July/August - West District

July—August
2015
West District
of the Texas Annual Conference
of the United Methodist Church
2015 TAC Overview by Scott Atnip
District Preachers &
Families Fish Fry
Hosted by
St. Luke’s UMC - Bryan
August 1st @ 11:00am
Hymn Sing
Christ UMC August 16
@ 6:00pm
LOOK for changes for
the FALL 2015
CHARGE
CONFERENCES
West District Office
4205 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX 77845
Office: 979-690-5627
Fax:
979-690-7914
www.west-district.org
Rev. Wanda Bess
District Superintendent
wbess@txcumc.org
Debbie Keim
Administrative Assistant
dkeim@txcumc.org
Hope Cantú
Office Assistant
hcantu@txcumc.org
The recently completed gathering of the Texas Annual Conference was
packed full of business in preparation for the 2016 General Conference in
Portland and challenges for the local church. Besides the standard business
of approving Conference Budgets, Nominations and Reports, the 2015
Annual Conference included the elections of 9 lay and 9 clergy delegates to
General Conference, 9 lay and 9 clergy delegates to Jurisdictional
Conference and 4 lay and clergy alternates and a series of resolutions to
General Conference.
The full list of delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference can be
found on the Conference Website at www.txcumc.org. These delegates will
represent our Annual Conference at General and Jurisdictional Conference,
and will spend hours upon hours reading and preparing to act on legislation
that will impact the denomination and our local church and interviewing
discerning amongst many candidates for the Episcopacy. It is an important
task, and my hope is that we will support them with prayer and assist them in
their journey as needed over the course of the next year and a half.
The Annual Conference also approved a series of resolutions to send to
General Conference to consider including:
 Re-wording the section of the Social Principles on Human Sexuality
without changing the intent
 Re-writing the section of the Social Principles on the Economic
Community to remove language relating to support government policies
to care for the poor to language more focused on economic growth as a
mechanism for improving economic conditions for all.
 Re-organizing the United States Jurisdictions from five Jurisdictions to
four, eliminating the Western Jurisdiction
 A resolution relating to Israel-Palestine
The full list may also be found on the Texas Conference website at the link
above. There was good conversation and healthy debate regarding the
resolutions, and folks certainly left either really happy, frustrated, or a
combination of both. But regardless of how we view the outcomes, I ask that
we all come together to pray for all of General Conference delegates as they
prepare to consider a wide range of issues in 2016. May God guide them to
listen to one another and seek ways to move our church forward in a united
way.
Continue 
Continued….2015 TAC Overview
But more importantly, Annual Conference once again reminds me that the most important work takes place at
the local church level. Bishop Huie opened Conference with her address naming a series of world challenges
that were overcome when “God sent a United Methodist”. We still have serious issues facing our community
and world. And I pray that General Conference assists in addressing those issues, but our local churches have an
obligation to confront the challenges and injustices in our communities now.
One of our speakers, Gil Rendle talked about the challenges in evangelism facing our denomination and its
declining membership, challenging us to consider bold new approaches. Evangelism does not take place on the
Annual Conference, or General Conference floor. It takes place when our local congregations, and each one of
us invite someone to church. How are churches in the West District going to be bold in our evangelism efforts?
So, my prayer is that we wrap our delegates for General Conference in prayer and keep up with the happenings
of the general church, but even more, that we challenge ourselves to return home to challenge the folks in our
pews to consider creating new approaches to fulfilling our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world”, because our world needs the United Methodist Church. We need more disciples,
actively following Jesus, and we certainly live in communities and a world in need of transformation. Let’s get
to work West District!
Scott Atnip
District Lay Leader
Congratulations
Rev. Kalamba Kilumba - West Ohio Conference
Rev. Kelley Sexton – Pastor of Farris Chapel – Huntsville
Rev. Kimm Thomas – Associate at St. Paul UMC – Huntsville
Rev. J. Kyle McNeely – Associate at Christ UMC – College Station
Rev. Jeremy Woodley - Associate at Christ UMC – College Station
Rev. Don McAvoy - Associate at Christ UMC – College Station
Thank You West District UM Churches
for once again coming together and
reaching our goal for 100% payout in
2014 apportionments!
Pictured left to right is Don House,
Rev. Bess and Royce Hickman, holding our
award at 2014 TAC .
West District Pastors &
Families Picnic
FISH FRY
Hosted by: St. Luke’s UMC— Bryan and The West District Office
Date:
Saturday, August 1st, 2015
11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
RSVP by July 23, 2015
Location:
St. Luke’s UMC
2700 W. Villa Maria
Bryan, TX 77807
Email your RSVP to hcantu@txcumc.org or dkeim@txcumc.org or call the
District Office at 979/690-5627.
