Communications and News

Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, First Grace Community Alliance of New Orleans and Bethany UMC in New Orleans have been awarded the spring 2013 Peace with Justice Awards. The grants, totaling $4,900, were awarded by the Conference Board of Church and Society and funded through the Peace with Justice offering given annually by Louisiana’s United Methodist congregations. ...

United Methodist churches and conferences can now easily organize an HIV testing event with the assistance of a manual and instructional DVD developed by the Louisiana Annual Conference. Spearheaded by members of the conference Global Health Initiative, the organizational tools were created with the assistance of a grant provided by the Domestic HIV/AIDS Fund for the United Methodist ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––Has your church always wanted to claim it is a national champion? It may make such a claim if its church-sponsored team can win a summer 3-on-3 national United Methodist Men basketball tournament. A total of 32 teams from United Methodist churches across the nation will participate in a 3-man basketball tournament to be held July 12-13 at Belmont University in ...

As part of their Christmas Eve celebration, North Cross United Methodist Church in Madisonville led a “Christmas Cookie Crusade” immediately after each of their services. Revs. Lamar and Erin Oliver got the idea for the project while driving home from the church’s 11 p.m. serve on Christmas Eve in 2011. They noticed that there were so many places open for business. Erin's commented, "I ...

Young adults may now apply for the 2013 class of Mission Interns and US-2s. Feb. 15 is the deadline to submit application materials for these long-term mission assignments through the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. Mission Interns will now commit to 25 months of service that include 20 months of international service, followed by two and a half months of ...

  Members of Zachary United Methodist Church in Zachary launched Operation Adopt a Soldier in October. The congregation decided to adopt a platoon that was recently deployed overseas. During the three month campaign, ZUMC gathered enough items to send 44 boxes overseas. The items that the congregation was asked to provide included devotionals, puzzle books, stationary, health care ...

The newly formed Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Committee for Bethany United Methodist Church recently participated in the first New Orleans Human Trafficking Working Group Conference. The conference, “Preventing Human Trafficking at the Super Bowl and Beyond: Mobilizing the New Orleans Community to Prevent and End Trafficking in Our Midst,” focused on strategies to raise ...

Jan 5, 2013 is the deadline to apply for a Peace with Justice grant from the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. What is peace with justice? It is a faithful expression of shalom in the Bible. It calls the church to “strengthen its capacity to advocate publicly in communities and nations” throughout the world. The peace with justice program of The United Methodist Church...

A mail ballot of the Conference members (delegates) from the 2012 Annual Conference session was conducted in October. The ballot was in regard to the tax status of the Retired Ministers Homes’ Board. Conference members approved the changes as presented in the motion from the Retired Ministers Homes’ Board. This decision allows the Board to apply for tax exempt status as a non-profit ...

Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston, Louisiana has achieved licensure to operate as a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) by Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals. “Our staff made this happen,” states Rick Wheat, president and CEO of Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services. “Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home is now licensed to provide ...

Just as our brothers and sister in states affected by Hurricane Sandy will need Louisiana’s help, there are survivors of Isaac in our own state that still need the vital assistance provided by disaster response teams. Currently, the Louisiana Disaster Response Ministry is working approximately 50 cases in LaPlace and 50 cases in Maurepas, both hard hit by the Aug. 29 storm. Teams are ...

Is your local church congregation or ministry active in a shared ministry with other faiths, or church congregations or ministries of other denominations? You qualify for this award! Are you an active bridge builder who brings together ministries and people of different faiths or different Christian denominations? You qualify!   If you qualify, the Commission on Christian Unity and ...

The Louisiana Annual Conference is currently involved in making significant transitions precipitated by proposed conference staff and budget changes--as well as studying and recommending an alternative structure of the organization for ministry and mission of the conference. In 2008 the appointive cabinet began to examine these questions: “What does it mean to be a vital congregation? ...

