Since 1975, The Meeting House in the Village of Oakland Mills has simultaneously housed religious congregations of many faiths, as was the intention of developer James Rouse. His vision encouraged understanding and respect for religious diversity. As one of three interfaith centers in Columbia, many community residents have likely walked through its doors. If not for a religious service, they may have attended a wedding, community event, or corporate meeting.

Along with the building’s five religious organizations that own and operate The Meeting House, the facility hosts meetings for a range of organizations, including the Maryland State Department of Education, Leadership Howard County, and the Y of Central Maryland, to name just a few.

After limited use due to COVID-19, Event Manager Ellen Budd feels enthusiastic about filling the space with visitors once again.

“I love welcoming people back into the building. You walk in, and it is such a warm feeling.” Budd says she has seen an increase in visitors and events over the past eight months. 

The Meeting House employs the most ideal person to coordinate events. For 20 years, Budd was the catering manager at the Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel, which today is the Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel, owned by Marriott. Budd estimates she’s coordinated at least 1,000 weddings and certainly just as many corporate events.

She jokes that she wouldn’t have become the event manager if she hadn’t wanted fried rice one particular evening.

“I went into a local Chinese restaurant to pick up dinner, and I saw a friend and his wife eating dinner along with another couple — who happened to be on the Board of the Meeting House.”

Their eyes lit up when Budd told them she was planning to retire from the Sheraton in a few months. They were in the process of creating a new position at The Meeting House, an event manager, to encourage the use of the space by the greater community and provide a source of revenue for the five congregations. The building’s 33,000 square feet include classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, and large spaces for conferences and celebrations.

The building is an exceptional venue for weddings, Budd says, with the ability to have the ceremony onsite, the cocktail hour in The Meeting House Art Gallery, and the reception in one of the two banquet halls. The 290 parking spaces and handicapped-accessible building couldn’t be more convenient for visitors.

For corporate and community events, visitors can choose from rooms of various sizes equipped with Wi-Fi and internet streaming capabilities. Wired microphones and projection screens are included in the rental fee. A portable television and DVD player can be rented separately, as can a 60” flat-panel TV with HDMI connectivity.

“There is always somebody in the building to help guests with whatever needs they have,” Budd said. “They are here to help, and they’re always going to ask, ‘What can I do for you?’ and say yes.”

Budd gives her total attention to weddings, quinceañeras, and bar and bat mitzvahs, unlike at a large hotel where each of these momentous events is just one of many.

Budd expects to coordinate many more events as people feel more comfortable gathering again. Community events can be found at http://themeetinghouse.org/. For anyone looking to host an event, rent a meeting space, or hold a conference, call 443-510-7076 or email [email protected].