Pam Crews

Dr. Pam Crews, Ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, has served over 25 years in small and large churches. Her past experiences include Youth Director, Program Director, and Associate Pastor. She has been a guest speaker at national church gatherings as well as facilitated workshops in our conference relating to mission and vision of the church.

Jerry Crise

Rev. Jerry Crise was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania in 1956, raised in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and graduated from high school in Jackson, Tennessee in 1974. He attended Michigan State University and graduated with high honors and a Bachelors of Arts with a double major in Psychology and Marketing in 1977. He has been married to Sue for over thirty-seven years, with two grown sons, Jeff, and his wife, Rhonda, who lives in West Monroe, and Richard, who lives in Alexandria.

Jerry served as an active layperson in various congregations until answering the call to ministry in 2003 after listening to subtle encouragements about use of the spiritual gifts of leadership, teaching, and preaching. Exploration of the call to ministry, discussions with the District Superintendent, Rev. Marie Williams, mentor pastors, Rev. Weldon Bares and Rev. Spiller Milton, family, and others made it clear that God was calling Jerry to enter the ministry. Shortly after starting the Inquiry Process, Rev. Crise was called to serve two small congregations on an interim basis following the sudden death of their pastor.

Rev. Crise began License to Preach School, and served as a student pastor from June 2003 until June 2007 in six churches in Northern Louisiana. During that time period, Rev. Crise completed formal studies at Perkins School of Theology, in Dallas, Texas, where he graduated with a Masters of Divinity, Cum Laude in 2007. Jerry was ordained as an elder and became a member of the Louisiana Annual Conference in 2010.

Since that time, he completed supplemental training for Clinical Pastoral Education at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Pineville, earning three extended units of Level 1 and 3½ extended units of Level 2 training. He also completed a two-year course in Paraprofessional Certification in Spiritual Formation in May 2018.

Jerry’s first full time appointment was at DeQuincy United Methodist Church in DeQuincy, for four years, followed by five years at Palestine United Methodist Church in Ball and Bethel United Methodist Church in Deville. We moved to First United Methodist Church in Covington in 2016 and are excited to be closer to Sue’s family.

We have been blessed in many ways by the churches we have served the past fifteen years. We look forward to continuing our work for God in whatever way we are called to serve as long as we are able. Our present home in Covington is comfortable with a yard large enough for a nice garden and small enough to easily upkeep. We are always grateful for the love of the many people we have met during our years of ministry and the love of our wonderful God. I pray that I will always keep living to the words of the Wesley hymn I chose for my Methodist Theology,"The Church's One Foundation"

Janet Hogstrom

After discerning a call to ministry, I began certification and foundational studies in Christian Education in 1990 to become a Diaconal Minister in the Texas Annual Conference. In the same year, I asked my local church, 1 st UMC of Missouri City, TX, to allow me to be the first Director of Christian Education. For over 6 years I strengthened and began programs there including a weekly chapel time for preschoolers of our Day School. In 1994, I completed studies at Perkins School of Theology-SMU and was consecrated a Diaconal Minister. On May 27, 1997, I was ordained a Deacon in the UMC. My previous career had been as a medical technologist in three hospitals. A pastor began sending me to visit the hospitalized and I felt a sense of being ‘home’ in that setting doing pastoral care. I spent time in the wilderness wandering, twisting, and turning, and was awakened to seek more theological education at Perkins South-SMU. In 1998, I was appointed a student local pastor at Hillcrest UMC in Houston for 2 years. The small congregation taught me much of caring, listening, visiting, and being disciples together. I completed a Master’s of Theological Studies in 2001 from Perkins. In 2002, I began clinical pastoral education (CPE) at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and 30 years before, I had worked there in microbiology. I felt like I made a circle in my life walking the halls now as a chaplain and not as a technologist. I earned 4 units of CPE in 2003, then interviewed and was awarded a second year of study to earn 4 more units and complete a research study for the Department of Chaplaincy in 2004. I was the recipient of the Rev. Edward J. Mahnke Fellowship. I thought of continuing on to become a supervisor in CPE. In 2004, my husband and I moved to Baton Rouge for his employment at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. I was a hospice chaplain and then a hospital chaplain at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center for 5 ½ years. I again walked halls and cared, listened, visited as I had been formed by other disciples and supervisors. In 2005 I transferred into the LA Annual Conference, was endorsed by the UM Endorsing Agency, and was board certified as a hospital chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). In 2011, I was employed at the Baton Rouge General as a chaplain for 5 ½ years. It is now 2018 and retirement begins officially. I have loved the work of ministry and the chaplaincy vocation where God led me. My childhood and youth years were as a Presbyterian studying the Westminster Catechism in Port Sulphur, LA, where I had Catholic and Baptist friends. My husband and I joined the Los Alamos UMC in NM, in 1977 where disciples taught us the Wesleyan faith. Last fall we visited there and I felt another circle of life. As a retiree, I hope to serve in hospice and spend time with family. As I transition, I am hopeful for new growth and resiliency in my faith and love for God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. I have many blessings with my husband of 44 years, Ken, and a son Mike, a daughter, Liz, and 3 grandsons, Kade, Michael and William. My grateful thanks are to the Louisiana AC for allowing me to serve in ministry.

