February 25–26, 2027 | Bethany United Methodist Church | Austin, Texas

Every local church has a story to tell, and the people who help share those stories play an important role in connecting congregations with their communities.

The Rio Texas Conference is excited to help local churches participate in the 2027 United Methodist Association of Communicators (UMAC) Annual Meeting, February 25–26 in Austin, Texas.

This gathering brings together communicators from across The United Methodist Church for opportunities to learn new skills, exchange ideas, build relationships, and discover creative ways to strengthen communications ministry.

Through its Transforming Congregations initiative, the Rio Texas Conference is helping make this opportunity more accessible by providing reimbursement assistance for local church representatives attending UMAC 2027.

Registration Reimbursement Request Deadline: December 1, 2026

UMAC 2025 GATHERING – CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION, Leawood, Kansas

Who Can Participate?

You don't need to have an official communications title or be a paid church staff member to participate!

Breakout sessions during the 2025 umac gathering

Whether you manage your church's social media, create bulletins, maintain a website, take photographs, produce videos, or simply help share what's happening in your congregation, this opportunity is for you.

Participation is open to pastors, church staff, and volunteers who have been designated or authorized by their local church leadership to attend on behalf of their congregation.

Reimbursement Assistance

Through the Rio Texas Conference's Transforming Congregations initiative, reimbursement assistance is available to help cover the costs of attending UMAC 2027.

Reimbursement assistance may include:
• Registration: Up to $250 for the UMAC 2027 local church registration fee, reimbursed in 2026. Additional guest banquet tickets ($75) are not eligible for reimbursement.
• Lodging: Eligible hotel expenses associated with attending the gathering, reimbursed after the event in 2027.
• Travel: Eligible transportation expenses, including mileage for those driving to Austin, reimbursed after the event in 2027.

Participants are responsible for paying their expenses upfront and submitting the required documentation for reimbursement.

Reimbursement assistance is subject to available funding and Rio Texas Conference reimbursement policies.

How to Participate

1. Register for UMAC 2027
Register for the gathering through the United Methodist Association of Communicators. Be sure to save your registration receipt, as you will need it to request reimbursement.

The UMAC 2027 local church registration rate is $250. Please select the local church rate when registering.

Your registration includes admission to the Awards Banquet taking place on Friday, February 26, 2027. Additional banquet tickets are only needed for guests who are not registered for UMAC 2027 and are not covered by Rio Texas reimbursement assistance.

Register for UMAC 2027

2. Request Registration Reimbursement
Once registered, complete the Rio Texas Conference reimbursement request form. You'll be asked to provide your contact information, local church affiliation, confirmation of church leadership authorization, and a brief description of how attending UMAC could benefit your congregation.

You'll also upload your registration receipt as part of the form.

Registration reimbursement requests must be submitted by December 1, 2026. Registration expenses will be reimbursed in 2026. Reimbursements will be processed according to Rio Texas Conference reimbursement procedures.

Submit Your Registration Reimbursement Request

3. Make Your Travel Arrangements and Attend UMAC 2027
Join us February 25–26 in Austin! Participants are responsible for making their own travel and lodging arrangements. If lodging is needed, we encourage you to explore the UMAC conference hotel options.

Be sure to save your hotel receipts and keep a record of eligible travel expenses, including round-trip mileage, for reimbursement following the gathering.

UMAC Hotel Block Options

4. Request Travel and Lodging Reimbursement
Following UMAC 2027, participants who submitted a registration reimbursement request will receive an email with a link to a separate form to request reimbursement for eligible travel and lodging expenses.

Participants will be asked to submit their hotel receipts, travel expenses, and mileage information, along with a brief reflection on what they learned and how they plan to apply it within their local church.

Travel and lodging reimbursements will be processed in 2027 according to Rio Texas Conference reimbursement procedures.