Río Texas Annual Conference

vision team

Vitalizing Congregations Vision Team

Develops and deploys resources for the mission of the local church and the restoring of congregational vitality.

Part of
Uniting Table
Accountable to
Annual Conference
Relates to
General Board of Discipleship; General Board of Global Ministries

Source: 2026 Río Texas Pre-Conference Report · p. 205

Boards, commissions & committees

  • Board of Discipleship ¶629629 · Conference Board of DiscipleshipThe annual conference shall organize a board of discipleship or other equivalent structure to provide for these functions and maintain the connectional relationship between the General Board of Discipleship and the conference, district,…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶629 · via PlenaryRead ¶629 in full →
  • Committee on Congregational Development and Revitalization ¶632.5e632 · Conference Board of Global Ministries1. The annual conference shall organize a board of global ministries or other structure to maintain the connectional relationship and provide for global ministries responsibilities related to the objectives and scope of work of the General…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶632 · via PlenaryRead ¶632 in full →
  • Committee on Ethnic Local Church Concerns ¶631631 · Conference Committee on Ethnic Local Church Concerns1. There shall be in every annual conference a conference committee on ethnic local church concerns or other structure to provide for these basic functions and to maintain connectional relationship. 2. It shall provide for these functions:…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶631 · via PlenaryRead ¶631 in full →
  • Committee on Parish and Community Development ¶632.5632 · Conference Board of Global Ministries1. The annual conference shall organize a board of global ministries or other structure to maintain the connectional relationship and provide for global ministries responsibilities related to the objectives and scope of work of the General…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶632 · via PlenaryRead ¶632 in full →
  • Commission on the Small Membership Church ¶645645There shall be in each annual conference a conference commission on the small membership church, or the responsibilities of the small membership church commission may be assigned to an existing or newly created multifunctional agency of…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶645 · via PlenaryRead ¶645 in full →, ¶632.5i632 · Conference Board of Global Ministries1. The annual conference shall organize a board of global ministries or other structure to maintain the connectional relationship and provide for global ministries responsibilities related to the objectives and scope of work of the General…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶632 · via PlenaryRead ¶632 in full →
  • Committee on New Church Development ¶633.5e-h633 ff. · Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry1. There shall be in each annual conference a board of higher education and campus ministry or other structure to provide for these functions and maintain the connectional relationships. The number of members shall be determined by the…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶633 · via PlenaryRead ¶633 in full →, ¶630.3630 · Conference Board of Laity1. There shall be in every annual conference a conference board of laity or other equivalent structure to provide for these functions and maintain connectional relationship. It shall provide for the ministry of the laity related to the…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶630 · via PlenaryRead ¶630 in full →
  • Council on Children's MinistriesPlans, visions, and advocates for children within the conference.
  • Council on Older Adult Ministries ¶651.3a-j651 ff.1. In each annual conference there may be a conference council on older adult ministries. Its purpose shall be to strengthen the older-adult ministries in the local churches and districts of the annual conference. For administrative…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶651 · via PlenaryRead ¶651 in full →
  • Committee on Hispanic/Latino Ministries ¶655655The annual conference is encouraged to establish a committee on Hispanic/Latino Ministries or other structure to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of a Hispanic/Latino Ministries comprehensive plan of action and the…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶655 · via PlenaryRead ¶655 in full →At least one-third of members are Hispanic/Latino persons.
  • Youth Ministries Council ¶6496491. In each annual conference there shall be a conference council on youth ministry or other equivalent structure to provide for these functions and maintain the connectional relationships, or the responsibilities outlined below may be…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶649 · via PlenaryRead ¶649 in full →3–5 youth per district; no more than one-third adults.
  • Young Adult Ministry Council ¶6506501. In each annual conference there shall be a conference council on young-adult ministry or equivalent structure. Its purpose shall be to strengthen the young-adult ministry in the local churches and districts of the annual conference. For…The Book of Discipline 2020/2024, ¶650 · via PlenaryRead ¶650 in full →

This year’s members

As of 2026-06-08 · 2026 nominations report

1 seat is up for election this year — shown highlighted below. See the full slate and how to nominate.

MemberPositionDistrictStatusGenderRace / ethnicity
Maribel VazquezChairpersonCentralClergyFemaleHispanic/Latino
Adam KnappDiscipleshipNorthClergyMaleWhite
Robert PeralesDiscipleshipSouthClergyMaleHispanic/Latino
Barbara DykeCongregational Development & RevitalizationCentralClergyFemaleWhite
Scott NicholsCongregational Development & RevitalizationCentralClergyMaleWhite
Dionisio SalazarEthnic Local Church ConcernsNorthLayMaleHispanic/Latino
Gricelda CareagaEthnic Local Church ConcernsSouthClergyFemaleHispanic/Latino
Joseph TobiasParish and Community DevelopmentNorthClergyMaleAfrican
John Fletcherup for electionParish and Community DevelopmentCentralClergyMaleHispanic/Latino
Robert KnappageSmall Membership ChurchCentralClergyMaleWhite
Karen BoehkSmall Membership ChurchNorthClergyFemaleWhite
Steve SmithNew Church DevelopmentCentralLayMaleWhite
Cody LoganNew Church DevelopmentCentralClergyMaleWhite
Deandra PalacioChildren's MinistriesCentralLayFemaleWhite
Karla SamientoChildren's MinistriesNorthLayFemaleWhite
Richard YoungOlder Adult MinistriesNorthLayMaleWhite
Deborah WebsterOlder Adult MinistriesNorthLayFemaleAfrican American
Fernanda CasarHispanic/Latino MinistriesNorthClergyFemaleHispanic/Latino
Priscilla PattersonHispanic/Latino MinistriesSouthLayFemaleHispanic/Latino
Minerva BrionesUnited Women in FaithCentralLayFemaleHispanic/Latino
Kyron GreenUnited Methodist MenNorthLayMaleAfrican American
Named YMC Rep.Youth Ministries Council
Saralyn HerreraYoung Adult Ministry CouncilNorthLayFemaleHispanic/Latino

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