Congregational Inclusiveness Award - Commission on Religion and Race Deadline:  March 30 (each year) CONGREGATIONAL INCLUSIVENESS AWARD Southwest Texas Conference

This award was established in 2002 and recognizes one church in each district as selected by the District Superintendent.  To nominate a congregation, please send a narrative to the District Superintendent.  The annual award is sponsored by the SWTC Commission on Religion and Race (CORR) in our effort to help the Church respect, appreciate and utilize the God given gifts of all people as we make the dream of Inclusiveness a reality. CRITERIA •    Intentional growth in cultural diversity as a congregation •    Openness toward becoming an inclusive community of God      through a variety of ways, not limited to, but including study      groups who:         —Examine suggested biblical scriptures related to the work             of inclusiveness. Text references available from the             SWTC CORR         —Examine where your congregation might be on the            "Continuum on Becoming a Multiracial and Multicultural             Church” and "Interventions for Change," available from             the SWTC CORR         —Examine your congregation’s progress on "The Path             from a Monocultural Club to an Inclusive Organization"              and the current stage of your congregation in            "Organizational Stages of Multicultural Awareness"             available from SWTC CORR         —Examine “Confronting the Sin”  by Elaine Jenkins,             the Anti-Racism Study/Action Guide #1 prepared by             the General Commission on Religion and Race,             available through GCRR web site         —Examine “The Gift of Diversity” by Eric H.F. Law, the             Anti-Racism Study/Action Guide #2 available             through GCRR         —Examine the history of racism in the church using             “Steps Toward Wholeness:Learning and Repentance,”             prepared by the General Commission on Christian             Unity and Interreligious Concerns at GCCUIC web             site         —Examine “Words That Hurt, Words That Heal,             Language about God and People,” prepared by the             Task Force on Language Guidelines established by             the General Conference of The United Methodist Church,             available through General Commission on Status & Role             of Women web site         —Commit to intentional study of "Sacred Acts, Holy             Change" by Eric H.F. Law, using practical guidelines for             change and transformation, and applying techniques and             theories to spell out processes for achieving genuine             transformation as your congregation attempts to be             multiculturally inclusive

Contact SWTC CORR Inclusiveness Award Chair Eula Purnell eulaj77904@yahoo.com

History of Recipents of the Inclusiveness Award Comission on Religion and Race by district in the SWTX Conference Current - 2002 AUSTIN 2011   University UMC 2010   Parker Lane UMC 2009   No church nominated 2008   No church nominated 2007   Trinity UMC 2006   First UMC, Austin 2005   Memorial UMC 2004   St. Mark;s UMC 2003   Covenant UMC

CORPUS CHRISTI 2011   No church nominated 2010   No church nominated 2009   No church nominated 2008   Oak Park UMC 2007   First UMC George West 2006   St John's UMC 2005   Taft UMC 2004   St Peter's By-The-Sea 2003   Cuero UMC 2002   (First Year) South Bluff UMC KERRVILLE 2011    No church nominated 2010    Barnett Chapel UMC 2009    No church nominated 2008    No church nominated 2007    First UMC Boerne 2006    Rev. Sherry Strain-St. Paul’s UMC 2005    Eagle Pass UMC 2004    No church nominated 2003    No church nominated 2002    (First Year) - First UMC, Johnson

MCALLEN 2011    No church nominated 2010    No church nominated 2009    Falfurrias UMC 2008    Hebbronville UMC 2007    Pharr UMC 2006    First UMC Weslaco 2005    First UMC Mercedes 2004    First UMC McAllen 2003    Riviera UMC 2002    (First Year) - Church of The Savior SAN ANGELO 2011    No church nominated 2010    No church nominated 2009    No church nominated 2008    Ozona UMC 2007    Mertzon UMC 2006    Day Memorial UMC 2005    Combined Awards:              First UMC Brady’s New Church Start              First UMC Brady              El Mesias Iglesia              Metodista Unida 2004    Wesley UMC, San Angelo 2003    Wesley UMC, San Angelo 2002    (First Year) – First UMC, Del Rio

SAN ANTONIO 2011    Corredor de Esperañza              (Aldersgate, Epworth & Highland               Terrace) 2010    Northern Hills UMC 2009   No church nominated 2008    No church nominated 2007    LaVernia UMC 2006    Resurrection UMC 2005    Epworth UMC 2004    Browning UMC 2003    Travis Park UMC 2002    (First Year) – Bethel UMC VICTORIA 2011    No church nominated 2010    First UMC, Hallettsville              First UMC, Shiner 2009    Fannin UMC, Goliad 2008    No church nominated 2007    St. Mark’s UMC 2006    St. Mark’s UMC 2005    Combined Awards:              First UMC, Seguin              Wesley Harper UMC, Seguin              La Trinidad UMC, Rio Gr Conf 2004    Seadrift UMC 2003    New Life UMC, Bloomington 2002    (First Year) – First UMC, Bloomington