Back to All Events

Rio Texas Annual Conference


  • American Bank Center 1901 North Shoreline Boulevard Corpus Christi, TX, 78401 United States (map)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Whova with a subject line “Your tickets for 2023 Rio Texas Annual Conference.”

Get our official conference app
For Blackberry or Windows Phone, Click here
For feature details, visit Whova

Annual Conference will be livestreamed on riotexas.org/live

Transportation

Shuttle busses will run from 7:30 am - 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 8 and Friday, June 9. They will make stops at the Omni, Emerald Beach Hotel, and the American Bank Center.

May 9, 2023

Friends,

We look forward to our upcoming Annual Conference in Corpus Christi June 8-10. We will worship together, fellowship together, experience the ordination service together, and gather remembering that we are never alone. You can register for Annual Conference 2023 using the Whova link, find more information at riotexas.org/ac2023 
 
The online registration deadline will need to be changed to give us more time to process and prep for our June meeting. Online registration will now end Monday, May 22, 2023; not June 8.  
 
After the online registration deadline, you may call the conference office at 210-408-4500 or check in at the American Bank Center next to the grey “Not Registered” sign.  

Blessings,

 

Mickey McCandless
Conference Secretary

April 10, 2023

Dear Delegates:

I am excited about meeting in person at Rio Texas Annual Conference in Corpus Christi at the American Bank Center, June 8-10, 2023. Our theme is ‘Nunca Solos/ Never Alone’, Mateo 28:20/Matthew 28:20.

Registration for Annual Conference and hotels will begin through the website on April 15, 2023. The Pre-Conference Report will be placed on the Annual Conference landing page by May 8, 2023 for your reading and preparation. You can find that page at riotexas.org/ac2023

May you have safe travel to Corpus Christi, celebrate the ministry that is occurring within our Rio Texas Conference churches and Area, and gather with friends and colleagues to worship, share our ministries and address in the grace of Jesus Christ the business of the Annual Conference.

I look forward to seeing you in Corpus Christi for the 9th session of Rio Texas Annual Conference.

Blessings,

 

Mickey McCandless
Conference Secretary

Disaffiliating churches must submit the required paperwork and payments to their district superintendents on or before Wednesday, May 24, 2023 for those congregations to be considered for recommendation at the June 8 Annual Conference under ¶2553.

District Superintendents have a detailed checklist of the required paperwork.

Hotel Booking Instructions
The deadline has past to make reservations in the Rio Texas room blocks.
Rooms may be available at the full rate.
Omni Corpus Christi
900 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
361-887-1600

Emerald Beach Hotel
1102 S. Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
361-883-5731

Check-in is at 4:00PM. Check-out is at 11:00AM.

Childcare
Please register with First UMC Corpus Christi at the following link: https://forms.ministryforms.net/embed.aspx?formId=b3f54e8e-a383-4cb3-98e0-f2947b2148c2

Childcare Registration deadline is May 31

 

New this year - Lunch Vendors
We hope you stay onsite at the American Bank Center for lunch this year.

The lunch options at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi will be:

  • Chick fil A

  • Hurb's Burgers Food Truck

  • Lobby Market

Menu & Prices

Gathering, Food & Fellowship - Thursday, June 8
Please join us for free appetizers at Brewster Street Ice House 5:00-8:00 pm.
A live band will start playing at 8 pm.
Brewster Street Ice House is a short walk from the American Bank Center

Brewster Street Icehouse
1749 N. Tancahua
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Ministry Groups requesting a meeting room, breakfast, luncheon, or dinner are required to submit a room request form.

Submitting the form will help prevent double booking and ensure that your room is set up as requested. We have a limited number of rooms available. All requests will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis. For those of you requiring catering, please click on the link below for the American Bank Center’s Oakview Catering Menu. You will need to contact the Catering Sales Manager, Mengdi Liu with the room I have assigned, your menu selections and arrange payment.

They are requesting a preliminary menu selection 30 days before the event and the final guest count due 7-10 business days before the event. Any changes after the 7-10 business days deadline will result in a 30% upcharge for changes. You can email Mengdi.Liu@oakviewgroup.com or call O: 361-826-4739 C: 361-929-8005.

Please keep in mind that because of the cost of resetting a room, we may have to use a slightly altered setup however, we will try to keep it as close to your needs as possible.

The deadline for scheduling a room is April 30th.

If you have any questions, please call 210-408-4443 or email Frank Cortez.

