2025 UMCD Maryland Conference
Registration*

The purpose of the conference is to engage the Deaf community, to network, and support Deaf Ministries across the United Methodist connection. Voice interpretation will be available for Track 2 of the conference and all open sessions when everyone is gathered together.

1. REGISTRATION COSTS
^{$125 for UMCD Members
$125 fee includes a membership fee, registration & meals for Friday & Saturday (hotel is additional – $112 a night).}

^{$199 for Non-Members
$199 for non-members registration which includes meals
(hotel is additional – $112 a night) – consider becoming a member & save.}

<sup>The conference has sold out. Normally, there are two ways to register. Either register and pay online OR download a registration form and mail it in with your check. Both options are also at the top of this webpage. Scholarship requests should be done PRIOR to registering.
* * * Conference registration deadline is September 1, 2025 * * *</sup>

2. HOTEL
^{Click Here to reserve your hotel room at the Best Western Plus in Elkridge, MD – it is $112 a night and the hotel offers a free shuttle and free breakfast. If you prefer to call the hotel, their phone number is 410-796-3300 with UMCD as the promotion code.
HOTEL OPTION 1 – $336 for 3 nights – Thursday, Friday & Saturday and check out Sunday morning (RECOMMENDED)
(If you have a roommate, it is $168 each for 3 nights)
HOTEL OPTION 2 – $224 for 2 nights – Friday and Saturday
(If you have a roommate, it is $112 each for 2 nights)
HOTEL OPTION 3 – $112 for 1 night – either Friday OR Saturday
(If you have a roommate, it is $64 each for 1 night)
Roommates are NOT arranged and participants are encouraged to identify their own roommates. The Stain Glass Pub (restaurant) is next door for persons arriving on Thursday afternoon / evening (Thursday’s dinner is on your own.)
(Persons needing a scholarship should first complete the scholarship form PRIOR to reserving your room to ensure you are approved. Contact Rev. Leo at [email protected] with any questions.)}

3. CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
<sup>Click Here for a video overview of the conference agenda.
Check out the conference schedule: PDF | plain schedule with no colors.
Program Booklets will be available, as well as a QR Code to view on your tablet or phone.
Registration opens up on Friday, September 12th at 8:30am.
Opening Worship begins at 9:30am.
There are 2 TRACKS.*
TRACK 1: Certified Lay Servant – Advanced – Completing 10-hours of a Spiritual Gifts class between Friday and Saturday of the conference. This will be presented in ASL. Instructors are Alma Andrews and Sarah Yates, both Certified Lay Servants.
* IMPORTANT – To participate in this class, individuals must have completed the CLS – Basic class in order to enroll in the Advanced class. Once completed, the participant will qualify for being a Certified Lay Servant in The United Methodist Church where they typically serve in their local church. Conference coordinators will contact the participant’s church to share the certificate.

TRACK 2: General – Sessions include Applying for Deaf Ministry Grants, Introduction to DeafBlind Ministries, Overview of the Clagett Statement, UMCD History & Future and more! There will be voice interpretation for TRACK 2 hearing participants.</sup>

^{While the conference concludes on Saturday evening, participants are invited to attend Magothy Deaf Church on Sunday morning for the church’s 10:30am worship service. Transportation will be arranged for persons who need it. If attending the worship service, reserve flights for 1:30pm or later. The church is about 15-20-minutes from the hotel AND the church is 15-minutes from the airport (to go right after worship).}

4. UMCD MEMBERSHIP
^{View the short video by the Membership Coordinator about saving on your conference registration. There are 5 member categories: Full Member, Supporting Member, Affiliate Member, Church or Group Member, and a Non-Member / Visitor. Check out the About Us page to learn more about becoming a member. By becoming a UMCD member, conference participants receive a discount on their registration.}

5. SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
_{Due to scholarships being extremely limited, they are NOT guaranteed. Click here to complete the scholarship form and apply EARLY. Contact Rev. Leo Yates at [email protected] if you have questions about the scholarships. There are 3 types of scholarships.}

<sub>* DAILY COMMUTER SCHOLARSHIP – This is a $100 partial scholarship that only covers meals on Friday and Saturday as you will drive back and forth to the conference – your registration cost is $25 (covers your registration & UMCD membership fee)

* HOTEL & MEALS SCHOLARSHIP – This is a $250 partial scholarship (covers conference registration, meals and hotel for double occupancy) – arriving on Thursday evening and checking out on Sunday morning – your registration cost is $50 (covers your registration & UMCD membership fee)

* MEALS SCHOLARSHIP – This is a $100 partial scholarship for the meals on Friday & Saturday (only covers your meals) – your registration cost is $25 which covers your registration and UMCD membership fee – you are still responsible for your hotel costs.</sub>

6. AIRPORT

_{For guests flying to Maryland, they are encouraged to fly to Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) as it is only 15-minutes away with free shuttle service by the Best Western Plus. There is no free transportation from DCA or IAD though taking the train to BWI Train station (take the MARC train), and then taking an Uber / Lyft, and/or a taxi are possible but will be expensive from the DCA and IAD.}

_{* Wish to support someone else’s scholarship? Send a check payable to UMCD and put in the memo which scholarship (e.g., “Support hotel & meals scholarship”) you’d like to support. Thank you for your generosity. Checks can be mailed to
UMCD
Attn: Rev. Leo Yates
3703 Mountain Rd
Pasadena, MD 21122}

Greetings from the NEJ

Rev. Dr. Leo Yates, Jr. from Magothy Deaf Church, a Deaf church in the Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ), shares his greetings and invitation to the September conference. Magothy Deaf Church is the hosting church for the conference.

Greetings from the NEJ Board

Karen Miller (president) and Pastor Rick Kelly (secretary) welcomes UMCD to the Northeastern Jurisdiction for this September’s conference.