Please let us know how many to count on and if childcare is needed (6 and under).
There will be a bounce house for the children to play in provided the weather cooperates.
RSVP deadline July 27, 2015 - 3:00 P.M.
Catfish
French Fries
Coleslaw
Hushpuppies
gs!
n
i
x
i
f
e
h
t
l
l
a
@
ets
(chicken nugg
for the kids.)
26th Annual West District UMC
Hymn Sing
&
Ice Cream Social
Sunday August 16 at 6:00 PM
Christ United Methodist Church
4201 State Hwy 6 S, College Station
Send your choir, group, ensemble, trio, duet or
soloist to participate
One song per church
Please provide the following information:
- Name of church
- Musical Selection
- Name of group
- Contact Person
Respond to:
Rachel Markham—Christ United Methodist Church
rachelmarkham@christ-umc.org (979) 690-4673 ext. 137
HELPING CONGREGATIONS FIND THE RIGHT RESOURCES
Texas Methodist Foundation invites you to explore a new online tool called the Congregational
Resource Guide (CRG). The CRG is a web-based application designed to help you find and use the
right resources to address your congregation’s challenges and opportunities.
CRG offers interactive features allowing you and your congregational team to search, save, organize
and discuss the resources and issues that are relevant to your faith community.
TMF is a nonprofit organization. To learn more, please visit www.tmf-fdn.org/.
It is our hope that the CRG will enhance your capacity to blend excellent resources with your
congregation's ingenuity.
Check out this new web application at http://thecrg.org.
WEST DISTRICT
CALENDAR
2015
Creating a leadership pipeline for the next generation of
equipped, empowered and healthy leaders!
July 20
July 30 - 31
Mon
Thr - Fri
11:30am
Retired Ministers & Spouses Luncheon
Candidacy Summit @ Camp Allen
August 1
August 11
August 16
August 17
11:00am
2:00pm
6:00pm
11:30am
August 23
Sat
Tues
Sun
Mon
Mon-Fri
Sun
August 24
Mon
August 26
August 30
August 31
Wed
Sun
Mon
Pastors & Families Picnic @ St. Luke’s UMC, Bryan
Congregational Excellence Team Meeting
Hymn Sing & Ice Cream Social @ Christ UMC
Retired Ministers & Spouses Luncheon
Cabinet Retreat
Bay Chapel - Homecoming
Leona Circuit: Two Mile - Appreciation Day for
Rev. Greenwood
Finance/Trustees/B&L meetings
Support & Resource
dCOM meeting
Marlin Circuit - Homecoming
DLT meeting
Sept. 1-3
Tues-Thur
Sept. 7
Mon
Sept. 15–17 Tues-Thur
Sept. 20
Sun
Sept. 21
Mon
11:00am
3:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
9:30am
11:00am
4:00pm
Closed
4:00pm
11:30am
Refresh @ Lakeview
Labor Day
The Gathering
District Charge Conference @ FUMC Navasota
Retired Ministers & Spouses Luncheon
Check the schedule for your HUB Charge Conference. Many changes for the Fall 2015 schedule!!
October 7
Wed
October 19
Mon
4:30pm
7:00pm
11:30am
Clergy - Bishop Itineration @ FUMC Bryan
Laity - Bishop Itineration @ FUMC Bryan
Retired Ministers & Spouses Luncheon
CHANGES FOR THE FALL 2015
CHARGE CONFERENCES
This fall the charge conferences for each church are still divided into Hubs but there will be several
churches that will have an individual charge conference. Please make note of the following information.
Find your church under one of the Hubs and note the date and time of the Hub Charge Conference.
Charge Conferences will be held at the Hub Leader church. Several churches are listed at the bottom
and will have their charge conference at their church. Date and time are noted.
