Your clergy and lay delegates will be attending the Annual Conference of Rio Texas Conference June 8-11 in Corpus Christi. Here is a reminder of what that has to do with Manchaca UMC.
We are a connectional church in covenant with over 300 other United Methodist Churches in our geographical area. The Annual Conference is the basic organizational unit of the United Methodist Church with delegates from each local congregation coming together at least annually to make decisions regarding our connectional life in mission and witness of the love of God and neighbor. The business of Budgets are discussed and approved for the following calendar year. Matters of property and insurance are brought forward which impact the whole conference. Reports from action groups and lunches with interest groups all happen during these three days.
I give thanks and ask for your prayers for our delegates: Malcolm Nelson, Lance Lunsford, Pat Stine, Laura Harris, Ron Mize, and Richard Halweg. Along with your pastors these persons represent this congregation.
Our Bishop Robert Schnase and the District Superintendents of our districts (smaller geographical areas within the annual conference) have been busy making appointments of pastors to serve the churches of our annual conference. These will be announced and celebrated at the conference. In addition, a service of Ordination highlights our gathering on Friday evening. This year, deacons and elders will be commissioned to serve in a provisional status. And after having been in residence for two years, another group of deacons and elders will be ordained and received into full connection within the Annual Conference.
This Rio Texas Conference is a part of the larger body of Christ among the people called Methodists. Your prayers are appreciated as we also say goodbye to a number of sister churches disaffiliating from the UMC and our Annual Conference. With grace, we remember our shared history and ask for the Holy Spirit to send all of us into a future of loving and serving in the name of Jesus.
Your senior pastor,
Paul Harris