Communications and News

Eugene Collins, Pierre Manya, Simeon Kashala and Rev. Fred Wideman A recent visit made to the Louisiana Conference by two Congolese doctors working in HIV/AIDS clinics in Africa shed light on the struggles faced in the global fight against the killer disease. “The doctors gave me--a seasoned public health professional--a new outlook. Seeing the work they did in a war zone, and ...

Sarah Marsalis Luginbill shown with Haitian interpreters Sarah Marsalis Luginbill may have returned to Louisiana from Haiti in June, but her heart is still in the country struggling to recover from a powerful earthquake that hit in January of 2010. Luginbill is back in Shreveport serving alongside her husband Scott as co-director of youth ministry for Grace Community United Methodist ...

Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey ordains Rev. Betsy Eaves as Revs. William Peeples and Carole Cotton Winn look on Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, Episcopal leader for the Louisiana Annual Conference, ordained Rev. Betsy Eaves as an elder in full connection on June 4, 2013. Rev. Carole Cotton Winn, Betsy’s mentor, laid hands on the ordinand’s shoulder as a blessing during the ...

Brushwood United Methodist Church in Dubberly, La. is a church without a sanctuary. Due to major structural problems, the building was torn down. The church and congregation, however, are more vibrant than ever. In response to the Louisiana conference  "Bless the Children" initiative, Brushwood UMC’s first strategic mission outreach is scheduled for Aug. 3. "Back to School Blessing" ...

As part of their response to the conference-wide “Bless the Children” initiative, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Monroe will participate in the “Backpacks for Kids” program through the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana. In the 12 parishes served by the food bank, more than 60,000 children attend public schools. Approximately 39,000 of that population are identified as “at risk” by...

The following is the first of several upcoming reports that will keep you, the laity and clergy of the Louisiana Conference, informed as to the work of the Episcopal Residence Committee. The committee was appointed last year in accordance with the Book of Discipline (paragraph 638) to oversee the functions of the Episcopal residence. Through inspections and careful study of the current ...

Children attending Vacation Bible School at First United Methodist Church in Denham Springs in late June collected food items for “Mighty Moms,” a community grassroots effort focusing on feeding hungry children in Livingston Parish. “The Mighty Moms initiative has been featured on local TV and in The Advocate. First UMC has adopted this ministry as part of our missions efforts and part ...

The New River UMC recently held a dedication to celebrate new stained glass windows in the sanctuary. New River UMC, nestled among live oak trees, is located on Hwy 22 in Acy, Louisiana. The church has a history dating back to the early 1900s with a membership today of 73 members. In 1921, a small community group gathered as a Methodist group and were able to build a facility using ...

  Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge focused on raising funds and awareness for Imagine No Malaria during this year’s Vacation Bible School. Caroline Capello (a friendly mosquito) and her helper Lyle Bordelon-Walker are pictured with one of the VBS classes. The photo also shows the mosquito thermometer used during the week to indicate the level of mission givings for ...

Many of the children in the neighborhoods surrounding Roberts United Methodist Church in Denham Springs are eligible for free school lunch. To help feed these children during the summer months when school is out of session, church members have been providing meals and recreation to area children at the Lockhart Community Center, located less than a mile from the church. Arthur Perkins, ...

On behalf of the LAVIM Leadership Team, I am pleased to announce that Brenda Coppit will continue to work on our behalf in a new part-time position--Resource Assistant for Louisiana Volunteers in Mission. Brenda brings many years of experience working with our LAVIM projects, resources and people; we are grateful for the expertise she will share. As the Resource Assistant for Louisiana ...

Sending missionaries to the "ends of the earth" sometimes means they come here to Louisiana. Three missionaries will be itinerating through the Louisiana Annual Conference this summer and fall. They could be a guest at your church! They are:  Marjorie Hurder - Marjorie is completing a two-year assignment in Utah as a US2. She has been dividing her service time between organizing a food ...

The Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is seeking a Youth Ministry Strategist to serve as part of the conference team. A detailed job description and a job application are posted on the conference website and may be linked to here. The deadline for the submission of the application is no later than July 17, 2013.  

A total of $485,034 was pledged by local churches, each turning in a financial and ministry commitment form for the “Bless the Children” initiative during Monday night’s worship service at the 2013 Louisiana Annual Conference. Commitments of money and service for ministry impacting children were selected by each local church. These pledges will be expended either within their own ...

