Reporting of 2022 Statistics

There is a "new" statistics system this year - EZRA has been replaced with a new, third-party developed system that should be better and more flexible called ACStats.

You can log into the statistics system at: stats.gcfa.org.

Your login is your church's 6-digit GCFA number. The password is NWTX2022.

If you don't know your church's GCFA number, see the list below.

If you responded to the requests from the district ministry assistants for your stats user and email address, they have been entered into the system. Therefore, you should see that information listed when you log in. You can click on the button "That's me" to confirm. If you are not listed, you may be able to add your information by clicking on the button that says "I'm not listed." If that doesn't work, please contact me.

Even though the system interface has changed, the tables and questions are the same as in prior years. Therefore, I ask that you log into the system and enter your church's 2022 information. Once you have finished and responded to any error messages and warnings, you should be able to submit your reports. However, since this is a new system, we may need to be patient and flexible.

Thanks for your help and understanding. If you get stuck, contact me.

Blessings,

Dave Andersen

GCFA Numbers

Levelland; Christ - 748608

Levelland; First - 748585

Midland; St. Luke's - 748062

Midland; St. Mark's - 748084

Midland; Visionary Hollowell - 987070

Morton - 748701

O'Donnell - 748745

Ropesville - 748847

Roscoe - 746688

Seagraves - 748860

Sweetwater; Highland Heights - 746724

Lubbock District

Hart - 751606

Hereford; San Pablo - 755397

Lubbock; Asbury - 750145

Lubbock; First - 750167

Lubbock; Forrest Heights - 750180

Lubbock; Iglesia Metodista Unida Vida Abundante - 746325

Lubbock; Korean - 750316

Lubbock; Mt. Vernon - 987068

Lubbock; St. John's UMC - 750247

Lubbock; Templo - 755568

Plainview; San Juan - 755581

Shallowater - 750442

Tulia; El Buen - 755865

Vigo Park - 752020

Wayside - 752053

Abilene District

Abilene; St. James - 746176

Abilene; St. Paul - 746245

Avoca - 752202

Eula - 746462

Jayton - 752348

Merkel - 746542

Quanah - 749625

Trent - 746768

Vernon; Faith - 749762

Amarillo District

Amarillo; Covenant - 747001

Amarillo; Polk St. - 746963

Amarillo; St. Matthew - 755876

Amarillo; Trinity - 747045

Clarendon - 749226

Dumas; First - 747182

Fritch First - 750783

Pampa; First - 751025

Pampa; St. Paul - 746757

Stratford - 747364

White Deer - 747444

Big Spring District

Brownfield - 748426

Denver City - 748483

Draw - 748506

Lamesa; Northridge - 747956

UMC Bishops ask church court for clarification on 2024 Conference

Council of Bishops
Press Release
January 9, 2023

UMC Bishops ask church court for clarification on 2024 Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church is petitioning the denomination’s top court for clarification on its recent decision regarding the General Conference that will be held in 2024.

The church’s court, known as the Judicial Council, ruled last month in Judicial Council Decision 1451 that the General Conference session to be held in 2024 is the postponed 2020 General Conference.

While the COB appreciates the clarity and guidance on that issue, the bishops feel that the decision has generated a number of other questions that arise from the language of the decision, and the COB therefore was petitioning the Judicial Council for clarification of the decision on four limited questions.

The bishops made the decision to seek clarification during a special session of the COB meeting held via Zoom on Friday, January 6, 2023.

Here are the four questions on which the bishops are seeking clarification:

  1. Question for Clarification No. 1: If an annual conference has vacancies in its General Conference delegation due to death, resignation, or otherwise, does JCD 1451 allow an annual conference to hold elections to fill the vacancies that have not already been filled by its reserve delegates?

