The American Baptist Churches of the South, for the last ten years, has conducted our annual leadership conference, called Green Lake South, at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly, Blackstone, VA. This facility and our annual event held each July has caused us to wish for a similar facility. The United Methodist Conference Center located just 1-1/2 miles on the west loop of the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) is already known to many persons. ABCOTS would utilize the building for our administrative offices, in the larger portion of the first floor, and convert the second and third floors for small group meeting areas and sleeping accommodations for a retreat center. In-kind space would be provided for outside services like Pastoral Counseling services, with the staffing being the responsibility of a certified group or institution. Counseling and guidance would be offered for church leaders seeking to know how their gifts can be used in the most productive way possible. Missionary in Residence: An efficiency unit would be provided for missionaries on short term assignments or furlough to live in for 4-6 weeks. They will be able to visit churches in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC areas for teaching, conducting workshops, engaging in continuing education events, or fulfilling speaking assignments. This brings missionaries in direct contact with the local church and serves as a recruiting ministry. All church leaders should have lifelong opportunities for continuing education in the form of workshops, conferences, and support systems for nurturing and faith development. Professional counseling is needed in a wide range of psychological services to individuals, families, couples, and organizations. The Conference Center would also be utilized as a mission center for resourcing our churches, a training center, seminar facility, a renewal haven, and a place for community ministries. In addition to the focus for ABCOTS' congregations, we envision endless opportunities to network with wider religious, non-profit bodies and social service providers in giving authenticity to the title "Mission Center." Such resourcing facilitates spiritual reflection and dialogue about how God transforms creation through providential grace, redemptive healing, and creative lifestyle changes associated with and related to the Baltimore/Washington urban environment. |
