1 church joins welcoming list,
4 others renew certifications

One more Southwest Texas Conference church joined the list of certified welcoming congregations this month.
Four others renewed their welcoming status for another year.
Leander UMC in the Austin District became the 158th welcoming congregation in the Southwest Texas Conference March 6.
Renewing their certifications for a second year were:
> Christoval UMC, San Angelo District, recertified Feb. 22.
> First UMC, Marble Falls, Kerrville District, recertified March 3.
> First UMC, Portland, Corpus Christi District, recertified March 4.
> Crestview UMC, Austin District, recertified March 6.
Welcoming status is to be renewed annually.
Southwest Texas has more welcoming congregations than any conference in the United States. Forty-five percent of Southwest Texas congregations have been certified. Of the total, 42 congregations have renewed their certifications at least once.
The count of welcoming congregations by district stands at Austin, 35; Corpus Christi, 29; Kerrville, 19; McAllen, 28; San Angelo, 10; San Antonio, 22; 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.