  2. Question for Clarification No. 2: If a person was elected as a lay or clergy delegate for the postponed 2020 General Conference and that person’s status as a lay or clergy person has changed since election by the annual conference, do ¶¶ 34-36 of the 2016 Book of Discipline require that the delegate be declared ineligible to serve as a delegate in the status as elected and thereby creating a vacancy to be filled by the election of a new lay or clergy delegate if there is no reserve delegate to fill the vacancy?

  3. Question for Clarification No. 3: In regard to delegates who were elected from two previous annual conferences for the postponed 2020 General Conference that have since merged, (a) which delegates previously elected are eligible to serve at the postponed 2020 General Conference; and (b) if the merged annual conference is entitled to fewer delegates, what is the process under the Discipline for determining who among those previously elected is eligible to serve, including the date for determination of the delegates?

  1. Question for Clarification No. 4: Based on the holding in JCD 1451, is the Commission on the General Conference required to schedule and make arrangements pursuant to ¶ 511.4 for a session of the General Conference to occur in the quadrennium after the adjournment of the postponed 2020 General Conference in 2024 and before December 31, 2027?

The bishops are asking for an expedited hearing in the matter.

“Our request for clarification is to simply ask for specific clarification so that our work, both in the Annual Conferences and the General Church, can function with uniformity and alignment.  Our work in these specific areas needs to be conducted in a manner that is consistent across the church,” said COB President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of New York Area.

In another matter, the COB voted last month during the December 21, 2022 meeting to request a declaratory decision regarding Paragraph 413 of the 2016 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church.

The requested decision pertains to how Council of Bishops holds its individual members accountable for their work, both as general superintendents and as presidents and residents in episcopal areas.

 

 

Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga

Director of Communications

Council of Bishops

The United Methodist Church

110 Maryland Ave. NE  # 301

Washington , D.C. 20002

(202) 748-5172 

Special Session of the Annual Conference for Monday, January 9th at 6:30 pm.

Bishop Nunn has called a Special Session of the Annual Conference for Monday, January 9th at 6:30 pm. This session will be 100% online. Please register here for the Zoom webinar: 

The following is the press release form Bishop Nunn:

In accordance with ¶603.5 of the 2016 Book of Discipline and with the support of the District Superintendents, I hereby call a Special Session of the Northwest Texas Annual Conference to be held on Monday, January 9, 2023, at 6:30 P.M. using the Conference digital platform. 

  

The purpose of the called session is as follows:   

  1. To suspend the rules governing the structure of the Northwest Texas Conference to provide flexibility in the nomination process, 

  2. To elect officers as necessary to complete the structure of the NWTX officers, 

  3. To act on a spending plan for the calendar year 2023 for the Northwest Texas Annual Conference. 

  4. To share items of information on coverage assignments of the District Superintendents and other timely information.   

Conference Agenda 

The agenda of the called session is as follows:   

  1. Prayer 

  2. Statement of the nature of the called session 

  3. To act on a motion to suspend the Conference Rules governing structure. 

  4. To elect officers necessary to fulfill the mandatory roles of the Annual Conference. 

  5. To act on the spending plan for 2023. 

  6. Item of information: District Coverage 

  7. Prayer 

  8. Adjournment 

Special Called Session of the Northwest Texas Annual Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NWTX Conference of The United Methodist Church

 

Special Called Session of the Northwest Texas Annual Conference

Where: LakeRidge UMC, Lubbock, TX

When: December 3, 2022, at 10 a.m.

The Northwest Texas (NWTX) Conference of The United Methodist Church gathered today, December 3, 2022, at LakeRidge UMC in Lubbock, Texas, for the Special Called Session of the Annual Conference.

 

Bishop James G. Nunn officiated the conference, which approved the following reports and resolutions:

  1. A report from the Conference Board of Trustees regarding church disaffiliations. One hundred and forty-five (145) churches were disaffiliated during the conference. Their official transfer date will be December 31, 2022, at 11:59 pm.