Bernadine Johnson

Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched and flame won’t burn you. Isaiah 43:1 - 2 CEB

It was as a pilgrim during Louisiana Methodist Cursillo #26 that Bernadine Johnson first heard the message of these words from the book of the prophet Isaiah. Since that weekend this passage has continued to provide her with solace, hope, peace and guidance.

Bernie is a native of New Orleans where she was raised in the Baptist tradition. As an adult she found her home in The United Methodist Church where she heard the call to set apart ministry as a vocation. Bernie deeply appreciates the counsel and prayers of Rev. Kenneth Fisher and Rev. Carole Cotton Winn who helped her discern and take the first steps in answering the call of God on her life. Bernie was consecrated a Diaconal Minister by Bishop Dan Solomon in 1998, and was ordained a Deacon by Bishop William Hutchinson in 2001.

Her primary field of service was beyond the local church with a regulatory agency of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, where she served as an attorney until her retirement in 2012. She then served as Minister of Congregational Care with Wesley United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, until 2016 when she was appointed Director of Connectional Ministries of the Louisiana Conference.

Bernie was a delegate to the 2016, 2012, and 2008 General Conferences and South Central Jurisdictional Conferences; as well as the 2004 South Central Jurisdictional Conference. She served on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry for nearly ten years, on its Executive Committee for eight years, while serving as chair of the Division of Deacons and as chair of the Order of Deacons. Bernie has also chaired the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Petitions. She is the Registrar for the Baton Rouge District Committee on Ministry.

Bernie completed graduate theological studies through Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. She received the Juris Doctor degree from Whittier School of Law, and the Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Los Angeles. As she looks forward to joining the order of retired clergy, Bernie gives thanks to God and the members of the Louisiana Conference for all the support, encouragement, and blessings of this journey.

Jon Lord

Jon M. Lord is descended from pioneer families of Desoto Parish and graduated from High School at West Monroe. After freshman year studies at Louisiana Tech, he served two years active duty in the US Navy as a commissioning crewmember of the USS California at the end of the Vietnam era. While continuing to serve in the Navy Reserves, he finished a BA degree at Louisiana College, where he met spouse, Lisa Steele, also of West Monroe. They recently celebrated 40 years of marriage! She has encouraged him in everything from preaching to playing the guitar!

Sensing a call to Christian ministry, he continued studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, where he graduated with the Master of Divinity with a minor in intramural sports! He was commissioned as a chaplain in the Louisiana Army National Guard. Other studies have been completed from ULM and Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Rev. Lord also has earned a Private Pilot’s License and Fire Fighter One certification from Louisiana State University.

Rev. Lord has served 36 years in ordained ministry in churches in Louisiana and Africa. Ten of those years have been service as a missionary and pastor in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Returning to Louisiana after seven hard years in East Africa, he interviewed for an appointment with Rev. Phil Woodland, then the Monroe District Superintendent in 1994. After an hour of meeting and sharing together, Rev. Woodland announced, “I think I may have a place for you!” Appointments for the Louisiana Conference, U.M.C., have been at the Sicily Island/ Harrisonburg charge, the Dubach/Harmony Chapel charge, on “loan” to the Methodist Church of Southern Africa at the Primrose M.C.- Johannesburg, Mission Zone Team #7 in post-Katrina New Orleans, the Carrollton/Metairie charge, and now at the First UMC Arcadia.

They have three sons who grew up on the mission field in Tanzania. All are now graduated from college, two are married, and there is one grandson! Rev. Lord states, “I want to thank God for giving me my wife of 40 years, Lisa. We have made this journey together. She has packed and repacked boxes for moves to seminary in Kentucky, churches in Louisiana, and three moves back and forth to Eastern and Southern Africa. God has given us so many wonderful friends, both lay and clergy, in churches from Arcadia to Africa! And we are not done yet!”

Randy Nichols

Randy Nichols has served in a variety of ministry settings including the local church (pastor and associate pastor), Campus Ministry (LSU), and Extension Ministry (Executive Director of Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless). He spent three years in pastoral ministry with the British Methodist Church in Manchester, England.

