In this episode of POD Strangely Warmed, host Rev. Daniel Hawkins sits down with Bishop Ruben Saenz to reflect on a season of renewal within the United Methodist Church and look ahead to the future God is calling the church toward. Bishop Saenz shares lessons learned after years of disruption, discusses hopes for conference unification, and challenges listeners to think beyond today’s concerns toward the Church of 2050. Together they explore leadership, discipleship, innovation, mission, and how local churches can prepare now for the needs of future generations. The conversation centers around a compelling vision: inviting all people to journey toward a loving, just, and free world God imagines.
Whether you are a pastor, church leader, layperson, or someone passionate about the future of the church, this discussion offers encouragement, practical wisdom, and a hopeful perspective on what comes next.
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This episode was originally aired on Sep 12, 2023 and posted under the Central Texas Conference UMC. Following the unification of multiple conferences, the Central Texas Conference is now part of the Horizon Texas Conference.
Transcript
This transcript is from POD Strangely Warmed featuring Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., Resident Bishop of the Central Texas Conference and North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church, in conversation with host Rev. Daniel Hawkins.
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
Welcome to POD Strangely Warmed. I’m Daniel Hawkins, your host, and today I’m glad to embark on a conversation with what may now be our most frequent guest on the podcast, Bishop Ruben Saenz. Thank you so much for being here today.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
Thank you, Daniel. It’s great to be here.
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
As we record this conversation, we’ve just wrapped up another Texas summer. Schools are back in session, ministries are gearing up for fall, and churches are preparing for a new season of ministry. Looking back on the summer, what encouraged you most?
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
This summer was very different from the previous one, and thanks be to God for that.
Last summer we were navigating the challenges of disaffiliation, making difficult decisions, and helping churches through a season of uncertainty. This summer felt different. It gave me an opportunity to step back and recognize how much we’ve accomplished, how much we’ve overcome, and how much stronger we’ve become as a conference.
I was able to spend time with family, celebrate my granddaughter’s graduation, visit churches throughout our communities, attend camps, support Project Transformation sites, and witness the incredible ministry happening across our conference.
What encouraged me most was seeing the church at work. Churches were busy serving, teaching, mentoring, and loving their communities. The Church never stopped being the Church.
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
That feels like a remarkable shift from where we were just a year ago.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
It really is.
I’m proud of our pastors, our congregations, and all the people who remained faithful through challenging times. They continued supporting the United Methodist Church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
Because of that faithfulness, I’m incredibly hopeful about what lies ahead.
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
One of the themes you’ve consistently returned to is the idea of hope. Even through difficult seasons, you’ve encouraged us to be strong, take heart, and hope in the Lord.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
Absolutely.
The real test of our faith isn’t whether we can celebrate when things are going well. The real test comes in difficult seasons. We’ve been through COVID. We’ve been through disaffiliation. We’ve faced uncertainty and loss.
But we’ve also discovered resilience.
I believe we’re now on the other side of many of those challenges, and we’re moving into a season where we can focus on what God is calling us to become.
Looking Toward the Future
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
As we move into the fall, you’ve talked a great deal about preparation and vision. What are you thinking about as you look ahead?
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about what comes next.
We have General Conference, Annual Conference, and Jurisdictional Conference ahead of us. More importantly, we have an opportunity to prepare for the church that future generations will inherit.
The question I’m asking is simple:
What do we need to do now so that the Church is ready for the opportunities of tomorrow?
If we’re waiting until 2024 to think about 2024, we’re already too late. Preparation starts now.
My focus is on building the foundation today for the church we’ll need in 2050.
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
That’s one of the things I love most about your leadership. You’re constantly inviting us to think beyond the next year and consider what kind of church we’re building for our children and grandchildren.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
Exactly.
When we build a home, some of the most important work is the work nobody sees. The foundation, plumbing, electrical systems, and structural supports all have to be in place long before anyone admires the finished house.
The same is true for the Church.
We’re laying foundations now that future generations may benefit from decades from now.
Conference Unification and New Possibilities
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
One of the major conversations happening right now involves the possibility of conference unification. What excites you most about that process?
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
I see this moment as an opportunity.
Disaffiliation has changed the landscape of the United Methodist Church. Instead of viewing that as a setback, I believe it’s a chance to rethink how we organize, collaborate, and support ministry.
We have the technology, the leadership, and the experience necessary to create structures that are more agile, more effective, and more focused on helping local churches make disciples of Jesus Christ.
The goal is not simply to merge organizations.
The goal is to create something new that better serves the mission of Christ.
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
You’ve talked a lot about not simply preserving what existed before but imagining what could be next.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
That’s right.
Throughout Scripture, name changes often signal a new beginning. Abram becomes Abraham. Saul becomes Paul. Simon becomes Peter.
Those moments mark transformation.
I hope whatever emerges from this process reflects not merely geography but purpose. I hope it communicates who we’re called to be and what God is calling us to do.
Building the Church of 2050
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
You often challenge us to think about 2050. Why is that so important?
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
Because our responsibility isn’t simply to preserve the church we inherited.
Our responsibility is to build the church that future generations will need.
We should be asking:
- What kind of church will our grandchildren inherit?
- What foundations are we laying today?
- How will we know whether we’re moving in the right direction?
Those are the questions that matter.
We need measurable signs that we’re helping create a church capable of serving future generations faithfully and effectively.
The Vision
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
One of the most compelling ideas you’ve shared recently is a vision statement that’s emerging in your work. Can you share that with us?
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
Certainly.
“Inviting all people to journey toward a loving, just, and free world God imagines.”
That’s the vision.
It’s invitational.
It’s for everyone.
And it points us toward God’s future.
Where there is no love, we become instruments of love.
Where there is injustice, we become advocates for justice.
Where people feel trapped, isolated, or hopeless, we become champions of freedom.
This is the world God imagines, and we’re called to participate in bringing glimpses of that world to life.
Closing Thoughts
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
I think that’s a vision people can rally around. When we find something bigger than ourselves to live for, it changes how we understand our purpose.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
I agree.
We won’t fully achieve that vision in our lifetime. It’s part of God’s ongoing work. But we can participate in it.
And even when things seem difficult, we remember the promise of resurrection.
The resurrection reminds us that hope is real.
It reminds us that God’s future is possible.
And it gives us the courage to keep moving forward.
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
Bishop, thank you so much for joining us today.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
Thank you, Daniel.
Rev. Daniel Hawkins
And thank you for listening to POD Strangely Warmed. If this conversation encouraged you, inspired you, or challenged you, we invite you to share it with others.
Until next time, thanks for listening.