Dear Clergy and Laity of the Rio Texas Annual Conference,
In accordance with ¶603.5 of The United Methodist Book of Discipline, I hereby call for a special session of the Rio Texas Annual Conference on Saturday, December 2, 2023, beginning at 10:00 a.m. CDT. The special session will be conducted in person and shall include and be limited to the following business:
Voting on the Rio Texas Conference Board of Trustees’ recommendations for the churches disaffiliating per the provisions of ¶2553.
I want to encourage you to attend this meaningful special session of the annual conference. We will need to do our business, but we see this as a wonderful opportunity to reenforce our identity and embrace our future with a teaching session from a gifted clergy in the connection, Rev. Matt Miofsky. In addition, join us for an inspirational worship service and holy communion with Bishop Laura Merrill. Please watch this video of the invitation!
All guests are welcome! We encourage both guests and delegates to register. Doors open at 9 am
For more information or questions regarding delegates, please contact your district office.
Please register on EventBrite by Monday, November 20 Monday, November 27
Registration for onsite childcare at ahumc.org/childcare. Childcare registration closes Monday, November 20.
Peace,
Bishop Robert Schnase
Rio Texas Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church
Important Details to Consider about Saturday, December 2 Special Called Session
Who – Everyone is welcome! When you arrive, delegates will need to check-in at the CLC Lobby to receive a ballot. The short business portion is for voting delegates who attended the June 2023 Annual Conference in Corpus Christi via ¶602.5. Open seating is available for all delegates and guests in the sanctuary.
Special teaching guest – Rev. Matt Miofsky
Preaching in worship – Bishop Laura Merrill
What – This is a Special Called Session of Annual Conference and is being called to accommodate the congregations who have completed the discernment steps.
Where – Alamo Heights UMC in San Antonio. 825 E. Basse Rd. San Antonio, TX 78209. Please enter into the parking lot from Treeline Park, W Nottingham, or Peter Baque Rd. Please do not enter from Basse.
When – December 2nd at 10am to 1pm. Doors open at 9 am. We are anticipating a gathering of approximately three hours. Learning and Worshipping in the Sanctuary will be part of the experience.
Why – We anticipate enough congregations will have completed the discernment process for disaffiliation and this is a needed step. (Discerning Pathways Disaffiliation Documents — Rio Texas Annual Conference). Additional opportunities to complete this step will be offered as appropriate.
Conference trustees will need to have all paperwork submitted to the conference office by November 18, 2023 *November 16, 2023 for those congregations to be considered for recommendation to the called special under ¶2553. District superintendents have a detailed checklist of the required paperwork.
*Revised to consider the holidays
The United Methodist Rio Texas Conference Board of Trustees recommends the following churches for disaffiliation.
1. Bandera UMC
2. Brady: First UMC
3. Corpus Christi: St Peter’s By the Sea UMC
4. Edcouch: First UMC
5. Elsa: First UMC
6. Harlingen: El Buen Samaritano UMC
7. Yoakum: Hope UMC
8. Lockhart: First UMC
9. Lolita UMC
10. McAllen: El Divino Redentor UMC
11. Ozona UMC
12. Paint Rock: First UMC
13. Point Comfort UMC
14. Refugio UMC
15. Temple: El Divino Salvador UMC
16. Waco: Latin American UMC
17. Port Arthur: Getsemani UMC*