Hub 1 (Tues, Oct 6 2015 – 7pm)
1. Franklin First
2. Gause
3. Kosse/Reagan
4. Bremond/Calvert
5. Marlin Circuit
6. Major’s Chapel
7. *Hearne Grace/Wheelock (Hub Leader)
Hub 2 (Sun, Oct 11 2015 – 4pm)
1. Cameron/Maysfield
2. *Lexington/Blue (Hub Leader)
3. Rockdale St. John’s
4. Thorndale Pleasant Retreat/Friendship
5. Marlin First/Cedar Springs
6. Milano Circuit
Hub 3 (Mon, Oct 12 2015 – 7pm)
1. Navasota First/Anderson First
2. Anderson Circuit
3. Hempstead Bethlehem
4. *Hempstead First/Lynn Grove (Hub Leader)
5. Stoneham
6. Navasota Circuit
7. Millican
Hub 4 (Wed, Oct 14 2015 – 7pm)
1. Madisonville First
2. *Centerville First (Hub Leader)
3. Centerville Circuit
4. Normangee/Flynn
5. Leona/Evans Chapel
6. Marquez
7. Iola Zion
8. Jewett/Donie
Hub 5 (Sun, Oct 18 2015 – 4pm)
1. Brenham Circuit
2. *Bellville UMC (Hub Leader)
3. Chappell Hill
4. Giddings/Paige
5. Somerville
6. Caldwell First
7. Cooks Point
Hub 6 (Sun, Oct 25 2015 – 4pm)
1. Huntsville Farris Chapel
2. Huntsville Grace
3. Huntsville St. Paul’s
4. Huntsville *Wesley Memorial (Hub Leader)
5. Richards/Bays Chapel
6. Bedias/Shiro
7. Leona Circuit
8. Wesley Foundation Sam Houston State
Hub 7 (Sun, Nov 1 2015 – 4pm)
1. Bryan Alexander
2. Bryan Lee Chapel
3. Bryan St. Luke’s
4. Bryan Templo Del Espiritu Santo
5. Bryan Wesley
6. College Station *Aldersgate (Hub Leader)
7. College Station First
8. Wesley Foundation A&M
Individual Church Charge Conferences
1. Brenham FUMC – Monday, Oct 19 – 7pm
2. Huntsville FUMC – Monday, Oct 26 – 7pm
3. Bryan FUMC - Wednesday, Oct 28 – 7pm
4. A&M UMC – Sunday, Nov 8 – 4pm
5. Christ UMC – Monday, Nov 9 – 7pm
Thank you to the churches that have paid 100% of their 2015
West District Apportionments as of 6/19/15.
A&M UMC
Aldersgate UMC
Anderson UMC
Bay Chapel UMC
Bellville UMC
Bethlehem UMC
Blue UMC
Cedar Springs UMC
Chappell Hill UMC
Christ UMC
Cooks Point UMC
Davis Chapel UMC
Evans Chapel UMC
Farris Chapel UMC
First UMC Centerville
First UMC College Station
First UMC Giddings
First UMC Hempstead
First UMC Marlin
Flynn UMC
Friendship UMC
Gause UMC
Grace UMC Bremond
Hillary Chapel UMC
Kosse UMC
Lee Chapel UMC
Leona UMC
Lexington UMC
Lynn Grove UMC
Major’s Chapel UMC
Marquez UMC
McKenzie Chapel UMC
Millican UMC
Mt. Zion UMC
Paige UMC
Pleasant Grove UMC Brenham
Pleasant Grove UMC Dobbin
Pleasant Retreat UMC
Shiro UMC
Sneed UMC
St. James UMC
St. Johns UMC
St. Matthew UMC
St. Paul UMC Chilton
Tanyard UMC
Two Mile UMC
Wesley UMC
Wheelock UMC
Yarborough Chapel UMC
Zion UMC
WHAT MISSION WORK IS YOUR
CHURCH DOING?
We want to hear about it!
Let the district help support your project!
Whether you are a few blocks from home or in another country, seek to radiate the love of
Jesus Christ and serve him with gladness.
Check out the District Mission Grant Application
DEADLINES - FALL/WINTER PROJECTS - AUGUST 30, 2015
West District Missional Excellence grants may be requested to support new or expanding
ministries of the church, and to assist churches participating in mission trips.
Contact Rev. Regina Greenwood at reginagree@gmail.com.
You can access the forms on the district web site and download them at:
www.west-district.org. Click on Missions and then Application.
Forms should be completed and sent to:
West District Office
4205 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX 77845
The West District Office
Of the United Methodist Church
4205 State Highway 6 South
College Station, TX 77845
Nonprofit Organization
U. S. Postage
PAID
Bryan, Texas
Permit No. 55
Return Service Requested
Please lift in prayer:
Rev. Arlo Roberson of St. Paul’s UMC in Huntsville for the passing of his mother.
Betsy Stutes, wife of Rev. Robert Stutes, speedy recovery of a hip replacement.
Retired Ministers’ Monthly Luncheon Notice
July 20, 2015
Hosts: Sam & Beverly Duree
Location:
The Golden Corral
August 17, 2015
Hosts: TBA
Location:
TBA
Luncheons begin at 11:30 am unless otherwise noted.