Are you ready to be a Lighthouse Congregation?

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After Annual Conference in June, Rio Texas Conference began working on what we felt were important and contextual pieces needed to become a Lighthouse Congregation. Other conferences began the concept earlier as they had churches disaffiliate as early as fall 2022. 

Rev. Karen Horan, Director of Creating and Vitalizing Congregations and Developing Leaders along with the Las Misiones Lay Leader Mark Mitchell began learning all they could about Lighthosue Congregations. We are so grateful to Rev. Rob Hutchinson of the Western North Carolina Conference who has shared their process and materials. Many congregations made the decision and taken the steps to become a Lighthouse Congregation. If your church desires to be a Lighthouse Congregation, please visit riotexas.org/lighthouse-congregations

If your church has voted to be a Lighthouse Congregation and you don’t see your name on the list below, please send your signed resolution to Rev. Karen Horan (khoran@riotexas.org) and Nicole Alabi (nicolea@riotexas.org) and we can get you on the list.

Current Lighthouse Congregations:

  • La Trinidad San Antonio

  • Colonial Hills UMC

  • St. Mark UMC McAllen

  • Manchaca UMC

  • Emanuel UMC

  • Kempner UMC

  • Travis Park UMC

  • FUMC Edinburg

  • Helotes Hills UMC

  • Oak Meadow UMC

Project Transformation Rio Texas Names Sharla Bell as New CEO

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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (June 13, 2023)- Project Transformation (PT) Rio Texas Board of Directors has selected Sharla Bell as the new CEO to lead the organization into the future of transforming communities through its impact for the 3 Cs, children, college, and church. This is prompted by the retirement at the end of the summer of PT's founder Kercida McClain.

"Project Transformation Rio Texas is as strong as it has ever been, led by a highly capable board of directors and staff," expressed McClain. "Sharla is the right person to take PT to the next level. Her non-profit and ministry experience is exactly what is needed for the next phase of PT's life."

Sharla Bell will begin mid-June. She has an MA in English and a Master of Theological Studies and has worked with young people her entire adult life. From working as a High School English teacher to being a tutor and later serving ten years in Children and Student Ministry at her home church.

"Meaningful relationships with God and with each other can change the world," Bell exclaims. "I am excited to lead Project Transformation Rio Texas, whose mission to transform communities by engaging children, college students and churches in purposeful relationships, so closely aligns with my core beliefs."

McClain is not stepping down just yet as she wants to help with the transition and celebrate the nonprofit’s 9th summer of improving children’s reading levels and setting college students on a trajectory of world-changing success.

Please join Project Transformation Rio Texas in welcoming the new CEO, Sharla Bell.

 

About Project Transformation

Project Transformation Rio Texas was founded in 2015 and has grown to serve in San Antonio, Austin and the Rio Grande Valley implementing literacy focused summer camps and out of school programming aimed at improving children’s reading levels and SEL skills. It does this by providing college students with paid internships where they receive professional skills and leadership development by implementing the summer camps in partnership with community focused churches.

A Message Regarding the Brownsville Migrant Tragedy

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“Today our hearts are heavy again as we learned an individual ran over a group of 18 migrants in Brownsville. The migrants were waiting at a bus stop across the street from the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center. The Rio Texas Conference continues to work in ministry with churches, nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations as agents of change in the midst of the immigration issues we see daily on our borders and beyond. We mourn for those who tragically perished and pray for the victims, the families, and the Rio Grande Valley communities we serve. We have been in contact with our pastors appointed in the area. We will continue to work towards justice and offer dignity in the best traditions of The United Methodist Church. We give God praises for the first responders who provided sincere care and safety. We wait to learn more about this tragedy.”   

Robert Schnase
Bishop
Rio Texas & New Mexico Annual Conferences

Bishop Announces New Appointments for Las Misiones and Capital Districts

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Bishop Robert Schnase of the Rio Texas Conference announces the appointments of Rev. Dr. Robert Ortiz as superintendent of Las Misiones District and Rev. Dr. Marcus Freeman as superintendent of the Capital District. “I am so grateful for the leadership and sincere spirit of both Robert and Marcus. Their willingness to say yes and serve God through the work of the cabinet is deeply appreciated and profoundly significant during this unique time in the life of the church.”