Agenda

JUNE 7, 2023 – Wednesday
1:00pm – 5:00pm                     
Check-in- Gathering Area, Exhibit Hall B

JUNE 8, 2023 - Thursday
7:00am – 10:30am
Check-in- Gathering Area, Exhibit Hall B

9:00am – 10:00am                   
1st Plenary Session - Henry Garrett Ballrooms A & B
Call to Order
Congregational Singing
Devotional
Organization of 1st Plenary Session
Report of Conference Trustees – Disaffiliation Process
Motion and Vote
Litany of Blessing and Lament
Congregational Singing
Adjournment of 1st Plenary Session

10:00am – 10:30am
Break

10:30am – 12:00pm                 
Opening Worship with Holy Communion - Henry Garrett Ballrooms A & B

12:00pm – 1:00pm
Break for Lunch 

1:00pm – 2:00pm
Clergy Session- Henry Garrett Ballrooms A & B           

1:30pm – 2:30pm
Laity Session-Watergarden Room A           

2:30pm – 3:00pm
Break 

3:00pm - 5:30pm
2nd Plenary Session - Exhibit Hall B
Call to Order & Prayer
Introductions and Opening Statements
Organization of Plenary Sessions 2-5
Consent Agenda I & II, Motion and Vote
Report of Standing Rules
Bishop’s Message
Lay Leader Message
Recognition of 150 Years of Mexican & Mexican American Ministry
Break for Move to Service of Remembrance
Service of Remembrance - Henry Garrett A & B
Adjournment of 2nd Plenary Session           

5:30pm – 8:00pm
Gathering, Food & Fellowship                           
Brewster Street Ice House
1749 N. Tancahua

JUNE 9, 2023 - Friday
7:00am – 8:30am
Mission Breakfast - WaterGarden A

9:00am – 12:04pm
3rd Plenary Session - Exhibit Hall B
Call to Order & Prayer
Preliminary Nominations Process
Huston Tillotson University
Church & Society - Border Minstry
An Invitation from Reconciling Ministries Network
Lydia Patterson Institute
Preliminary Finance Table Report
Wespath
Break
Methodist Healthcare Ministries
Teaching Session I
Break
United Women in Faith
Project Transformation
Panel Discussion – Local Church & College Ministry
Adjournment – 3rd Plenary Session
Break for Lunch

12:15pm – 1:00pm                   
Finance Table Dialogue for Questions & Answers - Room 105 

12:15pm – 1:00pm                   
Rehearsal for Ordination & Commissioning - Henry Garrett Ballrooms A & B

2:00pm – 2:50pm         
Service of Retirement - Exhibit Hall B 

2:50pm – 5:00pm                     
4th Plenary Session - Exhibit Hall B
Call to Order & Prayer
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Board of Ordained Ministry Report & Introductions of Persons to be Commissioned & Ordained
Texas Methodist Foundation
Celebration of Creating and Vitalizing Congregations & Developing Leaders
Teaching Session II
Adjournment of 4th Plenary Session

7:00pm – 9:00pm                     
Service of Commissioning and Ordination - Henry Garrett Ballrooms A & B

9:00pm – 9:45pm
Reception for Commissioned and Ordained - Pre-function Area

JUNE 10, 2023 - Saturday
8:30am – 12:00pm
5th Plenary Session - Exhibit Hall B
Call to Order & Prayer
Celebration of Intergenerational Ministries
Celebration of Mission, Service & Justice Ministries
Break
Report of the Bishop’s Task Force on Race & Culture
Trustees Report
Report of the Jurisdictional Conference Delegation
Pensions & Benefits Report
Finance Table Report
Nominations Slate, Motion & Voting
Celebration of Administrative Ministry
Cabinet Report
Announcement of Dates & Location of 2024 Rio Texas Conference
Fixing of Appointments with Covenant Prayer
Adjournment of 5th Plenary Session and 9th Rio Texas Annual Conference

Churches to be recommended for disaffiliation by Trustees for June 8 Vote:

1. Art UMC
2. Belmont UMC
3. Bracken UMC
4. *Bronte: First UMC
5. Bulverde UMC
6. Center Point UMC
7. Christine UMC
8. Falfurrias: First UMC
9. Fannin UMC
10. Fashing UMC
11. Goliad: First UMC
12. Gonzales: First UMC
13. Hondo UMC
14. Industry UMC
15. Junction: First UMC
16. London UMC
17. Lytle UMC
18. Marble Falls UMC
19. Menard: First UMC
20. Mercedes: El Buen Pastor UMC
21. Monthalia UMC
22. Nixon UMC
23. Pettus UMC
24. Pleasanton: First UMC
25. Rio Grande City: St. John UMC
26. SAng: First UMC
27. *SAnt: Coker UMC
28. SAnt: Harlandale UMC
29. SAnt: Korean UMC
30. SAnt: Oak Island UMC
31. *SAnt: University UMC
32. Seguin: First UMC
33. Somerset UMC
34. Weslaco: La Santisima Trinidad UMC

Earlier Event: June 7
UMC Global Ministries Abundant Health Network
Later Event: June 9
Mission Breakfast