Information about new appointments will be posted to this page on Tuesday at noon during the appointive season. Appointments may also be added as necessary.
Meet Me in St. Louis
By Rev. Teresa Welborn
As The United Methodist Church’s special called session of General Conference approaches, my mind moves back and forth from what I’ve experienced in the past to what I anticipate for the future. I do not have extensive General Conference experience, but I have some. I attended the 2008 General Conference as the first reserve delegate from the Southwest Texas Conference. I served as a delegate in 2016 for the Rio Texas Conference and will head to St. Louis later this month as a delegate.
In recent days, I find myself reflecting on past experiences and wondering about the future. I know I’m not alone in my thinking back and looking ahead. Here I join the many different people from many different places who are sharing their thoughts and hopes. I will meet some of you face to face in St. Louis. Others of you can meet me right here in this blog where I will share a few of my reflections over the next few weeks.
Rio Texas Disaster Response Celebrates House Blessing in Rockport
Rio Texas Disaster Response celebrated a wonderful house blessing in Rockport hosted by Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) on February 12.
For this case, Rio Texas provided the case management and construction supervision as well as the UMCOR funding for the demo and materials.
MDS provided the labor for building the house.
Planning to Retire One Day?
The Rio Texas Pensions office is offering two exciting and information filled opportunities to clergy who plan to retire one day, whether in 2019 or in 2039! On Monday, March 25, a Plan for Your Future Retirement seminar will begin at 9:30am at University UMC, San Antonio, in the John Wesley Room. Topics will include Pensions, presented by Wespath; Achieving Financial Wellness & Estate Planning, presented by Ernst & Young; and Social Security & Medicare, presented by Your Social Security Strategies. Registration opens at 9:00AM. The class is free but you must register CLICK HERE. Lunch will be provided. This will be a day well spent for all clergy, and their spouses, who plan to, one day, retire. CLICK HERE for the agenda.
If you are planning to retire in 2019, you and your spouse are encouraged to attend the Clergy Retirement Planning Seminar on Tuesday, March 26, at University UMC, San Antonio, in the John Wesley Room. The fun begins at 9:30am with registration opening at 9:00am. Presenters are our own Isabel Muñoz, a Wespath representative, and retired elders Grady Roe and Lynn Barton. Lunch will be provided. The class is free but you must register CLICK HERE. During registration you will have the option to schedule the taping of your retirement video at University UMC on March 25 or 26. This seminar is intended for clergy who will retire in 2019 and their spouses. CLICK HERE for the agenda.
These seminars are open to Rio Texas Conference clergy and their spouses. If you plan to attend both days, please note that each day has its own registration; you must register twice. Your spouse’s registration is at the bottom of the registration page. If you have questions about these events, contact Nan Pyle.
Join members of your Rio Texas delegation to General Conference 2019 as they review the plans presented by The Commission on a Way Forward. Each plan will be presented by a member of the delegation with time for question and answer.
Our Feb. 20 webinar is currently at full capacity.
If you are interested in being on a waiting list for this webinar, please fill out this form.
If you have already signed up for the Feb. 20 webinar but will not be attending, please contact Austin Newton and let us know so we can fill your seat.
Rio Texas Conference Scholarship Applications Available Online!
The Rio Texas Conference Scholarship Team is accepting applications for the Scholarship Nominations Awards Program! The deadline is April 1, 2019.
There are two scholarships for the Rio Texas Annual Conference undergraduate students. The Craven-Wilson Scholarship is specifically awarded to students attending Texas Wesleyan University, (Ft. Worth, Texas) and The Albert & Nancy Wilson Scholarship for students in colleges or universities. High school students through college seniors seeking their first undergraduate degree are eligible to be nominated for these programs.
These scholarship fund resources are available and considered annually for distribution to full-time students in the Rio Texas Conference attending an accredited college or university. Because of the limited number of scholarships available, the process is highly competitive. Please make sure that all of the forms requested are fully completed prior to sending in your Scholarship Nomination Application packet. Incomplete applications will not qualify for consideration. Completed packets are due no later than April 1, 2018.
It's time to schedule your May-Aug Trusted con Confianza facilitated sessions.
Summer is quickly approaching and with the summer months many exciting ministry opportunities.
As you plan for May, June, July, and August ministries, the Trusted Facilitator team is asking that you submit all May-Aug facilitated session requests to the office of Intergenerational Discipleship no later than April 1st.
Giving us advance notice will ensure we have the time we need to identify and confirm a facilitator for your desired location. We will not be scheduling facilitated sessions for May-Aug after April 15th. We appreciate your understanding and help as we seek to ensure there are enough trainings this summer for all of our churches.
Please Note: We ask that in-person training requests be for 50 or more people and online training requests be for 10 or more participants.
Cost: In order to bring in a facilitator we ask churches to pay for mileage and any other costs (food/hotel). We also ask that you consider an honorarium for our facilitator (suggested donation is $150).
Rio Texas United Methodist Historical Society General Meeting is Feb. 23 at 10 am at the Conference Office. "We are now designing and implementing the programmatic aspects of the Society. Success depends on developing a viable and active community that pursues meaningful and beneficial programs. The objective is not to duplicate Conference programs, but rather to develop compatible and supportive functions."
UMM's Men's Ministry Weekend will take place at University UMC: San Antonio on March 23 with Keynote Speaker Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Conference
Planning for the summer? You don't want to miss Youth 2019!
Join thousands for 4 days of discipleship, worship, Bible study, service opportunities, and life-changing fun!
The Rio Texas Conference Youth Ministry Council is sponsoring a bus from San Antonio to Kansas City, Missouri. Reserve now!
Transforming Thresholds of Heart and Mind: A Four Gospel Journey
Guest Presenter: Dr. Alexander John Shaia
Sunday, March 24, 3:00 pm to
Wednesday, March 27, Noon
Oblate Renewal Center
5700 Blanco Road, San Antonio, Texas 210-349-4173
