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Call to Prayer in the San Antonio Episcopal Area
From Bishop Dorff, learn more
2012 Announced Clergy Appointments
Learn more
Bishop's Convocation
Click for letter from Bishop Dorff
Unification
Learn about the proposed unification between the Rio Grande Conference & Southwest Texas Conferences.
Go here
Rethink Green - Caring for God's Creation Event
Learn more and register
Financial Advisory Consulting Team Report
The Council of Bishops commissioned the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB) and the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) to partner in providing conferences with a Financial Advisory Consulting Team—known as FACT. Go Here to read the FACT final report for the Southwest Texas Conference.
Central Texas Wildfires
Latest information and how you can help Go here
Elected Delegates to General
and Jurisdictional Conference
Learn more
Clergy Effectiveness
Clergy Effectiveness Assessment
Clergy Effectiveness Assessment - Deacons
Congregational Effectiveness
Upcoming . . .
CLICK HERE for 2012 Events
Rio Grande Conference
of the United Methodist Church
Learn more about our sister conference. Check out the website
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Empowering your ministries to make disciples of Jesus Christ,
our website serves as a valuable resource to you—the more
than 120,000 members in 350 congregations across the
southern third of Texas.
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Mount Wesley
Southwest Texas Conference’s
retreat facility near Kerrville, Texas
Located in the heart of the beautiful
Texas Hill Country, the Mount Wesley
Conference Center is situated
on a hillside within the city limits
of Kerrville. The scenic, peaceful
64 acres of woodland provide a
unique, secluded, and safe haven
—a sanctuary from the real world—
where guests can retreat to become
refreshed and renewed.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MOUNT WESLEY.
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Jim DorffBishop
San Antonio Area
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Appointment process begins, prayers of people needed
In this letter to our pastors and lay leadership I want to do two things. First, I want to say thank you! Second, I want to solicit your prayers. As we look toward 2012 it is important to reflect on 2011.
This past year the Southwest Texas Conference had a tremendous record of apportionment pay-out. For all apportioned items our churches paid 96.1 percent of the amounts requested. More than 95 percent was paid toward World Service.
These numbers are simply outstanding. They represent a commitment by our congregations to be connected to each other and “the church beyond the church.”
The Rio Grande Conference churches paid more than 86 percent toward apportioned causes, and this represents a slight increase over last year. Again, there was a clear demonstration of connection in spite of a difficult economy.
I am very much aware that many of our congregations were engaged in a variety of ministries and conflicting priorities related to their financial stewardship last year. Clearly, life beyond the local church is important to us.
I believe we are all called to be givers of substance, as individuals, as families and as congregations. I am humbled by the way this giving was reflected last year. Thank you.
I ask for your prayers as your Area Cabinet begins the process of placing pastors for leadership in our congregations for 2012-2013. The appointive process is sometimes complicated, always sacred, prayerfully done and carefully thought through. It is occasionally difficult, if not painful, since not all pastors and congregations agree with the decisions made. However, I also find it to be energizing, hopeful, encouraging and Spirit-filled. The church has entrusted this responsibility to the district superintendents and me. Please know that we seek the guidance of the Spirit as we proceed with this task. God works through it.
Please pray for your Area Cabinet, our congregations, our pastors and their families as we proceed. To quote a prayer written by Virgilio Vazquez-Garza, which we all pray regularly, Lord “help us to carry out all our activities for Your honor and glory and for the salvation of your people.” Indeed, may it be so! Blessings to you and yours.
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