The Louisiana State Museum is hosting a hurricane “Prepare Fair” June 22 from 12-4 p.m. at the Presbytere, 751 Chartres in New Orleans. As part of the museum’s Coastal Conversations series and in support of its Living with Hurricanes: Katrina & Beyond exhibition, the museum is hosting the event to help communities plan for the hurricane season. Representatives from government agencies, ...

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. - The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas recently awarded a $300,000 matching grant to Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center in Fayetteville. The grant will support repairs, maintenance and upgrade of current facilities, processes and programs. "The supporters of Mount Sequoyah will raise $300,000 to be matched one-to-one with our grant," said Jim Argue, ...

More than 1,000 United Methodists gathered at Centenary College in Shreveport, La. June 2-5 to celebrate “Blessings in the Wilderness” during the 2013 session of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. (To view photos and highlights of the event, visit our Facebook page and find our new mobile app which can be downloaded at http://www.la-umc.org/news/detail/1041. ...

The 2013 session of the Louisiana Annual Conference continued June 3 in the Gold Dome on Centenary’s campus. To follow the latest happenings of the event, visit our Facebook page and find our new mobile app which can be downloaded at http://www.la-umc.org/news/detail/1041. Bishop Gregory Palmer Bishop Gregory Palmer, Episcopal leader of the West Ohio Area of The United Methodist...

The 2013 session of the Louisiana Annual Conference began Sunday, June 2 in the Gold Dome on Centenary’s campus. The conference session ends on Wednesday, June 5 after the Service of Sending Forth and Deconsecration of Space. News updates for the Conference can be accessed through the conference website, Facebook page and new mobile app which can be downloaded at http://www.la-umc.org/n...

The following address was delivered by Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey on June 3 during the 2013 Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in the Gold Dome on the Centenary College campus in Shreveport. Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey delivers Episcopal Address.  …And our adventure begins.  I have been looking forward to this since September 1. It seems like ...

Also, if you wish to download on to your phone from the websites, go to: http://bit.ly/LAUMCApp to get the app for an I Phone (I Tunes/App Store) OR http://bit.ly/LAUMCDroid to get the app for an Android (Google Play)  

Summer Grove United Methodist Church in Shreveport recently completed its third season of Upward Soccer. This year the project attracted 110 children playing on different teams within Summer Grove’s league. During practices, team leaders offered devotions for the children, who were given scripture verses to memorize. The season ended with fellowship, fun and food at a church-hosted ...

Pictured above are Mike Murphy (planned giving chair), James Bourgeois (church council chair), Jerry Gast (board of trustees chair), Rev. Dr. Ken Reed (past CEO UM Foundation of La.) and John Crifasi (permanent endowment president). St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Metairie recently celebrated reaching its target goal of $500,000 for a permanent endowment fund. More than 100 ...

Bishop Harvey's reflection on the visit to the U.S. - Mexico border View photos from Forum of Bishops visit to the border Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey from the Louisiana Episcopal Area joins others in worship May 7 in Friendship Park on the U.S. side of the border fence. United Methodist bishops from all over the world visit the U.S. - Mexico border to immerse themselves in the reality ...

“Leaping Forward!” was the theme of this year’s Annual Meeting of the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana, held April 23 at the Country Club of Louisiana. The meeting was a celebration and review of the Foundation’s latest programs to develop leadership for effective ministry among clergy and laity. Rob Fairly, president of the Foundation, and Chairman of the Board Irwin Felps led ...

The Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge will sponsor a community musical event May 5 at 4 p.m. at Broadmoor Baptist Church, 9755 Goodwood Ave. Rev. Phil Woodland, retired United Methodist pastor, will be honored during the event for his “vision of peace and his help in the founding of the Interfaith Federation.” This musical work is dedicated to him and the others who have ...

The Revs. April Casperson and Juan Huertas on stage at Exploration 2011. God’s call can be heard in a series of small daily moments, through the voice of a fellow church member, a pastor or a campus minister, or during a mission trip. And more than 30 United Methodists who have heard the call to ordained ministry blogged and Tweeted about their personal experiences to generate buzz ...

Rev. Sonya Lars, pastor of Mount Zion UMC prepares for Walk of Faith Mount Zion United Methodist Church in New Orleans hosted several special events during this year’s Holy Week. Celebrations included a three-night revival with Rev. Dr. Tom Watson with Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries and guest choirs from First Street Peck UMC and Watson Memorial choir; a reenactment of the Last ...

The 2013 Easter celebration and meal held at Noel United Methodist Church was enjoyed by more than 600 people in the Shreveport community. Guests were served a delicious meal and shared in fun activities. Four bicycles were given away to children present at the celebration. More than 100 volunteers helped to support this neighborhood event.  

