Welcoming church count climbs to 62

Six more churches joined the list of welcoming congregations this month.
The Southwest Texas Conference now has 62 certified welcoming congregations. That’s the most of any conference in the United States.
New welcoming congregations are:
> Christoval UMC, San Angelo District, certified June 6.
> New Fountain UMC, Hondo, Kerrville District, certified June 7.
> Manor UMC, Austin District, certified June 13.
> Epworth UMC, San Antonio, San Antonio District, certified June 13.
> Lehrer Memorial UMC, Gar-wood, Victoria District, certified June 14.
> First UMC, Sonora, San Angelo District, certified June 15.
The count of welcoming congregations by district now stands at:
> Austin—8.
> Corpus Christi—6.
> Kerrville—7.
> McAllen—21.
> San Angelo—4.
> San Antonio—9.
> Victoria—7.
Lay Leader Jay Brim called on district lay leaders this month to help all current welcoming congregations renew their certifications this year. He challenged leaders to inspire at least half the remaining churches in their districts to be certified.
Welcoming certification must be renewed annually.
Granted by the General Commission on Communication, certification means a congregation has systematically evaluated its hospitality and intentionally embraced a lifestyle of welcoming newcomers.
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.