3 to preach during Corpus Christi meeting

Three preachers are to address worship services during next month’s Southwest Texas Annual Conference session in Corpus Christi.
The Rev. Rosie L. Johnson of Austin is to speak during the June 6 memorial service that opens the four-day meeting. That 7 p.m. gathering in Selena Auditorium at Corpus Christi’s American Bank Center remembers clergy members and spouses who have died during the past 12 months.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez is to deliver his state of the church message June 7 during the 9 a.m. service of covenant and confirmation of pastoral appointments. That service is scheduled for Exhibit Hall B of the American Bank Center, site of plenary business sessions during the meeting.
The Rev. Roberto L. Gomez, longtime clergy leader in the Rio Grande Conference, is to preach during the June 9 ordination and commissioning service. It begins at 10 a.m. in Selena Auditorium.
Johnson, 61, a Southwest Texas Conference clergy member, has been on sabbatical leave since 2005. Before that she was associate pastor of University UMC, Austin, from 1998 to 2005; pastor of Jackson Chapel UMC, San Marcos, from 1996 to 1998; and associate pastor of Wesley UMC, Austin, from 1994 to 1996.
Johnson was ordained a deacon in 1993 and an elder in 1996.
A combined Corpus Christi District choir, directed by Brad Kisner of First UMC, Corpus Christi,
is to sing during the memorial service.
Martinez, 67, became bishop of the San Antonio Episcopal Area in September 2000. He presides over the Rio Grande and Southwest Texas conferences.
Before coming to San Antonio, Martinez was bishop of the Nebraska Episcopal Area for eight years. The former Rio Grande Conference clergy member was elected a bishop in 1992.
A Seguin native, Martinez was the first Latino bishop elected in the eight-state South Central Jurisdiction
and the second elected in the denomination.
The Valley Praise band from First UMC, Harlingen, is to provide special music during the service
confirming pastoral appointments.
Gomez, pastor of El Mesias UMC, Mission, and president of the Rio Grande Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, has titled his June 9 sermon “Don’t Let Your Ordination Become a Holy Relic.”
Before going to Mission in 1998, Gomez was director of connectional ministries for the Rio Grande Conference. He has also been a district superintendent and served congregations in Albuquerque, N.M.; Dallas; Harlingen; and San Antonio.
In 2003 the Rio Grande Conference nominated Gomez as a candidate for bishop during 2004.
He was a clergy delegate to the 2000 General Conference and the 1996, 2000 and 2004
South Central Jurisdictional conferences.
Gomez has been an elected director of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, United Methodist Publishing House and Commission on the General Conference. He has served on the South Central Jurisdiction Mission Council.
A combined choir from St. Paul and Travis Park UMCs, San Antonio, is to sing during the ordination service.