Members of First United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge and clients of CAAH are shown after installing a community garden. Rev. Randy Nichols, serving through Louisiana Conference extension ministries, heads the Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless in Baton Rouge . . . Rev. Randy Nichols believes strongly that he is connected to his United Methodist roots and John Wesley’s ...

Read about the Skeeter Run in Lafayette's The Advertiser. 2013 Louisiana Skeeter Run website Get the Louisiana Skeeter Run flyers and bulletin insert! See the 2013 Louisiana Skeeter Run winners. More than 2,500 runners, walkers and volunteers raised funds and awareness for Imagine No Malaria during the 2013 Louisiana Skeeter Run, held in 10 cities throughout Louisiana on Saturday, March...

More than 200 participants attended Leading Beyond the Walls held Oct. 26-27 at the Alexander Fulton Hotel in Alexandria, left. Teams from local churches considered alternate ways of doing church in order to reach those who are unchurched in their communities. The two-day leadership event was led by Carol Cartmill and Lori Trupp, both staff members of the 8,000 member United Methodist ...

View Hurricane Sandy video Dear Friends in Christ, As we continue to hold our own brothers and sisters affected by Hurricane Isaac in prayer we now lift up in prayer our brothers and sisters who are recovering from the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy.   We know all too well about Hurricanes and Tropical Storms as we have been battered so badly ourselves. In the past eight years, our ...

More than 65 United Methodists from throughout the Louisiana Conference attended L.E.A.D. 2012-Catch and Release, held Nov. 2-3 at The Wesley Center in Woodworth. The leadership workshop focused on “catching” seekers, helping them become disciples and then releasing them into the world to serve others. The keynote speaker for the two-day event was Rev. Dr. Marvin Anthony Moss, pastor of ...

October 20, 2012 article in The Advocate on Bishop Fierro Harvey A Service of Installation for Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey was held at First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, La. on Oct. 20 at 11 a.m.   The church’s chancel choir, led by Lamar Drummonds, performed musical selections throughout the service. Choir of the Dawn, the children’s choir from Wesley UMC in Baton Rouge, ...

Two ERT teams from Texas serving in Braithwaite and LaPlace gather for a meal after working on Isaac damaged homes. The heart and soul of The United Methodist Church is steeped in the Wesleyan philosophy of “doing good” wherever possible. Early Response Teams are fueled by this directive and by Christ’s example when they respond to help those in need in the wake of disasters ...

Erica Washington, chair for Luke’s House board of directors, meets with James Comeaux, a member of Rayne Memorial and secretary/ treasurer for the board, and Lisa Lynde, executive director of Luke’s House. The 501 (c) (3) is a New Orleans based clinic providing free health care to the area’s underserved population. Nearly five years ago, the late Rev. Connie Thomas stood with ...

Attention all voting members (delegates) of the 2012 Louisiana Annual Conference. An interim vote of the Annual Conference is being held regarding the Louisiana United Methodist Retired Ministers’ Homes Board, Inc. You will be receiving an explanatory letter and a ballot through the mail for this urgent vote. Bishop Harvey is asking that you vote on this matter by mailing the ballot to ...

Give to the Louisiana Conference Bishop's Appeal! Register for Disaster Response team here! Visit the facebook coverage here! Volunteers from Trinity United Methodist Church offload cleaning buckets and health kits from the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La. Rev. Dave Carlton, pastor, smiles at the camera. The Rev. Dave Carlton, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church ...

Give to the Louisiana Conference Bishop's Appeal! Register for Disaster Response team here! Visit the facebook coverage here! Rev. Don Cottrill and Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey pray with Rev. Regina Hickman in front of First UMC in LaPlace. The church sustained a foot of standing floodwater during Hurricane Isaac. Rev. Regina Hickman, pastor of LaPlace United Methodist ...

Give to the Louisiana Conference Bishop's Appeal! Register for Disaster Response team here! Visit the facebook coverage here! Homes in the Maurepas, Whitehall and Killian areas are hit by severe flooding. Troy Guitreau, member of the Maurepas Volunteer Fire Department, affirmed that “a lot of people in Louisiana are suffering” from the effects of flooding caused by Hurricane ...

