Church Volunteers, Staff Trained Under New Trusted Con Confianza Safety Policy

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The new Rio Texas Conference Safety Certification Ministry, TRUSTed Confianza is off to an incredible start. In 2017 (August-December), 877 persons submitted an application with Safe Gatherings and 640 persons completed a TRUSTed Confianza online or in person training. 

Districts and Churches have gathered for in-person trainings and participated in online training together.  First UMC, Kerrville had 134 persons participate in their in-person training. First UMC, New Braunfels welcomed 74 to their in-person training. El Buen Pastor UMC. Edinburg recently gathered 42 of their staff and volunteers to attend an online training together.

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Rio Texas To Receive New Church

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Rio Texas To Receive New Church

The Rio Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is pleased to announce they are in the process of receiving a new church into the conference. 

Leaders of the Rio Texas Conference and Austin New Church (ANC), a former Free Methodist Church, began in Spring 2017 to explore whether The United Methodist Church might be the right home for ANC. As conversations developed between ANC’s clergy and leaders in the Rio Texas Conference, there was a mutual sense of resonance and excitement about a possible partnership.

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Several Rio Texas Clergy Release Statement on Human Rights Violations

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Several Rio Texas Clergy Release Statement on Human Rights Violations

In October, Rosa Maria Hernandez, a child of undocumented immigrants, was taken into custody by the US Border Patrol as she was transported through a checkpoint on her way to a Corpus Christi hospital for emergency surgery. Rosa, who has cerebral palsy, was then transported to a shelter in San Antonio where she was held for ten days. In the days following her detention, many groups and organizations protested these actions by the US government.

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Bishops consider 3 models for church future

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Bishops consider 3 models for church future

By Heather Hahn
Nov. 9, 2017 | LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS)

United Methodist bishops are exploring three possible models for how the church should handle LGBTQ inclusion.

The models come to the bishops from the Commission on a Way Forward, which has the task of trying to find a way for the church to stay together despite deep divides over homosexuality.

The bishops have been meeting in closed session Nov. 6-9 to discern whether the commission is heading in the right direction. The bishop-appointed commission has three more meetings planned early next year, and the bishops do not plan to develop any final recommendations until May 2018.

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Rio Texas Responds to Violence

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Rio Texas Responds to Violence

As worship services wrapped up Sunday morning, November 5, churchgoers across the conference began to hear the terrible news out of Sutherland Springs. The tiny town about 40 miles east of San Antonio was rocked this morning when a gunman opened fire inside First Baptist Church, killing at least 26 and injuring 20 more.

In response, Rio Texas Churches have reached out in support of the church and community. Churches have also sought support in ways to be in ministry with those who grieve and to ensure the safety of congregations. These resources are being provided to help local churches respond.

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Las Misiones Pastors Explore Cultures at Encuentro in Monterrey

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A small group of Las Misiones District preachers traveled to Monterrey to take part in a national gathering of Methodist pastors to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the protestant reformation. Seven annual conferences were represented at Encuetro: Nacional de Pastores held at the Iglesia Metodista la Trinidad.

La Trinidad UMC, San Antonio Pastor John Feagins; Westlawn UMC, San Antonio Pastor Lilliana Padilla; Emanuel UMC, San Antonio Pastor Jose Mercado; La Trinidad UMC, Laredo Pastor Cesar Duran; and Coker UMC, San Antonio Pastor David Blanco attended the gathering.

They heard several lectures from premier scholar Justo Gonzalez. He preached about Martin Luther’s hammer and nailing of the Ninety-five Thesus and its connection to the hammer and nails that went through Jesus’ wrist.

They also compared the differences between American and Mexican United Methodist cultures. “We saw another side of the picture between both cultures in the U.S. and Mexico,” said Emanuel UMC’s Pastor Jose Mercado. “It helped me understand the more about the culture as a Puerto Rican pastor.”

“It reminded us of the power of the connectional system and the connectional church we are a part of,” said Coker UMC’s Pastor David Blanco. “Overall, it was an amazing, fantastic experience.”

Rio Texas Responds to Sunday Violence

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Rio Texas Responds to Sunday Violence

As worship services wrapped up Sunday morning, churchgoers across the conference began to hear the terrible news out of Sutherland Springs. The tiny town about 40 miles east of San Antonio was rocked this morning when a gunman opened fire inside First Baptist Church, killing at least 26 and injuring 20 more.
 
Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Annual Conference called Aguilar upon hearing the news to offer the support of the Conference. Schnase said, "This was an outrageous, senseless, and tragic act. We pray God's blessings on families, friends, and the entire community. We pray for those who will face rebuilding their lives after such deep loss. We pray for those who were injured, that God's healing grace may be upon them."

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