2 churches earn, 2 renew
welcoming-congregation status


Two more Southwest Texas Conference churches joined the list of certified welcoming congregations this month.
Two other congregations renewed their welcoming certification for a second year. Welcoming
certification must be renewed annually.

New welcoming congregations are:
> Smiley UMC, Corpus Christi District, certified July 19.
> First UMC, Uvalde, Kerrville District, certified July 20.

Congregations renewing their certifications are:
> First UMC, Aransas Pass, Corpus Christi District, recertified July 9.
> First UMC, Sonora, San Angelo District, recertified July 19.
The Southwest Texas Conference now has 134 certified welcoming congregations. That total is the most of any conference in the United States.
The count of welcoming congregations by district stands at Austin, 28; Corpus Christi, 27; Kerrville, 18; McAllen, 26; San Angelo, 7; San Antonio, 17; and Victoria, 11.
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. The goal is to help congregations do a better job of relating to visitors and encouraging them to return.
Certified 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.
To earn recertification, welcoming congregations must earn an additional 100 points doing
things they didn’t do the first year.
Checklists are available at ignitingministry.org.
District superintendents sign checklists to confirm reported information.