Todd Rossnagel Wins Epikoinonía, Honored for Communication Ministry

Rev. Todd Rossnagel, director of communications strategies for the Louisiana Conference, has received the Epikoinonía award from United Methodist Communications in recognition of excellence in communication ministry.

Rossnagel received the national award during the 2022 Louisiana Annual Conference in Baton Rouge. Jennifer Rodia, Chief Communications Officer of The United Methodist Church, presented the award to Rossnagel, saying he “embodies with excellence the spirit of Christian communication.”

The Epikoinonía award, or “Epi,” was established in 2019. The Greek word Epikoinonía translates in English to communication.

Rodia noted that Rossnagel served Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey in her role as the Louisiana Bishop and during her just-ended tenure as the leader of the Council of Bishops. He did this while navigating the communication challenges presented by the pandemic and a devastating string of natural disasters in Louisiana, she said.

“Through it all, Todd remains passionate about storytelling and sharing his expertise with conference communicators and local church leaders,” Rodia told the conference. “He uses creative strategies through podcasting, photography and videography and is always on the cutting edge, finding new tools and technology to put to use.”

Rossnagel is a hands-on manager, frequently writing stories; shooting, editing, and posting videos on the Louisiana Conference’s website and social media channels; and hosting the Louisiana NOW podcast. In accepting the award, Rossnagel said telling the church’s stories “is the greatest job in the world, because you are doing the work, you are being the hands and feet of Christ, and I am just privileged” to tell those stories.

Bishop Harvey said, “no one is more deserving of this award than Todd Rossnagel and I’m grateful to have him walk beside us.”

Rossnagel serves on the United Methodist Association of Communicators’ leadership team and received the Communicator of the Year Award from that group in 2020. Under his guidance, the Louisiana Conference has won numerous awards for writing, videography, photography, social media communications, and podcasts.

Rossnagel serves as a local full-time pastor, serving in extension ministry. Prior to joining the Conference staff, he managed media services for Louisiana’s economic development agency. He also was an award-winning television news reporter, anchor, and manager.