5 congregations join welcoming list;
conference total reaches 150

The count of certified welcoming congregations in the Southwest Texas Conference reached 150 last month.
Five more churches joined the list in late November. Another congregation renewed its welcoming certification for a second year.
New welcoming congregations are:
> First UMC, Smithville, Austin District, certified Nov. 26.
> Karnes City UMC, Corpus Christi District, certified Nov. 26.
> Dripping Springs UMC, Austin District, certified Nov. 26.
> St. Mark UMC, Austin, Austin District, certified Nov. 27.
> Eagle Lake UMC, Victoria District, certified Nov. 30.
Lehrer Memorial UMC, Eagle Lake, renewed its certification for a second year. Welcome certification must be renewed annually.
The Southwest Texas Conference total of welcoming is the most of any conference in the United States. Forty-three percent of Southwest Texas congregations have been certified.
The count of welcoming congregations by district stands at Austin, 33; Corpus Christi, 28; Kerrville, 18; McAllen, 28; San Angelo, 9; San Antonio, 20; and Victoria, 14.
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 ignitingministry.org.
District superintendents sign checklists to confirm reported information.