Bishop Saenz Announces In-Person Clergy & Local Pastors/Associate Member Meetings
April 22, 2022
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., episcopal leader of the Central Texas Conference has decided to convene the 2022 Clergy Executive Session and Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members meeting as in-person only events. The meetings had been previously scheduled as online meetings via Zoom. The date and times of the meetings remain as previously announced (Clergy Session 10 a.m. - Noon / Local Pastors and Associate Members 2-4 p.m.) Each meeting will take place at First UMC Burleson.
Please view the following brief video to hear Bishop Sanez's reasons for the change and more, and/or read the letter to the CTC clergy below.
21 April 2022
Grace and peace in the name of the Lord Jesus,
After prayerful discernment and consultation with the Cabinet and with Rev. Bryan Daleo, chair of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, I have determined to convene the 2022 Clergy Executive Session and the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members meeting in-person, rather than via Zoom. My decision to move these to in-person only events was arrived following careful and thoughtful consideration.
The date and time of the meetings remain unchanged (Thursday, June 2, 2022, from 10:00 am - Noon for the Clergy Session; 2:00-4:00 p.m. for the meeting of the Fellowship). Both meetings will take place at FUMC Burleson.
The reasons for the change are twofold. First, the COVID-19 pandemic currently is at a level that allows us to gather safely. Second and foremost, considering the weighty matters before us, I believe it is far better for us to gather in person where we can engage in Holy Conversation face- to-face as we address the questions for which the clergy session is responsible.
Members of the clergy session include deacons and elders in full connection, provisional members, associate members, affiliate members, and local pastors (BOD ,i602.2) and "all clergy members of the annual conference ... may attend and shall have voice in the clergy session. Only the ordained clergy in full connection ... may vote." (BOD 605.7)
Please register for these meetings at the following: Clergy Session (ctcumc.org/clergy-session-registration); Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members meeting (ctcumc.org/local-pastors-session-registration).
I am excited about the chance to gather with you in-person and I look forward to our time together at FUMC Burleson on June 2.
Peace
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
Central Texas Conference
