2 more local churches earn spots
on list of welcoming congregations

Two more Southwest Texas Conference churches joined the list of welcoming congregations this month.
Another congregation renewed its certification.
New welcoming congregations are:
> Bethany UMC, San Antonio, certified Jan. 3.
> Oak Park UMC, Corpus Christi, certified Jan. 4.
First UMC, Robstown, in the Corpus Christi District, continued its certification for a second year. Welcoming status must be renewed annually.
The count of certified welcoming congregations in Southwest Texas now stands at 153. That’s the most of any conference in the United States. Forty-four percent of Southwest Texas congregations have been certified.
The count of welcoming congregations by district stands at Austin, 33; Corpus Christi, 29; Kerrville, 18; McAllen, 28; San Angelo, 9; San Antonio, 21; and Victoria, 15.
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.
Granted by the General Commission on Communication, certification means a congregation has systematically evaluated its hospitality and intentionally embraced a lifestyle of welcoming newcomers.
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.
To earn recertification, welcoming congregations must earn an additional 100 points doing things they didn’t do the first year.
Checklists are available at www.ignitingministry.org.
District superintendents sign checklists to confirm reported information.