Online Prayer Vigil for Uvalde, Texas with Bishop Saenz
May 25
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. invites all of the Central Texas Conference, and people of faith everywhere, to an online prayer vigil in response to the May 24 deadly shootings at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. The online vigil will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 26 and will be hosted on Bishop Saenz's Facebook page (facebook.com/BishopSaenz). Read more here or by clicking the title above.
Central Texas Cabinet Appointments Announced
May 25
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. has announced three new appointments to the CTC Cabinet - Rev. Danny Tenney (North and West District Superintendent); Rev. Lara Franklin ( Executive Director of the Roberts Center for Clergy Leadership); and Dr. Will Cotton (Executive Director of the Smith Center for Evangelism, Mission & Church Growth/District Superintendent of the New Church Start District). For more details and insights from Bishop Saenz, go to ctcumc.org/central-texas-cabinet-appointments-announced-may2022 or click the title above.
Transistions in the Roberts Center for Leadership & Administration Announced
May 24
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. announced that Jeff Roper, executive director of the Roberts Center for Leadership and Administration/Conference Benefits Officer, has decided to retire at the end of June 2021. Scott Brewer, Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services for the Great Plains Conference will provide strategic oversight for the CTC Finance & Administration team. Click here or the title above for more.
The CTC is United in Mission & Excited About the Future
May 23
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. met with close to 600 members of the Central Texas Conference in person (700-plus with the online audience on Sunday) for a series of three Assembly meetings at churches across the conference on May 21-22. Each of the sessions featured a 40-45 minute presentation from Bishop Saenz on his vision for Moving Forward in The UMC followed by a Q&A session. A replay of the Sunday night live webcast video and PowerPoint slides from all three meetings is available here or by clicking the title above.
District Meetings Announced on Moving Forward as The UMC
May 5
Bishop Saenz has announced a series of three live Assembly meetings designed to explore and discuss how the CTC is and will be moving forward in our disciple making mission as an active and vital part of the United Methodist connection. See the dates, times and locations of those meetings and more by clicking here or the title above.
Rev. Dr. Mike Lowry Resigns Position as UMC Bishop
April 29
Bishop Saenz has sent a letter to all Clergy and Laity of the Central Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church in regards to Bishop Mike Lowry resigning his position as a UMC Bishop. Click here or the title above to read the letter from Bishop Saenz.
Direction for CTC Committee/Board/Council/Team Chairpersons
April 11
Bishop Saenz directs chairs of Central Texas Conference committees, boards, councils and teams as to how to best manage committee/board/council/team members who may have prayerfully discerned to disaffiliate from the UMC. Read more here or by clicking the title above.
Updates & Information on Disaffiliation Process
April 7
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. has released a video updating the Central Texas Conference's official procedures of disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church. In the video, Bishop Saenz shares updates on a church’s ability to take as much time as needed to prayerfully consider all disaffiliation before making any decisions, recent Trustees’ decision that makes ¶2553 the primary path of disaffiliation; speculated “comity agreements”; and dates for the Zoom meeting on the official disaffiliation process. Click here or the title above to view the video and for more details.
Bishop Saenz Shares Why He is Choosing to #BeUMC
March 29
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. has released a video statement declaring his intentions to remain with The United Methodist Church and sharing his why he is choosing to #BeUMC. To view the video and/or read the transcipt, follow this link or click the title above.
WCA Informational Meetings for GMC Not Sanctioned
March 25
Bishop Saenz has issued a statement to clear up any misconceptions regarding his sanctioning or endorsement of a series of informational meetings about the Global Methodist Church. Neither Bishop Saenz, the Cabinet nor any CTC-related organization has sanctioned nor endorses these meetings. Please read Bishop Saenz statement by clicking here or the title above.
Information on the Central Texas Conference Process for Disaffiliation
March 24
Bishop Saenz and the Cabinet, well aware that parties inside and outside of the CTC are sharing information with churches, clergy and laity regarding procedures for disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church, provide an update on the official Central Texas Conference process for disaffiliation. Click here or the title above for more.
Prayers for, Financial Support of Wildfire Relief & Recovery
March 23
Bishop Saenz offers an update on the relief and recovery efforts underway in response to the recent wildfires in the western part of the conference. As in all active disaster situations, the best way anyone can help at this time is to pray. Financial support is also needed at this time. There will be opportunities to assist in the clean up and recovery in the coming weeks, but in the short term, any donations other than monetary would be more of a hindrance than help. A short video message from Bishop Saenz is available here or via the title link above.
Bishop Saenz Responds to the Postponement of General Conference to 2024
March 3
The Commission on General Conference has officially announced the further postponement of the worldwide gathering of delegates to conduct the business of The United Methodist Church, until the regularly scheduled General Conference in May 2024. Click here or the title above to listen to/read Bishop Saenz's response to the announcement.
Bishop Saenz Announces "Cross Walk" - A 2022 Lenten Devotional Series
Feb 25
Beginning Ash Wednesday (March 2) and continuing through Good Friday (April 15), Bishop Saenz is offering a new video series for Lent he’s calling “Cross Walk.” This Lenten journey is a contemplative pilgrimage through the drama and chief scenes of Christ’s sufferings, death, and burial based on fourteen biblical Stations of the Cross found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Visit ctcumc.org/crosswalk to access the series or click the title above.
Prayers Requested for Ukraine
Feb. 24
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr is calling on the people of the Central Texas Conference and Christians everywhere to pray for the people and leadership of Ukraine following an unprovoked military invasion from Russia, including Bishop Eduard Khegay, bishop of both Russia and Ukraine that he might shepherd congregations on both sides of the conflict with grace. Click here or the title above for more.
Clergy & Congregational Quick Insight Surveys Open Through Feb. 25
Feb. 2
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. is inviting the people of the Central Texas Conference to complete a very short survey so that he might gain some valuable insights as to how clergy and laity feel about their churches, ministries and conference – what we do well and where we believe we have opportunities to do more. Access the surveys and learn more at ctcumc.org/CTC-quick-insight-surveys-2022 or by clicking the title above.
Responding to the Hostage Standoff at Jewish Synagogue in Colleyville.
Jan. 20
Following the an extended hostage situation at a Jewish synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., issued a letter to the clergy, laity and churches of the Conference calling for prayer and loving/grace-filled actions in ending violence and hatred in our communities, nation and world. Read the letter here or by clicking the title above.
MLK Day 2022 - A Message of Acceptance, Equality, Unity & Justice
Jan. 17
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. offers a video message in celebration of the life, work and impact of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in honor of Martin Luther King Day 2022 . As he reflects on the significance of MLK Day, a day first commemorated in 1986, Bishop Saenz reminds just how relevant Dr. King's message of acceptance, equality, unity, and justice is for today. The video is available here or by clicking the title above.
A Message of Greeting and Introduction to the CTC
Jan. 14
In his first video message to the Central Texas Conference as its episcopal leader, Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. greets the people of the CTC and shares a little about his background and family, his energy and excitement for the opportunity to serve as bishop in the CTC and touches on some early opportunities to get meet and work with him in the coming weeks. Follow this link or click the title above to view the video in English and/or Spanish.
BSA Bankruptcy Settlement Agreement
![]()
Jan. 13
The United Methodist Church has reached a Settlement Agreement in the Boy Scouts of America Bankruptcy case (pending court approval). Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., episcopal leader of the Central Texas Conference, comments on the settlement agreement in a letter to all CTC clergy and churches. Click here or the title above to read Bishop Saenz's letter.