First TCOP Class for Church Teams Begins

Four church community teams met to begin their transformational journey on May 19-20. During the course of this year, these teams will gather for three sessions to learn about the application of asset-based community development process to their current ministry engagements with their community mission fields. 

An initiative of the Transforming Communities Vision Team, the Transformational Communities of Praxis [TCOP] program is designed for a church community resident teams to begin (or go deeper in) the application of community development with the end goal of effecting measurable transformation within a given community. 

Over a one-year period, participants will gain training, knowledge, and application of asset-based community development [ABCD] process and methods, facilitation techniques, action planning and application, identifying underlying contradictions and challenges within communities, and the understanding of Missio Dei – the mission or sending of God.   

The churches participating in Class 1 of this program:

• FUMC / Hope Outreach Center – Brackettville
• Pollard Memorial UMC – San Antonio
• Parker Lane UMC – Austin
• FUMC / Mission Border Hope – Eagle Pass

Each congregation and community is unique. The community contexts of Class 1 reflects two urban areas [population 900,000 to 1.3 million], one small town area [population 25,000], and one rural community [population 3,000]. 

This initiative is made possible due to funding support from Methodist Healthcare Ministries, who likewise is vested in the application of asset-based community development approaches through the Wesley Nurse and Community Health Worker programs.

With continued funding and support, the program hopes to grow a class of four churches every year. The program hopes for models of ministries applying community development principles and processes to emerge for serving as reference points and even teaching centers of spiritual transformation within the church and community.

Contingent upon funding support, the Transforming Communities Vision Team is receiving requests for teams to apply for participation in this program. Teams applying should be composed of no more than 5 persons, with 2 persons being community residents, 2 persons being church members, and 1 person being the pastor or a designated church staff member. Four teams will be selected for each year’s Transformational Communities of Praxis class. The applying team should possess the willingness and readiness for this learning opportunity and the ability to meet the team composition requirement.

Request for 2018 – Class 2 TCOP Team request for applications will be available via riotexas.org by September 24. The deadline for team applications to be received for consideration is November 16.

For a slide show tour Learning Session 1, click here. To learn more about the Transformational Communities of Praxis initiative and / or the Team Application Process, contact Abel Vega - Director of Outreach Vitality at avega@riotexas.org  / 210.408.4514. 

Pastors Get a Head Start for a Right Start

Pastors from across the Rio Texas Annual Conference gathered this week at Coker United Methodist Church in San Antonio for the first annual Right Start event. Pastors who are moving to new appointments in July were invited to the two-day workshop designed to help prepare them for leaving one appointment and beginning a new one.

The event opened with worship and included talks from district superintendents, conference staff, and other conference leaders. Pastors gained information and insight through talks on leaving congregations well, starting well at new congregations, and caring for one’s self and family during transition. Participants also had the opportunity to meet in affinity groups with pastors facing similar transitions.

Laura Merrill, Executive Director of the Mission Vitality Center, was involved in the planning for the event. "This time together was a gift," she said. "As pastors in itinerant ministry, it's important for us to draw wisdom and comfort from each other. I hope our sharing at Right Start will encourage and build up this body for fruitfulness in our communities."

The event concluded with reflections from Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Conference and a time of worship and Holy Communion. 

Mommy Station at Annual Conference 2017

The 2017 Rio Texas Annual Conference Hospitality Team is proud to announce that our June session will be baby friendly! We are still offering great child care at First UMC, Corpus, but sometimes very little ones do better closer to family. Babies are cute, portable and unlikely to run away, making them perfect attendees during plenary sessions. To make things more comfortable for Rio Texas babies and the moms, dads, and others caring for them, the Hospitality Team is planning a couple of upgrades. 

One is the addition of rocking chairs in the back of the plenary hall. We may have to post bouncers to make sure the chairs do not become napping spots for big people, but hopefully this will be a spot where little ones can be comforted and encouraged to chill out.

A second change is an upgrade to the station provided last year in a separate room for nursing moms. This year the Mommy Station will be located in the plenary hall itself, to allow for more convenience and the ability for moms to still hear the action. The station will include comfortable seating, a microwave and refrigerator. 

Sometimes babies have just had it with conference and need to take a walk outside. (Don't we all?) But while they're in session, we want to make their presence as easy as possible. Your Hospitality Team looks forward to greeting both babies and attendees of all ages on June 7 in Corpus Christi!

Clergy Needed for 2017 Annual Conference Clergy Choir

Click Here to download the letter

Conference introduces VIM Coordinator

Frank Rojas is the new VIM Coordinator for the Conference

The Office of Outreach Vitality, Mission Vitality Center of the Rio Texas Annual Conference is excited to announce and welcomes the service of Frank Rojas as the Rio Texas Conference Volunteer-In-Mission (VIM) Coordinator. Frank is a long-time active member of Bethany UMC, Austin. He has directed United Methodist Army Youth mission teams as well as VIM trips to Cuba. Frank brings to this work a heart and passion for missions, social justice, and great interest in the organizational development of Volunteer-In-Mission ministry in the conference. 

A volunteer position, the VIM Coordinator serves as a focal point for equipping disciples in growing in relationships and partnerships with communities around the world; growing partnerships between UMC and agencies that are active in local communities; and aiding church teams grow “In Mission Together” (50/50) events that leverage assets in local communities and bless all involved by developing strong collaborative partnerships. The vision is that missions are directly linked to each member’s calling and their discipleship walk with God. This work will be carried out by the conference VIM committee composed of VIM coordinators from each district. 

To learn more about the In Mission Together process, see:http://www.umcmission.org/Get-Involved/Partnerships/In-Mission-Together. 

Frank Rojas can be reached at frank6591@gmail.com / 512.422.0210.