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June 13 , 2008

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Delegates gather for June 4-7 conference

Some ordained, some
retire, some honored
at annual meeting

By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor

Southwest Texas Conference leaders and
congregations raised $6,529,832 for the
Offering Christ Today for Tomorrow capital
campaign, said the Rev. Mike Lowry, executive
director of New Church Development and
Transformation for the conference.

[full story]


Special service commissions, ordains 23 leaders

By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor


Twenty-three individuals were commissioned or ordained during a special service June 7 inside the Selena Auditorium of the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.

The service closed the Southwest Texas Conference's Annual Conference session that began June 4.

The Rev. Jim Mayfield, a retired conference minister,
preached during the gathering.

He told them that the service was not one to
celebrate their accomplishments.

[full story]


10-year decline in membership has been steady

By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor

With the exception of 2006, Southwest Texas Conference churches have experienced a steady decline in membership over the course of the last 10 years, said the Rev. David Seilheimer, conference treasurer and secretary.

But there is hope, Seilheimer added—because data collected on the number of visitors and the age of the Church are more hopeful than originally expected.

[full story]


 Southwest Texas news

- Holy conferencing is beneficial practice
- Local candidate endorsed for episcopal spot
- Special night helps campaign against malaria
- Service remembers clergy, their spouses
- Retirees offer reflections on years of service in Southwest Texas

- News Briefs

Austin District news

- Session details how to share one's faith story
-
District conference offers time to rejoice
-
Russia Initiative work is winning souls
- District happenings
- District calendar


Across the denomination

- Organization touches lives of the hungry
- UMCOR responds to request for aid in Zimbabwe

 

Correction
An article in the June 23 issue of the Witness did not include appointments outside the Southwest Texas Conference for the Rev. Charles Graff, who is retiring June 6. Graff first served as a pastor of Pampa St. Paul's/Lefors, Haskell First/Paint Creek and Booker First. He served in Ecuador, South America as a missionary evangelist. He transferred to the New Mexico Conference in 1982, where he was pastor of Asbury UMC, El Paso; First UMC, Farmington; First UMC, Odessa; and First UMC, Deming. He moved to the Southwest Texas Conference in 1997 and was pastor of First UMC, Harlingen, and St. Luke's UMC, Corpus Christi.

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