Report from the 202^nd Session of the Baltimore Annual Conference

The 202^ndSession of the oldest conference in African Methodism, the Baltimore Annual Conference, was held March 21-24, 2018, at the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland. The host pastor was the Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant. The Rev. Cordell Hunter, Sr. was the host presiding elder and with our servant bishop, the Rt. Rev. James Levert Davis and Supervisor Arelis Davis led the way. The pre-conference activities, which included the Women’s Missionary Society Annual Convention, noonday worship led by the Sons of Allen, the official opening, and the WMS Night in White, were all were postponed due to an unprecedented Nor’easter in the Maryland area.

The official opening of the 202^ndSession of the Historic Baltimore Annual Conference convened on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at Empowerment Temple at the call of Bishop Davis. In his annual address, included in the Annual Conference Schedule of Worship & Program Guide 2018, he reminded us that the focus throughout the conferences will continue to be on “Empowering the People,” the theme for this 2018-2019 Conference Year. It provides a connection to the second year of our Second Episcopal District Quadrennial theme, “Christ Centered Principles 4 Purposeful Change,” which leads to #4REAL, Restoring Hope (year 1), Empowering the People (year 2), Advancing the Kingdom (year 3), and Leaving a Legacy (year 4).

Bishop Davis, the Rev. Hunter, the Rev. Ernest L. Montague, Sr., associate presiding elder, and the pastors, preachers, Baltimore Board of Examiners’ students, missionaries, laity, youth, visitors, family, and friends were in attendance. We blended our voices another year and sang, “And Are We Yet Alive.”

The annual sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. A. Qismat Alim, the pastor of Payne Memorial AME Church. Using Psalm 118:5-18, her sermon was entitled, “Look and Live.” The Rev. Alim took us through the history books, reminding us of who we are as African Americans and telling us that we have many reasons to “look and live.” The message was very powerful, enlightening, and inspiring to all in attendance.The music ministry lifted up awesome praise to God resulting in a spirit-filled response of the people throughout the conference worship services.

Bishop Davis called for pastoral reports. They witnessed to the vitality, growth, and spiritual impact the 2^ndEpiscopal District is demonstrating in our churches.

The Annual Lay Witness Service and the excellence of the music presentation set the atmosphere for worship. The guest speaker was the Honorable Marilyn Mosby, the 25^thState’s Attorney for Baltimore City, the youngest chief prosecutor of any major American city. The Honorable Mosby represents the laity in the body of Christ and we are so proud of her many accomplishments. Her presentation was awesome. She admonished us to become warriors and questioned if not us, then who. She added, if not now, then when. She encouraged the conference to organize, strategize, plan, and implement.

During the second day’s morning session were presentations on the website/social media and church growth, social media strategies, and youth ministry. The presenters were the Revs. Gerald Folsom, Krishnan Natesan, Vernon Ware, and Akil Dickens.

The Service of the Word, Ordination and Sacrament was held on March 23. Retired Bishop John R. Bryant preached the sermon, “Prepared to Serve,” using 2 Kings 5:1-15 as his scriptural reference. He reminded the persons being ordained that one of the major mandates of the Christian faith is service. We are called to serve all persons in the congregations where we are assigned. The message was delivered in such a dynamic way that we could feel the presence of the Shekinah glory in the house. There were six itinerant deacons, three local deacons, and three itinerant elders ordained during the ordination service.

Youth Night was held that evening, reminding us that they were indeed God’s A.R.M.Y.: Anointed, Rising, Mighty, Youth. The youth put it all together and you could hear them praising God joyously with power as you entered the sanctuary. They had liturgical dancing, steppers, and spiritual rapping. The music ministry was awesome.The message was given by the Rev. Stephen A. Green, the pastor of Heard AME Church in Roselle, New Jersey. His sermon topic was “Now What?” using the scriptural reference of 2 Chronicles 20:6-12. The message reached all the youth in attendance on their level. He told the youth to be saved, be warriors, and take action. They are the generation that won’t go away! During this experience, 22 youth received salvation, allowing the Lord to be with them in their daily lives and forevermore!

Five pastors were granted superannuation status. They were the Revs. Cynthia Harvin, Charles Walker, Terry A. Gaddy, Ann Lightner-Fuller, and Marguerite J. Savage.

The Closing Worship Service convened on March 24. The sermon was given by Bishop Adam J. Richardson, presiding prelate of the 11^thEpiscopal District. The scripture was Mark 1:29-39 for the topic, “Something Wicked This Way Comes.” The power of Christ could be felt throughout the sanctuary.

The powerful presence of the Holy Spirit was definitely present during the Conference. We closed with great zeal to serve and keep it #4REAL.