3 to preach during Corpus Christi meeting

A retired pastor and two bishops are to preach during the June 2-5 Southwest Texas Annual Conference session in Corpus Christi.
The Rev. Jerry J. Smith, a retired clergy member from Canyon Lake, is to deliver the sermon for the June 2 memorial service and opening Eucharist. That first worship gathering of the four-day meeting remembers clergy members and clergy spouses who have died during the past 12 months.
Bishop Janice R. Huie, leader of the Arkansas Episcopal Area—and Beeville native—is to preach during the June 4 commissioning and ordination service.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez is to bring the message during the June 3 service of covenant and confirmation of appointments and during the June 5 closing worship.
Smith, 69, officially retired from active ministry in June 1999 after 46 years of service. He had been assistant to the episcopal office for four years when he retired.
A Pflugerville native who grew up in Corpus Christi, Smith was San Antonio District superintendent from 1990 to 1995. Before that he was senior pastor of First UMC, Victoria, for four years.
He has also served congregations in Austin, Bayside, Elgin, Pflugerville, Portland, San Antonio and San Marcos.
Huie, 57, a former Southwest Texas Conference clergy member, was elected as a bishop in July 1996 and assigned to the Arkansas Area. She was San Angelo District superintendent at the time of her election.
In Southwest Texas Huie served congregations in Austin, Mason and Manchaca. She was ordained a deacon in 1970 and an elder in 1974.
Martinez, 64, became bishop of the San Antonio Episcopal Area in September 2000. He led the Nebraska Area for eight years before that. A former clergy member of the Rio Grande Conference, he was elected as a bishop in July 1992.
The Seguin native was the first Latino bishop elected in the eight-state South Central Jurisdiction and the second elected in the denomination.