Dr. Ortiz began his ministry in 1997 and he has served churches in the Rio Grande, Southwest Texas, and Rio Texas Conferences. He has served the past eleven years at Alamo Heights UMC. He is a native of San Antonio and graduated from Brackenridge (Wheatley) high school. He also graduated from the University of Texas San Antonio with a BA in sociology, master of divinity from United Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry in church leadership from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. Robert is married to Diane and they have five adult children and one granddaughter, plus Bella the Dog and Juno the Cat.

The current Las Misiones District Superintendent Greg Hackett says, “Robert brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Las Misiones serving in both Rio Grande Conference churches and in Rio Texas churches in both small church systems and large systems (some at the same time!). He is constantly learning new strategies and developing close relationships. I am delighted to pass the mantle to such a colleague!”

Rev. Ortiz states, “I am honored and humbled to be asked by Bishop Schnase to serve as the superintendent of Las Misiones district. I am filled with hope as we take our next faithful steps in ministry together. I look forward to serving the churches of the district and getting to know many more of you. May our journey be filled with love for God and love for others. I will be praying for you and ask that you pray for me.”

Dr. Freeman is an experienced superintendent and has gifts in preaching and pastoral care. Marcus received both his master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Perkins School of Theology. Dr. Freeman will continue as the superintendent of record for the Crosssroads District. As the dynamic on the ground changes for districts and local congregations, the cabinet will seek creative ways to provide appropriate supervision for all districts of the conference.

Dr. Freeman mentions, “I am humbled and honored to be appointed by Bishop Schnase to represent him for the next couple of years as superintendent in the Capital District, which is the place where I grew up, began my ministry journey, and served for seven fulfilling years as a pastor. I now look forward to learning about the churches and pastors of the district and supporting them toward achievement of their fullest potential in the dynamic mission field that the Austin area has become. My wife, Janice, our daughters, Lillian and Leslie, and I are looking forward to being closer to the love and support of family as we begin this new chapter of ministry and life.”

Both appointments will begin July 1, 2023.

From the Rio Texas Cabinet

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En Español - Noticia del Gabinete de Río Texas

Thursday, January 26, 2023

As we begin a new year, we hold onto the promises of God and the never-ending hope that God is close and that the people of God are never alone. 2022 has brought forth unprecedented and unique challenges for our communities, congregations, clergy, and for this cabinet. The United Methodist Church has roughly 30,500 congregations and as of writing of this statement, approximately 2,500 have discerned to exit the denomination. We are grateful for the nearly 92 percent of the denomination’s congregations that have currently decided to remain United Methodist and embrace its future. We are also grateful for the nearly 70 percent of congregations in the Rio Texas Conference that have decided not to enter into the discernment process. (Disaffiliations approved by annual conferences - umnews.org). We understand these numbers may change.
 
Every individual in the Rio Texas cabinet has made a commitment to continue to serve God through The United Methodist Church. We represent a wide array of theological perspectives and value different voices at the table. We believe that there is and that there will be progressives, conservatives, centrists, traditionalists, and modern perspectives in our churches; and we believe that is a strength. While we may not agree on every detail or conclusion regarding our friends in the LGBTQIA+ community, we are all committed to serve God in The United Methodist Church. We feel called to the Rio Texas Conference and its future; a future where we will no longer argue about human sexuality, but rather engage in holy conversations and healthy dialogue that seeks justice and dignity for everyone.
 
We grieve when any clergy and/or congregation departs the UMC, and yet we give thanks for each person and congregation who shared the love of Christ over the years. We acknowledge we have friends who feel called to an emerging and arising expression of Methodism. We seek to walk with them during this time of transition and give thanks to God for this opportunity to offer ourselves in such a time as this. We also see the efforts and commitment of those who feel called to remain and appreciate you and look forward to our continued work together.
 
The United Methodist Church has an opportunity to re-vision its place in our communities. For those communities who have churches departing, we will make intentional efforts through our Creating Congregations office to gather those who desire to remain United Methodist and help organize new communities and faith expressions. Our own conference leadership teams are already connecting with other annual conferences and other leaders in the connection to help us reconsider what God might do this new year and years to come. (See Bishop Ruben Saenz episcopal address)
 
There will always be a need for grace-filled houses of worship with a Wesleyan foundation. As we journey through this season, let us focus on hope and bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to our congregations and communities. Let us focus on that news in the promises of God’s hopeful future.
 
Signed,

The Cabinet of the Rio Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church

Laura Brewster
Marcus Freeman
Greg Hackett
Karen Horan
Robert Lopez
Ricky Sanderford
Robert Schnase
Andy Smith
Kendall Waller