Ever wondered what the Louisiana Annual Conference Area Offices look like from the inside? If you’ve never had a chance to drop in, the office will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, June 3 from 3-5 p.m. as a kick-off to the 2007 La. Annual Conference, slated for June 3-6 at the Baton Rouge River Center.
The offices, located at 527 North Blvd. in Baton Rouge, will also be open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday of that week.
Also, plan to visit the Cokesbury Book Store, as well as over 30 exciting displays in Exhibition Hall East in the River Center. Visitors may enter the Exhibition Hall on Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. A concession area will also be set up in Exhibition Hall East, adjacent to Exhibition Hall West where all plenary sessions will be held.
The concession area will be open from 7 a.m. through the afternoon each day of conference. Muffins, fruit, coffee and other items will be offered in the morning, with items like BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, popcorn and candy offered for lunch.
SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR 2007 CONFERENCE SESSION
The offering for Sunday night during the 2007 Louisiana Annual Conference will be given for the “Nothing but Nets” initiative. Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly challenged his readers to donate $10 for the purchase of an anti-malaria bed net, and thousands of people have joined the campaign. The people of The United Methodist Church, along with Sports Illustrated, NBA Cares, the United Nations Foundation and several other groups, are raising funds to purchase bed nets to end malaria. The Louisiana Annual Conference is joining the cause by contributing money for bed nets that will keep children and families safe. Every year, more than a million children die from this disease. Ninety percent of deaths caused by malaria occur in Africa. Malaria infects nearly 500 million people each year. Children who survive often experience health complications. Malaria is a preventable disease. By answering Jesus' call to "minister to the least of these who are members of our family," we can beat this disease and save future generations.
The second offering will be used in the fight against Aids on Tuesday night. The United Methodist Global Aids Fund was established at the 2004 General Conference to provide United Methodists with a dedicated way to address the AIDS pandemic around the globe. Approximately 40 million persons have the virus, and worldwide, 8,000 persons die daily of AIDS. The Global Aids Fund provides support for projects sponsored by local congregations or organizations related to the United Methodist Church and advocates for increased governmental and non-governmental funding in the pursuit on stopping the threat of AIDS. All United Methodist congregations are asked to contribute $1 per member to assist in this global crisis. Each of these offerings will continue as Conference initiatives throughout the coming year.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Bishop Dan E. Solomon, retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church, is serving as keynote speaker for the Memorial Communion Service, slated for Sunday, June 3 at First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.
Solomon serves as president for the Texas United Methodist College Association and is Bishop-in-Residence for McMurry University.
He served as Bishop for the Louisiana Area from 1996-2000 and Bishop for the Oklahoma Area (Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and Oklahoma Conference) from 1988-1996.
Solomon is the recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Awards from both McMurry University and Perkins School of Theology. He has a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, a Masters of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and a Bachelor’s Degree from McMurry University.
Among other positions, Solomon served as president of the General Board of Global Ministries from 1996-2000. Lectureships include the O.P. Clark Series at St. Paul UMC in Abilene, Tex. and the Bennett-Wilson Lectures at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.
He is married to Marcia Solomon, and is the father of two married sons, one married daughter, and the grandfather of four grandsons and one granddaughter.
LAITY SESSION SPEAKER
Carolyn Marshall, secretary of General Conference for four quadrennia, will serve as keynote speaker for this year’s Laity Session. The position of secretary is the only elected position for The United Methodist Church's top decision-making body.
Marshall fulfilled her duties as secretary of General Conference while maintaining her full-time job as executive director of Lucille Raines Residence, an Indianapolis-based continuing care center for people over the age of 18 years who have completed substance-abuse rehabilitation programs.
Currently president of United Methodist Women at the Veedersburg church where she is a member, Marshall was president of the Women's Division from 1984 to 1988. She also was president of the North Central Jurisdiction core-planning group of United Methodist Women from 1980 to 1984 and conference president of United Methodist Women from 1976 to 1980. She served the South Indiana Conference as a conference lay leader from 1988 to 1996.
She has four children and ten grandchildren.
BIBLE STUDY
Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki will serve as Bible Study Leader for the 2007 La. Annual Conference. Suchocki is a retired professor of Theology and is the former Academic Dean for Wesley Theology Seminary in Washington, D. C. and for Claremont School of Theology. Suchocki is a process theologian who received her Ph. D. from Claremont Graduate University. The author of many books, she is an internationally renowned speaker. With an interest in film and theology, Suchocki also serves as a film critic.
The mother of three, and the grandmother of eight, she enjoys jewelry making in her spare time.
TUESDAY NIGHT WORSHIP LEADER
Rev. Stephen Emanuel Handy Sr., pastor of Pickett Rucker United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tenn., will serve as speaker for the Baptismal service on Tuesday evening. Handy also serves the general church as Executive Director of Social Networking for United Methodist Publishing House.
He is a graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans, La. with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Handy also has a Master’s in Business Administration from Tennessee State University and a Master’s of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School.
Frequently invited to conduct revivals and workshops, he also serves as a member of the Conference Camping Committee and Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Annual Conference. Active in the community, he is on the Vanderbilt University Divinity School Alumni Board and the Nashville Adolescent Pregnancy & Prevention Council. More recently, he is serving on the Wilson County Community Partnership and sits on the Business Advisory Board for Cumberland University. Pickett Rucker is developing Coalition for Mentoring for the entire county. Recently, he was elected as President for the Wilson County Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force. Currently, he is engaging an ecumenical group of Pastors, Youth Workers, Youth Coordinators and Volunteers to equip and empower leadership for the urban dynamics and dilemma in Youth Ministry.
Stephen is married to Shelly M. Rivers, and has three anointed and active children, Detra Janay, Stephen Emanuel, and Noah James.