Dean Harvey and Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey begins her tenure as the Episcopal leader of the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church September 1, 2012. Bishop Harvey was elected as a bishop in The United Methodist Church at the South Central Jurisdiction meeting this past July in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was elected from the Texas ...

Register for Disaster Response team here! Sign for First UMC in LaPlace, LA is engulfed by flood waters from Hurricane Isaac Louisiana Annual Conference leaders are in contact with churches in storm affected areas and are still assessing damages from Hurricane Isaac. Some of the most serious flooding from heavy rains occurred in the city of LaPlace, located in St. John the ...

For a U.S. volunteer team visiting Haiti, the impact of Hurricane Isaac has shifted from the disruption of a work assignment on the island to concern for family members back home. With their return delayed because of canceled flights, the seven-member team from the United Methodist Louisiana Annual (regional) Conference had to scramble for an alternative plan, said the Rev. Tim Smith, ...

How Louisiana’s United Methodist churches can assist in storm response! The Louisiana Conference District Disaster Response Coordinators are here to help with any response efforts that result from Isaac. For those Districts/Local Churches in the wake of the storm, coordinators will assist with: 1. Assessing storm damage through conversation with pastors and local officials 2. Relate any ...

Lynn Cooper and Theresa Sandifer, members of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, organize client intake files for The Shepherd’s Market, the church’s client-choice food pantry.   When Theresa Sandifer attended a Walk to Emmaus weekend last October, she didn’t expect to receive a calling to feed hungry people in the underserved neighborhoods surrounding her Baton...

Thursday, September 13, 6:30pm CT Five Key Elements in Successful Stewardship Strategies Stewardship in the local church is not a "one size fits all" proposition. There are some elements that consistently present in churches that do stewardship really well. Join us as we explore five important ones!   To register and save your seat go to www.tinyurl.com/5KeyElements or click ...

  Faith Crossing UMC in Denham Springs has met for the last three years in a 4,000 square ft. warehouse off of Rushing Road. The lease for the warehouse was expiring in the summer of 2012, and the church was having difficulty finding more permanent facilities or land for Faith Crossing.   “There was nowhere for us to go. We had put out several offers, but nothing materialized,” said ...

Youth ministry must be top priority for every United Methodist church   According to Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, author of Creating an Authentic Youth Ministry, “teen empowerment” is more than just putting young people on the church council. Empowerment is guiding teens in their own faith formation and allowing them to awaken to God’s presence and call in their lives.   Rev. Fashbaugh also ...

Go here to read the article in the advocate  http://theadvocate.com/features/faith/3381092-123/riding-out-the-storm

View coverage on our facebook page here!  Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, Deputy General Secretary for United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), has been assigned as the new Episcopal leader for the Louisiana Annual Conference. Harvey was one of three new bishops elected during the South Central Jurisdictional Conference held July 18-21 in Oklahoma City.  Bishop Fierro Harvey and newly...

  More than 340 guests paid tribute to Bishop William W. Hutchinson and Mrs. Kay Hutchinson for 12 years of service to the Louisiana Annual Conference during a Retirement Celebration held June 29 at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge. Bishop Hutchinson retires this summer. The Hutchinsons will be moving to Las Cruces, New Mexico. The evening, emceed by former Conference Lay Leader ...

Rev. Adam Hamilton Rev. Adam Hamilton advised Louisiana’s United Methodists to “never give up” in their mission to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Hamilton served as guest teacher during the 2012 Louisiana Annual Conference, being held June 3-6 at Centenary College in Shreveport. He presented Sunday evening and Monday morning. “A successful pastor, or layperson, is willing to ...

During the 2012 Louisiana Annual Conference in Shreveport, an offering of more than $47,000 was received and dedicated to the repairing of First United Methodist Church in Ekaterinburg, Russa. Local churches are still receiving donations for this worthy project. The Louisiana Conference has been supporting the congregation of the First United Methodist Church in Ekaterinburg, Russia ...

