Dewville UMC named 63rd
welcoming congregation

Dewville UMC became the 63rd certified welcoming congregation in Southwest Texas June 19.
The 44-member congregation is the seventh in the Corpus Christi District to be certified.
Southwest Texas has the most welcoming congregations of any conference in the United States. The count of welcoming congregations by district now stands at Austin, 8; Corpus Christi, 7; Kerrville, 7; McAllen, 21; San Angelo, 4; San Antonio, 9; and Victoria, 7.
Lay Leader Jay Brim called on district lay leaders last 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 www.ignitingministry.org.
District superintendents must sign each checklist to confirm the information reported.