Open House Month extended through ’08

Bishop urges churches
to plan special events
that offer Christ to all
Bishop Joel N. Martinez has extended the annual United Methodist Open House Month observance through 2008.
In a proclamation dated July 1, Martinez declared September 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 to be United Methodist Open House Month in the Southwest Texas Conference.
The bishop called on local congregations to:
> Pray that the demonstrated hospitality of United Methodists would help people without a spiritual home to find Christ in our fellowship.
> Plan special events to attract the attention of people in the community looking for a church home.
> Encourage members to invite friends, relatives, associates and neighbors to worship and other special events during September.
“Open House Month gives us a special focus for offering Christ to all,” the bishop said in an accompanying letter sent last week to all pastors and lay leaders. “I encourage every local church to plan special events during September specifically to offer Christ to people outside the congregation.”
Fostering hospitality is one way to empower ministries that “Offer Christ to All,” the proclamation says. “Offering Christ to All” is the Southwest Texas Conference vision statement.
“Hospitality is essential in offering Christ to all,” Martinez said. “Let’s intentionally emulate Christ’s welcoming spirit as we continue to reach out to share the gospel in our communities.”
One opportunity for an Open House Month event, Martinez noted, is National Neighborhood Day. Scheduled for Sept. 11, the day is designed to rekindle friendships, establish new relationships, and enjoy food and fellowship.
Churches and civic groups around the country are planning picnics, block parties and other special gatherings for Sept. 11, he said. Planning information is available at www. NeighborhoodDay.org.
Open House Month is part of the denominationwide Igniting Ministry hospitality and image campaign. The General Commission on Communication in Nashville, Tenn., is supporting special events by local congregations during September with commercials on a number of national cable TV networks. The exact schedule is to be available later in July.
Open House Month is one of three Southwest Texas campaigns carried out during the year in coordination with Igniting Ministry TV advertising. The others are Home for Christmas during December and Bring a Friend Sunday during Lent.
“These campaigns, sponsored by the Board of Discipleship, include time-tested strategies for helping church members offer Christ to neighbors throughout the year,” Martinez said in his July 1 letter.
He encouraged congregations to participate in both the Home for Christmas and Bring a Friend Sunday campaigns.
“Of course,” Martinez said, “the welcoming outreach of Open House Month should be a year-round emphasis. Therefore, I support the Board of Laity’s call for all our local churches to become Certified Welcoming Congregations.”
Another part of the Igniting Ministry campaign, certification means that congregations have systematically evaluated their hospitality and intentionally embraced a lifestyle of inviting and welcoming newcomers.
Lay Leader Jay Brim of Austin set a goal last month of having at least 200 Southwest Texas congregations certified by June 2006. He announced that target June 3 during his lay leader’s report to the Southwest Texas Annual Conference session in Corpus Christi.
With 11 certified churches as of June 30, Southwest Texas had more welcoming congregations than any other conference.