  2. A report from the Conference Board of Trustees regarding the transfer of the deed for Ceta Canyon Campgrounds.

  3. A report from the Mission Advancement Team (MAT) on the request of discontinuance from The United Methodist Church for the three Wesley Foundations of the conference: The Wesley Foundation of Texas Tech University, The Wesley Foundation of South Plains College, and The Wesley Foundation of West Texas A&M.

  4. A resolution for funding a reserve trust for clergy benefit plans.

  5. A resolution for providing grants to retired clergy and contributions to active clergy UMPIP accounts.  

The session concluded with an announcement from Bishop Nunn on appointment changes for the NWTX District Superintendents. Rev. Felicia Hopkins and Rev. Don Boren will remain as District Superintendents in 2023. Rev. Boren will also step into the role of Director of Mission and Administration in the Conference Office. More information on these appointment changes will come in the following weeks.

Dates and Location Announced for General Conference 2024

Nashville, Tenn.: The Commission on the General Conference announced today that the 2024 United Methodist General Conference will be held April 23 – May 3, 2024, at Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

“The Commission selected Charlotte as the site that best met our varied needs. We believe that delegates and attendees will be pleased with all the city has to offer,” said Kim Simpson, Chair of the Commission on the General Conference. “Charlotte is a part of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference – but due to the shorter timeframe for planning, both the Western North Carolina Conference and the North Carolina Annual Conference will co-host the event.” 

In making the selection, Simpson said that the Commission looked at the suitability and capacity of meeting facilities, availability of adequate space, the proximity of hotel rooms, accessibility and convenience of travel and costs of meeting space, lodging, meals and airfare. Proposals from three cities were considered, but ultimately Charlotte was determined to be the best fit. 

Charlotte, known as the Queen City, is the 16th most populous city in the U.S. and a major airline hub for American Airlines. The 600,000-square-foot convention center recently completed a $126.9 million expansion and is only 7 miles from the Charlotte International Airport and within walking distance of 200 restaurants.

“We are honored to host the 2024 General Conference of The United Methodist Church,” said Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, Jr. of the Western North Carolina Conference. “Our people are hospitable and welcoming, and we trust that the delegates who gather for what promises to be an historic gathering will be blessed by the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina and its warmth and beauty.”

“We bathe this gathering in deep prayer while also praying for each delegate who will seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we spend time in Holy Conferencing. It is my prayer that the same spirit will empower and encourage us to see the possibilities and live the promise,” said Bishop Leonard Fairley of the North Carolina Conference. “May you experience the beautiful natural setting of North Carolina, and the amazing hospitality of its people as you do the work of the Kingdom always remembering you are Beloved of God.”

The last General Conference was set to happen in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until the pandemic made it necessary to postpone the quadrennial legislative event until 2024. At the upcoming conference, the Commission will follow appropriate protocols related to COVID-19 to safeguard attendees’ health.

Delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia and the U.S. will attend the 11-day gathering, which is expected to attract about 5,500-7,500 people.

“It is such an honor to be able to host the 2024 General Conference of The United Methodist Church,” said Mike Butts, Executive Director of Visit Charlotte. “I’m excited that delegates and attendees will get to experience the region’s warm hospitality and enjoy all the offerings that make Charlotte such a dynamic city.”

###

About General Conference
General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church. The assembly meets at the beginning of each quadrennium to consider revisions to church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs for the next four years.

Media contact:
Diane Degnan presscenter@umcom.org
615.742.5406

Update from South Central Jurisdiction

Over the last two days, Bishops, delegates, and others from around the South Central Jurisdiction have gathered in Houston, TX, to retire bishops, elect three bishops, and carry out other business of the Jurisdiction.

In a historic vote, all three bishops were elected on Wednesday, November 2 on the first ballot taken. Revs. Dee Williamston, Laura Merrill, and David Wilson were elected.

