Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, Interim Bishop of Record for the Rio Texas Conference, welcomes Bishop Robert Schnase back to the Rio Texas Conference. Bishop Robert Schnase will begin his term as Bishop for the Rio Texas Conference on September 1.
Interim Bishop of Record, Janice Riggle Huie, has announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Robert Lopez as District Superintendent of El Valle District effective Sept. 1. Robert is currently the superintendent of the Crossroads District and will continue to serve in that capacity during the transition. Incoming Bishop Robert Schnase will name a new superintendent of the Crossroads District at a later date.
Rev. Lopez has a deep love for the Rio Grande Valley, where he grew up and where his family members still live. He is bilingual as well as bicultural. Preaching, organization, and leadership are Robert’s gifts. These graces and tools are essential in helping churches reach the rapidly changing mission field of the Rio Grande Valley.
Read More
After two successful inaugural summers in the Rio Texas Conference, Executive Director of Project Transformation Rio Texas Nathaniel O’Dell is returning to Dallas as the Director of Development for Wesley-Rankin Community Center, a Methodist mission providing educational programming and resources to the people of West Dallas.
O’Dell led the birth and advancement of the summer literacy program from 2015-16.
“It has been such a privilege to help launch Project Transformation for the Rio Texas Conference. Through the dedication and support of hundreds of individuals, the ministry is already changing lives,” said O’Dell. “I am excited to say that over my time with the organization, structures have been put in place to ensure that the ministry will continue to thrive and grow. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful things it will do in the future."
Project Transformation Rio Texas has held two summers transforming lives by building relationships in the Rio Texas Conference thanks to the leadership of O’Dell.
Project Transformation Rio Texas accomplished these milestones for Summer 2016:
Kercida McClain, Chair of the Advisory Board for Project Transformation Rio Texas, ensures a smooth transition and the formation of a search committee for the vacancy.
“As with all ministries, a part of our prayer was for the innovative leadership Project Transformation demands. Nathaniel O’Dell has been that kind of leader,” said McClain. “His willingness to pick up his family and move to San Antonio to help begin this ministry has been instrumental in the setting of the firm foundation we now have.”
May God bless Nathaniel and his family during this time of transition and for their fruitful ministries to the United Methodist Church.
Read more about Project Transformation here
Click Here to watch a video about Project Transformation Rio Texas!
Mt. Wesley is a sacred space for many members of the Rio Texas Annual Conference. Countless United Methodists have committed their lives to Christ on its rocky grounds. Many of our pastors first heard their call to ministry under the shade of the live oaks. Children, young adults, men and women have felt their heart changed within the walls of the historic chapel.
As the colors of the landscape of Mt. Wesley change with the seasons, so does the life of our beloved retreat center. It is in such a season of change that we say goodbye to a fixture of Mt. Wesley as recognizable as the Bolivian Cross.
Read MoreJuly 25, 2016
Nashville, Tenn.: Meeting in Chicago last week, the Council of Bishops' Executive Committee approved a framework for implementing the Commission on a Way Forward and took a step toward a called session of the General Conference in 2018.
The Council acknowledged that the landscape of the church has changed dramatically since the General Conference approved the Council's proposal in May, but re-affirmed their commitment to lead the church forward.
"The reported declarations of non-compliance from several annual conferences, the intention to convene a Wesleyan Covenant Association and the election of the Rev. Karen Oliveto as a bishop of the church have opened deep wounds and fissures within The United Methodist Church and fanned fears of schism," said Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Council president, in a detailed statement outlining the actions taken. "The church finds itself in an extremely fragile, highly contested season."
The statement further reads, "We affirm that, as disciples of Jesus, we are all called to maintain unity in the bond of peace. As a Council, we re-affirm our commitment to lead the church in discerning and charting a way forward. We intend to do so with prayerful attention to both urgency and thoughtful preparation."
The Council adopted a purpose statement for the Commission, including its mission, vision and scope, and determined that it will be composed of 20-25 members to be identified by August 31 with a target of October for an initial meeting. Each bishop will nominate up to five persons, and names that have previously been submitted to either the president or executive secretary of the Council will be considered as well.
A search is already underway for a professional facilitator to design and guide the Commission’s discernment process. Bishops Ken Carter, Sandra Steiner Ball and David Yemba have been selected to serve as a team of moderators to preside, provide spiritual guidance and pastoral care. Updates on the Commission's actions will be provided through regular press releases every 4-6 weeks.
An invitation to prayer for the Commission involving the entire church, called "Praying Our Way Forward," will be launched in October. More details regarding that initiative will be forthcoming.
The Executive Committee will bring the matter of a called special session to the full Council for consideration in November. Only the full Council could authorize such a session.
In a related action, the Council further voted to urge the Judicial Council to include the South Central Jurisdictional Conference's request regarding the election of Bishop Karen Oliveto on the docket for their fall meeting on October 25-28.
For additional, more detailed information, read the full statement.
SAN ANTONIO (Wednesday, July 20) – Rev. Dr. Ruben Saenz, Jr. was consecrated and elected to the Office of the Bishop during the 2016 South Central Jurisdictional Conference held in Wichita, Kansas on July 13-16. The Conference approved his appointment to the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church, where he will serve the Nebraska and Kansas areas. He was consecrated on his 55th birthday, July 16. He was the first to be elected to the Episcopacy at this year’s conference on the third ballot of voting.
Read MoreThe South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church approved the appointment of Bishop Robert Schnase to the Rio Texas Conference on Saturday, July 16. He returns to Rio Texas after serving as the Bishop of the Missouri Annual Conference since 2004.
Read MoreBishop Ruben Saenz, Jr. was consecrated and presented with the Bishop’s stole on Sunday, July 16 at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference Service of Consecration in Wichita, Kansas. The previous evening, the South Central Jurisdictional Conference approved the assignment of Bishop Saenz to the Great Plains UMC, serving in the states of Nebraska and Kansas. Bishop Saenz was the first to be elected to the Episcopacy on the third ballot of elections on July 14.
Read MoreGreetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
While these can be turbulent times in The United Methodist Church, these are also times of emerging and fruitful ministries. Lay and clergy leaders are creating new ministries to reach new people for Jesus Christ. They remind us of the importance of our collective work to grow the number of vital congregations of The United Methodist Church.
Read MoreThe Rio Texas Conference is excited to welcome Lamar Davis as our new Disaster Recovery Coordinator. Lamar brings a wealth of experience in crisis management and a deep sense of calling to serve. He will guide our Conference through the long-term work of recovery and resilience following recent floods.
With 150 years of history, Memorial UMC joins Restore Austin to celebrate a new chapter of ministry, mission, and witness in the heart of Austin.
Restore Austin—a vibrant, inclusive church community—will soon join The United Methodist Church and merge with Memorial UMC to form a new congregation in Northeast Austin. This Spirit-led partnership marks a fresh chapter of shared mission, expanded ministry, and hope for the future.
