The Texas United Methodist Historical Society will hold its annual meeting at Southwestern University March 28 and 29. The theme of the meeting is “The 40th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Central Jurisdiction: The Church Deals with Institutional Racism.”

Three papers on the subject of Methodism and race will be delivered on Friday, March 28. William Montgomery will address the group on “No Galleries in Heaven: African Americans and the United Methodist Church in Texas.” William B. Jones will speak on “Southwestern History as Seen in Reference to the Old and the New South.” Terry Bilhartz will speak on “Conscience and Compromise: Racial Politics within Early American Methodism.”

On Saturday, March 29, attendees are invited to come with prepared statements of memories, anecdotes, etc. related to their participation in the desegregation of Methodism in Texas. The Saturday session will also feature the Kate Warnick Awards for best local church histories published in the last year and the business meeting of the Society.

Other highlights of the program will include the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Texas Methodist Historical Association at Southwestern University in 1908 and recognition of Dr. William B. Jones for his “To Survive and Excel: The Story of Southwestern University 1840-2000” published in 2005. An initiative by the Rev. and Mrs. Oscar Garza to preserve the history of Spanish-speaking Methodists in Texas will also be lifted up.

All persons interested in the history of Methodism in Texas are welcome. Registration for the meeting is $25 and should be mailed to the Rev. John C. Johnson, 6766 Silver Saddle Rd., Fort Worth, Texas 76126. A more detailed schedule and a list of lodging in Georgetown can be found at http://txmethhistory.blogspot.com/.