Letters to the editor

Without our local pastors, many churches would close
Since October was Appreciation Month for Pastors, I feel we need to pay honor to our licensed local pastors.
I have witnessed firsthand how hard our local pastors work in the Southwest Texas Conference. They have been assigned to serve in mostly small churches, especially those with declining memberships that are on the brink of closing permanently.
Small churches on the decline are now spiritually uplifted and have hope for the future. Local pastors are performing all the duties of the church in the communities where they are assigned. Through their efforts we are seeing increases in attendance and professions of faith all over the district and conference.
Local pastors put in long hours many days working in communities to determine what is needed in outreach mission. Some are full-time local pastors, but many are part-time. They are accomplishing what is needed to pull a congregation back to becoming a vital part of the community. 
If it were not for these local pastors, our small churches might not be open today. Three cheers for our local pastors!
Our local pastors are very dedicated, passionate and hard working. They have been spiritually called to the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In addition to serving the Lord, they continue working hard to complete the education requirements of The United Methodist Church.
Let’s hear another three cheers for our local pastors and the work they are accomplishing!
Florence Cerda-Presley
San Antonio

Viewpoint-page opinions provide fascinating reading
The Nov. 9 Viewpoint page is fascinating.
To Bob Ross (“Why do people write letters to Witness editor anyway?”) I’d say for none of his reasons but to ask life-giving questions.
To Ralph Thompson (“Let’s stop picking at Bible, start doing what it says”) I ask, “Seriously, what does the Bible say?” In one place it condemns both homosexual acts and those who do not eat kosher. In two places it says without Jesus we can’t be saved. But in dozens of places it says in many ways, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The Bible says so many different things it can confuse some as much as reading the Koran for the first time.
As to who is God, an engineer and a professor led my class in discussing that question. They quickly asked who or what is your God? For Wall Street and business executives, is it money? For some patriots, is it America right or wrong? Christ?
As W. Conrad Archer (“We can learn from both sides of debate if we truly listen”) said, we can learn from both sides.
John F. Yeaman
Austin

Thanks for your kindness after our pastor’s death
Thank you to Bishop Joel N. Martinez, the Rev. Terrence Hayes, the Rev. Austin Frederick Jr., the Rev. Hector Grant, the Rev. Lonnie Phillips of First UMC in Seguin, La Trinidad UMC of Seguin, East St. Paul UMC of San Antonio and the many pastors and friends of the Southwest Texas Conference Victoria District for all the loving acts of kindness and generosity shown to us during the illness and homegoing of our beloved pastor, Barbara Ann Miller. 
Your generosity and concern will always be appreciated.
May God continue to bless all of you in your faithful service to him.
Wesley-Harper UMC family
Seguin