This is St Luke's 56th pie-making season!!Help is needed to make pies each Tuesday, beginning July 7, at 8 AM at St Luke's. You don't have to commit every week—show up when you can! No experience is necessary! If you have any questions, please call Ruthanne Thompson in the SLUMC Church office (304-263-2788) or Shelley Mullinix (304-261-7578). To order pies, order forms can be found at your campus.

2026 Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference Laity Report

As your Lay Members to AC, we give this report of the 242nd Session of the Balt Wash Annual Conference held May 24-26, 2026, at the Hilton Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore, MD. Our Theme: “Rooted in Christ: Love boldly” following the new mission/vision statement of the UMC. “The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.”Guiding Scriptures: Ephesians 3:16-19 …that God may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through the Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love…Participants: 1000 clergy and laity representing the 559 churches that make up our conference. Items covered at the Annual Conference:1. Workshops2. Laity Session/clergy session3. Resolutions4. Passing of the BWC AC annual budget5. Ordination and CommissioningWorkshops are back! All were invited to attend one of 12. Topics were varied from the basic “AC Orientation for first timers” to going deep into learning how to be a beacon of hope for your congregation and community. I attended the Methodist Community Roots Walking Pilgrimage and learned more about our fascinating Methodist roots that began in Baltimore.Laity Session. Laity Session led by Ken Willard. We were asked to reflect on the role of lay disciples in the church's mission and were challenged to embrace evangelism as an expression of bold love. Looking at Isa 52:7: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God Reigns” NRSVUE. Our God reigns!! That is the message we should announce to the world! Which leads to 1 Peter 3:15: Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. Making disciples is the work of everyone, not just Pastors. The BWC Annual Conference passed all seven resolutions presented.1. Fossil Fuel Divestment and A Just Transition for Creation Care.2. Faith in Action: Actively follow our membership vows.3. Revamp the Pastors Evaluation Form. Long overdue for updating.4. Establish Campus Ministry Sunday. A special Sunday near the beginning of May with an offering to support Campus ministry programs.5. Director of Connectional Ministries. Update rules to 2020/2024 BoD.6. Amend time limits of the Episcopal Nominee Endorsement Process.7. Amend the Conference Membership Rule. Update to 2020/2024 BoD.Council of Finance and Administration - Passed the 2027 Budget. Misson Shares/apportionments will not change in 2027 but remain at the 2026 amount.There were two church closures. We give thanks to God for their faithful ministries and the witness they have provided to their communities and the world. Both churches were closed due to declining membership.Youth Items: · “Ignite Youth Conference” will be held (March (?) 2027 in Ocean City MD) – There will be many (3) campfire events leading up to this conference.· Young People’s Ministry. Presented a skit to ask if we are listening to our young people. Do we engage them in worship? There will be an Intergenerational Worship Summit on June 27, 2026. More info can be found on the BWC website.Vitality 360 –Congregational Vitality presented by Bill BrownThis presentation asks us to look around us and see what our “neighborhood” looks like. Not only are we connected inside, but outside as well. This is what the 360 survey will help us in recognizing our neighbors. This office is available to assist us with seeing all the people. Ordination Service. One member was to be commissioned as a Provisional Elder; three were ordained as Deacons; eight were ordained as Elders, in a beautiful and moving service. Oh the joy!In closing, Bishop Easterling reminded us, “When we go together, it's twice the joy and half the grief. When we go together, the roots are deeper and stronger. When we go together, we gain the courage to love more boldly."There was so much more! The inspirational and encouraging morning Bible Studies, the praise music, the engaging Holy Conferencing, and the wonderful fellowship! So much to do, see, and hear in three days! If you have any questions or would like to hear more about the Conference, please contact one of your lay members, or your pastors. Thank you for allowing us to represent you all at this year’s Annual Conference. Cathy Parlett, St. Luke’s UMC Lay Member to BWC Annual ConferenceAshley Albright, MCP Administrator