police Department. There is no charge for this event, however, registration is required to attend. http://www.bwcumc.org/events/safetyseminars

Howard County Police will be conducting the workshop, however, even if you don’t live in Howard County the same tips apply everywhere. This workshop is open to all churches regardless of where you are located. We are looking out for your safety! Register today!