Council of Bishops Introduces "Praying Our Way Forward"

The following is a press release from umc.org: 

Nashville, Tenn.: As plans are underway for the establishment of a Commission on a Way Forward, the Council of Bishops is setting in motion a parallel prayer initiative called “Praying Our Way Forward.”

“We are a people of prayer and enjoin the entire church to fervently pray that the Holy Spirit will breakthrough and lead us into a future with hope,” said Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Council president, in a statement following a meeting of the executive committee in July.

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett of the North Alabama Conference, who chairs the “Council Life Together” team, and Bishop Al Gwinn, who leads the prayer subcommittee of the Council of Bishops, were chosen to design and guide a complementary prayer component that involves the whole church. 

In the first phase of the endeavor, which has already begun and continues through mid-November, the bishops of the church were asked to pledge 15 minutes a day in prayer for the selection and initial work of the Commission on A Way Forward. 

Thus far, 84 resident and retired bishops have committed to pray for the work of the Commission for 15 minutes per day between now and mid-November.  This equals 1260 minutes/21 hours of prayer a day offered by bishops for the selection and initial efforts of the Commission. 

“This initiative provides an opportunity for every member of the Council of Bishops to participate in the important work of the Commission.  Our daily focused prayer is a way for us – individually and collectively – to actively seek God’s leadership at this critical juncture in the life of our church,” said Bishop Wallace-Padgett.

The entire church will be invited to take part during the second phase, the details of which will be announced in late September. The hashtag is #prayourwayforward.

Bishop Gwinn pointed to the success of the 131-day prayer observance for the 2016 General Conference as an indication of the willingness of church members to devote time to prayer for the church’s future.

“The people called United Methodists have always been a people who believe in the power of prayer,” said Bishop Gwinn. “Our recent 131 days of prayer for General Conference has reminded all of us that United Methodists have not lost their belief in calling out to God! So, it is only natural that we should include the whole family in special prayer as the Commission moves forward in its work!”

Members of the Commission on a Way Forward are expected to be named by the end of August, with a target date of October for the initial meeting. In November, the Council of Bishops will consider the matter of a called special session of the General Conference in 2018.

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Media contact:
Diane Degnan ddegnan@umcom.org
615.742.5406 (o) 615.483.1765 (c)

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Bishops' Statement on the 1966 Valley Farm Workers March

In the spring of 1966, farm workers in the melon fields of Starr County walked out to protest wages of 40 cents an hour and inhumane working conditions in the fields, including lack of sanitary facilities. Over four hundred workers organized a local labor unit related to the United Farm Workers of America. 

On July 4, 1966 they begin a March to Austin to demand a minimum wage of 1.25 an hour for farm laborers in the state of Texas. With the support of churches, religious leaders, labor leaders and students, they arrived in Austin on Labor Day, September 5, 1966 at the State Capitol. Nearly two years later, their efforts bore success when the State of Texas passed a minimum wage law covering agricultural workers.

This year, events in Rio Grande City in Starr County, Edinburg, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Austin are celebrating their courageous march for justice. We join with many other religious, civic, and community leaders in endorsing the 50th Anniversary celebrations. The people who marched were persons motivated by their faith, their desire for a new future for their children and grandchildren, and their embrace of the prophet Micah's call to "act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:6-8).

We affirm and celebrate the efforts of our local churches, pastors, and laity, who are joining in the celebrations and acts of remembrance as all of us continue to work for a more just and equitable future for all.

The Episcopal Leadership Team of the Rio Texas Conference

Bishop Janice R. Huie
Bishop J. Michael Lowry
Bishop Joel N. Martínez
Bishop Robert Schnase

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March of the Hopeful

bishop joel n. martínez talks to Rev. Arturo Mariscal, Mary Howard and Rev. Suzanne Isaacs about the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the 1966 Texas United Farm Workers March on Labor Day. The planning meeting was held on Thursday, July 28 at St. Paul UMC

A recollection by Bishop Joel N. Martínez

As a child, I picked cotton with my paternal Grandfather, Refugio Martinez, in Seguin. As teenager, I chopped cotton in West Texas one summer. As a college student, I worked with the National Council of Churches in Migrant Ministry in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the summer of 1958. Raquel and I later worked in Migrant Ministry in Indiana the summer of 1961.

So when I was invited to join the efforts of south Texas farm workers in their march for just wages and improved working conditions during my first pastorate in San Antonio in the summer of 1966, my faith, my life experience, and my heritage led me into a ministry of accompaniment of the poorest of workers in our state. As pastor of El Buen Pastor UMC in San Antonio, I helped organize the gathering of food, clothing, and funds for the families of the marchers. I marched in Kenedy, San Antonio, and Austin on that sunny Labor Day of September 1966 with 15,000 others up Congress Avenue to Capitol. 

What I remember about the workers I met was their faith and hope in the future. Many were grandmothers and grandfathers who wanted a new future for their grandchildren and their future great-grandchildren.  It reminded me about those summer days with grandfather Refugio and how he wanted me to succeed in school and how proud and hopeful he was about my future.

I marched in 1966 in honor and remembrance of generations of my family, in faithfulness to the Gospel, and solidarity with humble workers whose faith and hope helped to change me and my generation.

Bishop Joel N. Martinez

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Participate in the Labor Day Celebrations!

To march with your United Methodist brothers and sisters during the San Antonio Labor Day Celebration, please click the link below. The San Antonio Celebration starts with an interfaith mass at 10:00 a.m. at San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio, Texas and ends at Milam Park at 1 p.m. 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR THE SEPT. 5 MARCH IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO

Grant Opportunity with Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity

The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity is offering three $1000 to groups that "strengthen ecumenical and/or interreligious relationships." 

Application deadline is Sept. 16. 

To learn more or apply for this grant, please click here. 

Bishop Janice Riggle Huie Welcomes Bishop Robert Schnase

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. 

To learn more about Bishop Robert Schnase, please click here. 

Important Announcement Regarding Project Transformation Rio Texas

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:

• 98 percent of participants entering first grade through sixth grade maintained or improved their reading levels
• Incorporated leadership development training for college-aged interns, on topics such as servant leadership, conflict resolution, personal life management and justice and advocacy.
• Wellness Program Coordinator added to track physical activity of children, coordinate with San Antonio Food Bank and Methodist Health Ministries Wesley Nurses to bring nutritional educators to camp.

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!