Chris Brown ’01 (Centenary Archivist) and Kayla Ruth ’15 (Centenary Archives student worker) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 28, 2013) Contact: Dena Pruett, Centenary External Relations, 318.869.5715   Centenary Archives digitizes Louisiana United Methodist publications   SHREVEPORT, LA — The Centenary College of Louisiana Archives and Special Collections recently has digitized and...

The Christian Community Development Association will hold its 25th annual national conference Sept. 11-14 at the Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Ave., in New Orleans. The event, especially helpful to local churches in urban settings and transitioning communities, offers practical training for creative and missional expressions of the church. Workshop tracks include: New Neighbors; Education-D...

Rev. Ellen Alston Rev. Dr. Van Stinson Rev. Dr. Ralph Ford Several appointments have been made for District and Annual Conference leaders for the 2013-14 conference year. All of these appointments start July 1, 2013. Rev. Ellen Alston, currently the Alexandria District Superintendent, will move to serve as the Monroe District Superintendent. The Alexandria District is being ...

Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey received the 2013 Women of Excellence Award during Wiley College’s annual convocation held March 26 on its campus in Marshall, Tex. The convocation was one component of a week-long observance filled with “women of excellence” activities. This year’s conference activities focused on achieving excellence through a “march of solidarity”; worshipping for ...

The cabinet has continued to "tweak" the district lines to accommodate charges but more importantly to respond missionally to the needs of our churches and districts. The list below outlines the district lines. As always, throughout the year there could be additional "tweaks" as we continually address the missional needs of the annual conference. In Christ, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey ...

Rev. Ann Sutton, Louisiana Conference mission secretary and pastor of Northwood UMC in Lafayette, invites all local churches to consider inviting several missionaries to visit during their time in our conference this summer and fall. “They have been sent to the ends of the earth and now they are coming to us. These missionaries can be your guest,” said Rev. Sutton. Marsha Alexander, ...

The Baton Rouge District will host the first listening post for the Louisiana Conference Structure Revision Team on April 14 at First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge. The event will be held in the church's Conference Center at 3 p.m. The purpose of this event is to give people an opportunity to provide feedback on the conference structure and how it could better meet the missional...

Faith Crossing United Methodist Church, serving the Walker/Denham Springs area, recently distributed food items to 351 families in need—triple the number served last month! “We estimate that the food will help to feed anywhere from 1,500 to 1,700 folks. Church volunteers unloaded and distributed two full semi-trucks,” said Rev. Leslie Stephens, pastor. The church is excited about the ...

Every year, the Louisiana Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) recognizes a woman in the Louisiana Annual Conference who has made contributions as a caring Christian in her congregation and community in the spirit of Sojourner Truth, who broke barriers for many in the area of justice and compassion. The SoJourner Truth Award, presented during the COSROW luncheon at Annual ...

Participants from Nevada, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Mississippi, Iowa and Louisiana gathered at The Wesley Center from Jan. 6-11 for the 2013 Louisiana 5 Day Academy for Spiritual Formation for a week of worship, learning, celebration and prayer. The theme for this year was Spiritual Leadership in Times of Change and lectures were presented by Daniel Wolpert (Director of The Minnesota ...

The position of Certified Lay Minister (CLM) was approved by the General Conference in 2004.The first two CLM’s in the Louisiana Conference were certified in 2010. Five were certified in 2011 and one in 2012 for a total of eight Certified Lay Ministers in the Louisiana Conference. We need trained lay persons who have strong spiritual centering and want to take a stronger leadership role ...

New Orleans - Walter M. Kimbrough, president of Dillard University, joins 99 other African American history makers and industry leaders who are being honored during Black History Month by NBC's theGrio.com. The list was announced on the "Today" show on NBC News. This is the fourth year that NBC's the Grio.com has recognized African American industry leaders who are making a difference ...

Spearheaded by First United Methodist Church and the LSU Wesley Foundation, the imposition of ashes last Wednesday became an evangelical experiment when both groups “took to the streets” of Baton Rouge with this important Lenten ritual. Those administering ashes stood at the downtown corner of North Boulevard and Third Street, a local coffee shop and the Free Speech Alley located on LSU’...

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College is once again offering high school juniors and seniors the unique opportunity to attend the High School Leadership Academy. Held on campus July 14-19, this intensive, residential Academy will help students develop an understanding of service-minded leadership through the integration of living, learning, and action. "The Academy encourages students to ...

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 ...