2 more churches join list of welcoming congregations


Two more Southwest Texas Conference churches joined the list of certified welcoming congregations in late January.
First UMC, Mercedes, became the 17th congregation in the McAllen District to earn certification Jan. 30.
First UMC, New Braunfels, was certified Jan. 31. It is the sixth San Antonio District congregation to receive a plaque.
The additions bring to 44 the total of certified welcoming congregations in the Southwest Texas Conference. Southwest Texas has the most certified congregations of any conference in the eight-state South Central Jurisdiction. The count by district is:
> Austin—4.
> Corpus Christi—5.
> Kerrville—5.
> McAllen—17.
> San Angelo—2.
> San Antonio—6.
> Victoria—5.
Lay Leader Jay Brim set a goal of having at least 200 Southwest Texas congregations certified by June. He announced that goal during his lay leader’s report to the 2005 annual conference session in Corpus Christi.
Granted by the General Commission on Communication, 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 plaque and 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.
Checklists are available at ignitingministry.org or umcswtx.org.
District superintendents must sign each checklist to confirm the information reported.