5 more churches join welcoming congregation list

Five more Southwest Texas churches have joined the list of certified welcoming congregations in recent weeks.
The count now stands at 36.
St. Paul UMC, San Antonio, was certified Dec. 16. The 907-member congregation is the fifth San Antonio District congregation to join the group.
First UMC, Rockport, became the first certified welcoming congregation in the Corpus Christi District Dec. 22.
First UMC, Aransas Pass, another Corpus Christi District congregation, was added to the list later that same day.
First UMC, Beeville, a third Corpus Christi District, earned a welcoming congregation plaque Jan. 5.
First UMC, Brady, was also certified Jan. 5. The 573-member congregation is the second in the San Angelo District to be recognized.
Southwest Texas has the most certified welcoming congregations of any conference in the eight-state South Central Jurisdiction. The count by district is:
> Austin—2.
> Corpus Christi—3.
> Kerrville—4.
> McAllen—15.
> San Angelo—2.
> San Antonio—5.
> Victoria—5.
Lay Leader Jay Brim set a goal of having at least 200 Southwest Texas congregations certified by June.
Certification means a congregation has systematically evaluated its hospitality and intentionally embraced a lifestyle of welcoming newcomers. Congregations need to renew their certification annually.
The certification program is part of the denominationwide Igniting Ministry hospitality and image campaign. Certificated congregations earn a special designation in the “Find a church” database at www. unitedmethodist.org.
To earn certification, congregations must qualify for at least 100 points on a yearly checklist of welcoming activities. Those activities include designating a welcoming coordinator, training church members in welcoming techniques and doing various things around the church to make it more welcoming to visitors.
District superintendents must sign each checklist to confirm the information reported.