The heart of Christian ministry is Christ’s ministry of outreaching love. Christian ministry is the expression of the mind and mission of Christ by a community of Christians that demonstrates a common life of gratitude and devotion, witness and service, celebrations and discipleship. All Christians are called through their baptism to this ministry of servanthood in the world to the glory of God and for human fulfillment.
--The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, Para. 125
The Baltimore-Washington Conference, its churches and their members are responsible for a multitude of ministries that touch and transform lives throughout our region, the nation and the world. Each is a sign and instrument of Christ’s outreaching love and liberating gospel that offer hope and healing to a world in need.
The ministries to which we are called and respond as clergy and laity are diverse beyond measure. Together, we are evidence of the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, that "there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit," varieties of services and activities, but the same Lord and God who "activates all of them in everyone."We are preachers, teachers, evangelists and missionaries, church and conference administrators, treasurers and financial managers, communicators, musicians and worship leaders, community organizers and advocates of justice and mercy. The list is virtually endless, but of all the things we are, we are first and foremost faithful disciples of the living Christ, baptized into servanthood and the ministry of all believers.
Our ministries are as large-scale as our participation in denominational efforts to respond to the global AIDS pandemic and as small as a local church after-school program, where children learn and play. This section of the Web site offers mere glimpses of such ministries occurring in churches and communities throughout our conference and beyond our borders. Particular focus is given to the ways in which our conference resources churches to help them call, equip, send and support leaders who are making and engaging disciples for Jesus Christ each and every day.
We invite you to share with us your insights and perspectives on ministry and any reports on how your church is living out the Discipleship Adventure. Please write to us, so that we may help your church – our church – tell its story.
"The people of God, who are the church made visible in the world, must convince the world of the reality of the gospel or leave it unconvinced. There can be no evasion or delegation of this responsibility; the church is either faithful as a witnessing and serving community, or it loses its vitality and its impact on an unbelieving world."
-- The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, Para. 128
