The Texas United Methodist College Association (TUMCA) has awarded scholarships to seven Rio Texas Conference Students for the 2023 school year. These scholarships represent a personal use of funds contributed to TUMCA by the local churches of the Conference. Scholarship recipients must be United Methodist students from the state of Texas. We are proud of our Rio Texas students…Congratulations!

TUMCA scholarship recipients for 2022 -2023 from the Rio Texas Conference are:

Name University Home Church

1. Caleb Bush McMurry Sierra Vista UMC, San Angelo, TX

2. Metts Grant McMurry FUMC Nederland, TX

3. Nolan Steelman McMurry Utopia UMC, Utopia TX

4. Bryan Maxwell SMU University UMC, San Antonio, TX

5. Kaleb Knighten Southwestern St. John’s UMC, Austin, TX

6. Sterlin Rivers Huston-Tillotson Metropolitan AME, Austin, TX

7. John Gilleland Huston-Tillotson First UMC, Bastrop, TX

We at TUMCA are proud of these scholars from churches in the Rio Texas Conference.

James C. Lewis TUMCA President

March 18, 2015

Nathaniel O'Dell named Executive Director of Project Transformation Rio Texas

March 18, 2015/ AWN

Nathaniel O'Dell has been named Executive Director of Project Transformation Rio Texas.

March 17, 2015

Calling All (Singing) Clergy

March 17, 2015/ AWN

Everyone knows that Methodists are known as a singing group, and Methodist clergy are particularly fond of singing. So, do we have a deal for you! This year at the ordination service on Sunday, June 14, the music will be provided by a choir made up of any clergy who would like to participate. Plans are still shaping up, but here’s what we can tell you now:

Music will be selected and made available ahead of time.
Area-wide rehearsals may be available before conference time.
At least one rehearsal at conference will be required. That time is still being determined.

Interested? Please send an email to Rev. Russell Miller with your name, appointment, and voice part. You will be contacted as plans develop.

rmiller@fumc-boerne.org

March 12, 2015

Clergy Mondays at State Capitol Start with SB 185

March 12, 2015/ AWN

In response to growing demand from clergy around the state, Texas Impact is launching Clergy Mondays at the Capitol in Austin for clergy and other religious professionals.

This new initiative is designed to give clergy and other religious professionals opportunities for ongoing interaction with legislators and their staffs through the rest of the current legislative session and beyond.

March 05, 2015

A Word from Conference Lay Leader, Ralph Thompson

March 05, 2015/ Ralph Thompson

I have a confession to share! A few nights ago, I slipped on my shoes, picked through the clothes in the closet to retrieve my warmest jacket, found the woolen cap that I very seldom wear, and ventured out into the cold to my truck. When I got to the truck, I had forgotten what I had gone out to get!

March 04, 2015

Mission Service Project 2015

March 04, 2015/ AWN

Mission Service Project (MSP) is first and foremost a youth ministry sharing God's unconditional love in His mission in the world. It is often a life changing experience for youth and adults alike, no matter how many times they may have attended MSP in the past.

March 03, 2015

UMCOR Celebrates Anniversary by Helping, Giving

March 03, 2015/ AWN

Most congregations in the Rio Texas Conference may not know the extent to which United Methodist Committee of Relief (UMCOR) supports disaster response and immigration programs in the conference. During the past six years, UMCOR has made 17 grants through the conferences formerly known as the Southwest Texas Conference and Rio Grande Conference totaling $502,500. In addition, they have made a grant to the Austin Chapter of Justice for Our Neighbor (JFON) for $100,000, bringing the total to $602,000.

UMCOR has important international disaster response programs as well as international development programs that work alongside communities to develop water sanitation and hygiene, sustainable agriculture, and community-based primary health care.

Grants from UMCOR provide many additional services to the Rio Texas Conference at no cost.

UMCOR has provided expert consultants to work with Disaster Response leadership as well as pastors and congregations in areas devastated by disasters. They send experts to teach courses needed to carry out our disaster relief ministry.

UMCOR Academy at Sager Brown, LA is held each year and offers advanced training to Disaster Response leadership in the conference. UMCOR provides assistance to the South Central Jurisdiction to offer an annual Disaster Response academy. Dozens of United Methodists from the Rio Texas Conference have attended these workshops. UMCOR has developed tools to assist local churches as they develop their own disaster response plans, such as coaches to help start these programs.

UMCOR supplies flood buckets and health kits when the supply in the Conference is insufficient to meet the demand during a disaster. They also help certify Early Response Trainers within the conference so that more than 500 ERT team members have been trained and credentialed under UMCOR guidelines.

During the past six years, UMCOR has offered Spiritual and Emotional Care workshops to people within the conference on four occasions. They have even offered Case Management Training nine times.

The Rio Texas Conference’s relationship with UMCOR is also enhanced by our cooperative relationship through the Martinez Disaster Response Center in Kerrville, TX. It is one of six warehouses that are part of the UMCOR Relief Supply Network.

UMCOR is celebrating 75 years of being with those in crises around the world this month. The One Great Hour of Sharing Special will take place on Sunday, Mar. 15. Proceeds will benefit UMCOR’s administrative costs.

For information on UMCOR’s work in the Rio Texas Conference, you can contact Eugene Hileman, Conference Disaster Coordinator at aehileman@riotexas.org, 210-557-8698.