Rev. Ellen Alston, head of the Louisiana Conference delegation to General Conference 2012, was voted to chair the Legislative Committee for Superintendency. “This is a prestigious honor and great responsibility that very few delegates receive, and we are proud to celebrate with her as she leads our global church in considering proposals on term-limits for bishops, status of Bishops after...

A competitive nationwide search is underway for a permanent executive to lead HOPE Ministries to its next level of accomplishments. HOPE Ministries, headquartered in zip code 70805 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a private community-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization resulting from a merger of United Methodist Mission Center and Friends of Families, with origins dating to 1988. ...

     Rev. Hadley R. Edwards has been appointed as New Orleans District Superintendent starting this July 1.      Rev. Edwards is a native of Fulton, Missouri and a 1977 graduate of Fulton High School. In 1981 he graduated from Central Methodist College, Fayette, Missouri with a B. A. Degree in Religion. While in Fayette, during his college career, Edwards pastored St. Paul and ...

  MEDIA ALERT   GBOD Communications Office Steve Horswill-Johnston, Executive Director (615) 340-1726 (O) (615) 429-3431 (C) stevehj@gbod.org Feb. 6, 2012   WHAT: To stimulate discussions about the next generation of church leaders WHO:  UMC clergy and lay leaders, General Conference delegates HOW: Fourth in a five-part film series from the General Board of ...

Torrential rains and subsequent flooding that affected parts of the Acadiana District on March 13 prompted Governor Jindal to declare a state of emergency for four parishes in Louisiana. The Conference Disaster Response Ministry is moving forward to offer help to residents in the areas around Carencro, Churchpoint, and south of Opelousas. More than 350 homes have been damaged by flood ...

       Twenty ordinands with the Louisiana Annual Conference traveled Jan. 11-20 with Bishop William W. Hutchinson and a group of United Methodists to the Holy Land.      The Louisiana Conference has initiated a tour of the Holy Land every other year, with our new ordinands as special guests. This experience enriches the ministry of new pastors during their time in ministry among us, and...

This summer, hundreds of children and youth will experience the fun of camping in a Christian environment at one of three United Methodist camps in Louisiana. . . Camp Istrouma outside of Baton Rouge, Camp Uskichitto in LeBlanc and Camp Caney near Minden offer a wide range of outdoor fun and Christian fellowship for children and youth every summer. Find out more about what is ...

Three United Methodist pastors serving in Baton Rouge recently launched a cutting edge bible study and outreach initiative targeting young adults based in the capital city. Rooted Baton Rouge is the brainchild of Revs. Katie McKay Simpson, 29, Drew Sutton, 30, and Juan Huertas, 33.   Participants in the six-week Lenten Bible study recently met at a mixer organized by the three ...

First United Methodist Church, Pineville continues “Backpacks for Children” program Members of First United Methodist Church in Pineville continue to support “Backpacks for Children,” an outreach to children in need through the Central Louisiana Food Bank. For $135 per school year, the Food Bank sends a backpack filled with kid-friendly food home with a child every weekend. This ...

More than four months of construction, three years of planning and $40,000 of fundraising culminated Oct. 2 in the dedication of the new Samreth Methodist Church in Cambodia, as congregants from churches throughout Kampong Thom Province gathered to celebrate with their supporters and partners in ministry from First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge. Nine members of the Baton ...

United Methodist Committee on Relief has been in contact with conference Disaster Response personnel in hard-hit areas, including Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and received initial early assessments of the damages caused by the severe weather that struck 12 states. UMCOR is posting updates to the website (www.umcor.org) and to the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/UMCOR) on a regular ...

United Methodists throughout Louisiana will gather March 16-17 at The Wesley Center in Woodworth for “Claiming our Call as Laity.” This two-day retreat sponsored by The Conference Board of Laity will be led by Dr. Gil Rendle and Bishop William W. Hutchinson.  Dr. Rendle, renowned national speaker and facilitator, will guide and train laity as they discern the primary field of mission for...