8 more churches added to list of certified welcoming congregations


Eight more Southwest Texas churches joined the list of certified welcoming congregation this month.
Two other congregations renewed their welcoming certifications for the second straight year. Welcoming certification must be renewed annually.
New welcoming congregations are:
> Runge UMC, Corpus Christi District, certified Feb. 7.
> Asbury UMC, Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi District, certified Feb. 7.
> Island in the Son UMC, Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi District, certified Feb. 13.
> Bruni UMC, McAllen District, certified Feb. 13.
> Freer UMC, McAllen District, certified Feb. 13.
> Wesley UMC, Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi District, certified Feb. 14.
> First UMC, Odem, Corpus Christi District, certified Feb. 15.
> First UMC, George West, Corpus Christi District, certified Feb. 15.
Congregations renewing welcoming certification were:
> St. John UMC, Rio Grande City, McAllen District, Feb. 14.
> Floresville UMC, San Antonio District, Feb. 14.
The number of certified welcoming congregations in Southwest Texas now stands at 110. That total is the most
of any conference in the United States.
The count of welcoming congregations by district now stands at Austin, 19; Corpus Christi, 22; Kerrville, 15; McAllen, 23; San Angelo, 7; San Antonio, 15; and Victoria, 9.
Granted by the General Commission on Communication, certification means a congregation has systematically evaluated its hospitality and intentionally embraced a lifestyle of welcoming newcomers.
Conference Lay Leader Jay Brim called on district lay leaders last June to help current welcoming congregations
renew their certifications.
Brim challenged district lay leaders to inspire at least half the remaining churches in their districts to be certified before the June 6-9 annual conference session in Corpus Christi.
The certification program is part of the denominationwide Igniting Ministry hospitality and image campaign. The goal is to help congregations do a better job of relating to visitors and encouraging them to return.
Certified 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.
To earn recertification, welcoming congregations must earn an additional 100 points doing things they didn’t do the first year.
Checklists are available at ignitingministry.org.
District superintendents must sign each checklist to confirm the information reported.