He is married to Meredith Veldman, associate professor of History at LSU. They have two children Jeremy who works for the Corporation for Supportive Housing in their Chicago office, and Graham is a professional chef.

Jane Riecke

Jane Youtz Riecke was born in Sunbury, PA and lived the first 19 years of her life in the Central PA region. She graduated from Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth in 1981 and Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1987. In 2012, Jane received her Doctor of Ministry as a Beeson Fellow from Asbury Seminary.

Jane's first appointment in 1984 was a three church circuit in North Texas known as Bellevue, Vashti, and Joy. She went on from there to serve FUMC, Lewisville, TX as primary associate. In 1988, Jane transferred as an elder in the North Texas Annual Conference to the Mountain Sky Area to serve for a total of 27 years. Her final appointment in the Mountain Sky Area was senior minister of FUMC, Loveland, CO. In 2015, Jane came to Louisiana to serve University UMC in Baton Rouge as Senior Minister. Jane is looking forward to writing, hiking and gardening in Panama where she intends to retire.

Christine Roberts

Chris received her calling for ordained ministry as a Deacon, while in her forties. She retired from EBRP School Board after 20 years of ministry, serving Special Needs children in order to begin the Candidacy Process and attended United Methodist theological Seminary I Dayton, OH; where she received an M.A.S.M. Degree focusing on end of life concerns and grief recovery. Upon graduation from UTS, Chris began her second ministry career serving as a Hospice Chaplain and as the Volunteer Coordinator/Chaplain for a faith-based battered women’s facility in N. Baton Rouge for a period of three years. Afterwards, Chris returned to Hospice ministry, serving with three different hospice agencies in the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas from June 2005 through March 2011. In her last Hospice appointment, she served as the Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator where she ministered to the survivors of her patients. She received UMEA Endorsement from the UM Endorsing Agency for Chaplaincy in three settings in 2005. The tools gathered through these settings, would later greatly benefit congregations she served. In March 2011, the Hospice Chris served, closed and the license was sold. After a few months of transitional leave, Chris returned to working with Special Needs children at McMann’s Children’s Developmental Center in Baton Rouge. Where she served as an Education Therapist for five years.

Chris served as a volunteer at Broadmoor UMC in Baton Rouge for many years, with her last eight years of ministry served at First UMC, Zachary, as the Minister of Pastoral Care. While serving at First Zachary, Chris started the Zachary Community-wide Grief Support Group, which was the only grief group offered in that end of EBR Parish. An additional group was added for widows/widower’s and after the flooding in Zachary last year, she worked with LA Spirit Teams providing support to both the Response Teams and survivors of the flooding. With the help of the congregation, a Scout working on his Eagle Bade, and the community; Chris and two church members created hundreds of sets of Protestant Prayer Beads which were sold and aided the building of a community Prayer Labyrinth.

Chris served for 1 ½ quads on the CMOM, Div. of Deacons. Served as a Candidacy Mentor/Coach and UMEA Clergy Coach for newly commissioned Chaplains since her ordination. In addition, she has served on a Cursillo Walk as well as numerous Walks to Emmaus as a Clergy. Chris and her husband of 25 years (this Nov.), plan to downsize and simplify their lives as they move into their retirement years, traveling, and look forward to spending more time with their grandson and grown children.

Inita Smith

I am Inita Smith. I have been married to Leonard Smith for 53 years. I am the mother of two beautiful daughters, grandmother of two handsome grandsons and great grandmother of two precious great granddaughters. I have had the pleasure of serving in both the former Acadiana District and Baton Rouge District.

My experience as a Pastor has been exciting and very fulfilling. I have grown in many ways through the empowering Spirit of God, course of study and through many that have crossed my path. Being a Pastor has not always be easy but it has been rewarding. Some of my experiences on this journey includes keeping unity in the flock, uniting couples in marriage, visiting the sick and preaching heartfelt and spirit filled messages to all. The greatest experience is leading the lost souls to Christ. I would not trade anything for this great and wonderful journey that is certainly not over. Many thanks to the Louisiana Conference Board for giving me the opportunity to carry out the mission assigned by God.

Kemper Smith

Samuel Kemper Smith born and raised in Shreveport, LA. Attended and baptized at Noel United Methodist Church, Shreveport. Completed Methodist studies at Perkins and St. Paul’s seminaries. Ordained Elder, Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church 1983. Chaplain Resident in Phoenix, Arizona then the Chaplain of the Cancer Treatment Center, Christus Schumpert Medical Center, Shreveport, La. Married to Cheri Ann Burns, of Leesville, La.

James Barrett

Russ Clunan

Susan Ferguson

Bo Horne

Mary Jones

Lewis Morris

Nancy Owens

Oscar Player

Marguerite Rheams