The agenda of the jurisdictional meetings usually alternate between taking ballots for bishop election and reports from ministries from across the connection. Since all three of our new bishops were elected on the first evening, the episcopacy committee decided to move the business of the following two days to today in order to give more time on Friday for new bishops to meet with their new conferences. The Consecration service will still happen Saturday morning.

The Annual Conference boundaries were voted to remain the same so that the committee can work on new boundary needs for the 2024 Jurisdictional meeting.

We are excited to announce that Bishop Nunn will continue as our Bishop this coming January.

The Bishop assignments are as follows and will begin January 1, 2023:

  • Arkansas: Bishop Elect Laura Merrill

  • Central TX / North TX: Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.

  • Great Plains: Bishop Elect David Wilson

  • Louisiana: Bishop Elect Dee Williamston

  • Missouri: Bishop Robert Farr

  • Oklahoma / Oklahoma Indian Missionary: Bishop Jimmy Nunn

  • Rio Texas: Bishop Robert Schnase

  • Texas: Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey

*Bishop Jimmy Nunn will cover the Northwest Texas Conference, and Bishop Robert Schnase will cover the New Mexico Conference.

Three resolutions were presented and passed. 1) Leading with Integrity, 2) Support of US Regional Conference, and 3) Queer Delegates’ call to center, justice, and empowerment for LGBTQIA+ people in the UMC.

Other reports were received from Lydia Patterson, Volunteer in Missions, Perkins School of Theology, Saint Paul School of Theology, United Methodist Men, United Women in Faith, and Africa University.

Bishop McKee, Bishop Jones, and Bishop Mueller were present and honored in their retirement, which will be effective at the end of the year.

Special Session of the NWTX Conference Called

In accordance with ¶603.5 of the 2016 Book of Discipline and with the support of the District Superintendents, I, Bishop James G. Nunn, hereby call a Special Session of the Northwest Texas Annual Conference to be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at LakeRidge United Methodist Church, Lubbock, Texas.

The purpose of the called session is as follows: 

1. To act on enabling motions of the Annual Conference

2. To act on reports from the Board of Trustees on the following matters:

a. Recommendations for disaffiliation

b. Recommendations for property issues related to Ceta Canyon campgrounds

3. To act on a joint report from the MAT team and trustees related to the discontinuance of the United Methodist relationship with the current NWTX Wesley Foundations

4. To act on a report from the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits:

a. the Funding Reserve Trust for Clergy Benefits Plans

b. a recommendation for grants to retired clergy and contributions to active clergy UMPIP accounts

5. Item of information: Shared Ministries distribution

Conference Logistics

There will be no charge for this Annual Conference Session, but all pastors, delegates, and visitors must register online by November 22. Registration can be found at www.nwtxregistration.org. You will find links to register as Active Clergy, Retired Clergy, Lay Members, Alternate Lay Members, Other Lay Members, and Visitors.

If you are needing a hotel room, we will not have a block at a specific hotel. There is a list of hotels near LakeRidge UMC and Southwest Lubbock on the website.

Please watch for more information to come in the coming weeks as we prepare for the Special Called Session. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Conference Office.

NWTX Conference Launches a Missional Online Church

LAUNCHING A MISSIONAL ONLINE CHURCH

The NWTX Conference is launching an online missional church for local members of United Methodist Churches that may not have a local church near them that they feel led to join. If your church has voted to disaffiliate and you want to move your membership to a UM Church during the transitional period, we have a place for you.

This missional church will have an online presence launching services this Advent season. Rev. Jeff Fisher and Rev. Dave Andersen will co-pastor this church. There will be weekly Sunday services along with online small groups and other opportunities to gather around the conference areas.

To transfer your membership to the Conference Secretary, Rev. Jeff Fisher, pastors must send a Certificate of Transfer letter to the Conference to establish and certify the transfer of membership along with a Notice of Transfer of Membership sent to the church member. Contact Jeff Fisher if you have questions 806-762-0201 ext. 111.

Download the two letters here.