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Pastor's Post

 Clergywomen in the Methodist Tradition Celebrate 70 Years in Ordained Ministry

(by The Global Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM)

Women, who have long supported and strengthened the mission of The United Methodist Church, are stepping into the pulpit in greater numbers every year. There has been a dramatic increase in clergywomen at every level, from local pastors to bishops. As of December 2016, nearly 12,300 United Methodist clergywomen were serving.

The UMC was the first mainline Christian denomination to have a woman bishop, and in total, has elected 33 women bishops, 17 of whom were active as of 2019.

History

Clergywomen in The United Methodist Church and its predecessor bodies have a rich history, dating from John Wesley’s mid-18th century pronouncement of women’s call to preach as “extraordinary.”



In 1847, the United Brethren Church commended the first woman to preach, approving licensing and ordaining women, and granting conference membership in 1889.

The Methodist Protestant Church ordained its first woman deacon in 1866, and its first elder in 1875, although Anna Howard Shaw, ordained an elder in 1880, is perhaps the most well-known.

In 1920 the Methodist Episcopal Church granted women the right to preach, and, in 1924, decided to ordain women as local deacons and local elders.

The approval of full clergy rights for women by the 1956 General Conference of the Methodist Church was commemorated in 2006 by The United Methodist Church’s year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary.



Firsts for United Methodist Clergywomen

• Maude Jensen became the first woman full member of an annual conference soon after the 1956 General Conference.
• Sallie Crenshaw became the first African American woman to be ordained in The Methodist Church in 1958.
• Margaret Henrichsen was the first woman district superintendent, appointed in 1967.
• Marjorie Swank Matthews was elected the first woman bishop in 1980.
• Leontine T.C. Kelly was the first African American woman bishop, elected in 1984.
• Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher was the first woman president of the Council of Bishops, serving one year beginning May 2002.
• Minerva G. Carcaño became the first UMC Hispanic female bishop in 2004.
• Rosemarie Wenner was elected bishop for the Germany Episcopal Area in 2005, becoming the first woman bishop to serve outside the United States.

HTCUMC AC 2026 Celebrates Clergywomen

Bishop Ruben & Maya Saenz, Jr. and Family

HTCUMC Current Cabinet Members

(Cassie Wade is retiring and Rev. Dr. John McLarty will be joining the cabinet July 1, 2026)

Opening Night Worship Speaker, Bishop Connie M Shelton

KeyNote Speaker, Kenda Creasy-Dean

Retirees 2026

Our HTCUMC 2026 Commisionees

Congratulations To Our HTCUMC 2026 Ordinands

Thank You to: Carol Dugger, South District Lay Leader, Marvin Rainwater, Local Church Lay Leader, David Edwards and Beth Robinson, Lay Members/Delegates to the 2026 HTCUMC Annual Conference.

Rebecca gives her testimony

Rebecca is taking it, "One Day At A Time."

Son Mathew sings, "Be Not Afraid."

On July 12th, we will give Debbie Smith her "Flowers While You Live" sentiments. Ken Smith's celebration will be August 9th.

Our Licensed Christian Child Development Center (CDC) is hiring full and part-time teachers and teacher aides that love working with children. Requirements are:

• High School diploma or GED
• CPR & First Aid Certification 
• 2 years’ experience working in a licensed childcare center
• Must be professional, a team player, dependable and have reliable transportation.

Please send your cover letter and resume to: juanita.sims@fumc-killeen.org or bring it to the CDC, 3501 E. Elms Road, Killeen, TX 76542 and complete an application in person.

Come Join Our Team!

January Altar Rail Offering - Human Relations

February Altar Rail Offering - Aldersgate

March Altar Rail Offering - UMCOR

April Altar Rail Offering - Local Operational Reserve

May Altar Rail Offering - Annual Conference

June Altar Rail Offering - Central TX Disaster Relief

July Altar Rail Offering - Native American Ministry

August Altar Rail Offering - Local Church Operations

September Altar Rail Offering - Feed the Need

October Altar Rail Offering - World Communion

November Altar Rail Offering - Local Church Operations

December Altar Rail Offering - United Methodist Students

*Highlighted Offerings refer to UMC Special Sunday Offerings

- Opportunities at FUMC - Killeen -

Click to view the Church Calendar

Below is a list of highlighted events for the upcoming week. Items in italics indicate off-site events. Click on the link above to view the full church calendar.

Sunday, June 14th

8:00 AM & 11:00 AM| Worship

9:00 AM | Annual Conference Recap - Sanctuary

11:00 AM | “Kids Korner” Group

4:00 PM | Youth Group Meeting - Grill night with Jesse

Monday, June 15th

8:30 AM | Frisch Park Workday

9:00 AM | VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - Pre K - 5th Grade

Tuesday, June 16th

9:00 AM | VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - Pre K - 5th Grade

6:00 PM | CDC Staff Meeting

Wednesday, June 17th

9:00 AM | VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - Pre K - 5th Grade

7:00 PM | Chancel Choir Practice

Thursday, June 18th

9:00 AM | VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - Pre K - 5th Grade

Friday, June 19th Juneteenth

ALL DAY | Church Office, CDC, and Building Closed

8:30 AM | Frisch Park Workday

Saturday, June 20th

9:00 AM | My Tea Party for Children & Adults

10:00 AM | Feed the Need in Killeen

Sunday, June 21st Father's Day

8:00 AM & 11:00 AM | Worship

9:30 AM | Adult Sunday School Classes & Emmaus Prayer Group

9:30 AM | Guiding Young Minds (GYM) Sunday School Class

11:00 AM | “Kids Korner” Group

4:00 PM | NO Youth Group Meeting - celebrate your father

Save the Date

General Fund/Building Fund Offering

Total Attendance for May

Please report all your small group attendance to the office after each meeting or email your attendance to the church office.

 Thank you!