Louisiana Now: Recent Episodes
Louisiana Conference
A podcast featuring news, opportunities and witness of the ministries of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Listen for stories and updates of what's happening in the Louisiana Conference.
As we head into the week of Annual Conference, we will be ordaining two deacons at the Celebration of Ministry Service. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Order of Deacons. In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with both of this year's ordinands, Rev. Katrena King and Rev. Maddie Russo. Together, they explore the role of a deacon and the calling that lives at the intersection of church and world. Both reflect on their journeys of discernment, the unique role of deacons in ministry, and the ways they connect congregations with the needs of their communities.
Seventy years ago, twelve words in The Methodist Church's Book of Discipline changed everything: "Women are included in all provisions of the discipline referring to the ministry."
In our final episode of our special series, Rev. Ali Young sits down with Rev. Stephanie York Arnold, General Secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW), to reflect on the 70th anniversary of women's ordination in The United Methodist Church.
Together, they explore the history behind those twelve words, the women who helped open doors for future generations, and the work that still remains.
We continue our special series on the 70th anniversary of the ordination of women in the United Methodist Church. Rev. Ali Young is sharing stories of call, leadership, and faith from across the Louisiana Conference. In this episode, we hear from our provisional elders, all of whom are women. Rev. Neva Joseph, Rev. Amy Castro, and Rev. Tricia Wilkinson join the show.
The Louisiana NOW podcast continues its special series highlighting the 70th anniversary of women's ordination in The United Methodist Church.
In this episode, host Rev. Ali Young is joined by Rev. Allison Sikes, Rev. Clair Carter, and Stacey Weber for a conversation rooted in one shared place, Grace Community United Methodist Church.
Together, they reflect on how a local church can shape a calling.
From serving as "worship angels" to stepping into leadership, their stories reveal what happens when a church invites people, at any age, to participate, lead, and discover their gifts.
This is a conversation about mentorship, belonging, and the kind of community that doesn't make you wait your turn to serve.
In this special episode of Louisiana NOW, guest host Rev. Ali Young leads a meaningful conversation marking the 70th anniversary of the ordination of women in The United Methodist Church. This episode features a powerful roundtable with the Louisiana Conference's three District Superintendents; Rev. Karli Pidgeon, Rev. Dr. Frances Hooton, and Rev. Dr. Ramonalynn Bethley. Together, they reflect on their journeys in ministry, sharing stories of call, courage, perseverance, and joy. Their voices offer insight into both the progress made and the ongoing work of leadership, representation, and faithfulness in the Church. They highlight the lived experiences of women who are shaping the present and future of the Church and invite listeners to reflect on how God continues to call, equip, and send leaders into ministry today. _____ This episode is part of a special series honoring the 70th anniversary of women's ordination, featuring voices from across the Louisiana Conference who share their stories and experiences in ministry. For more, head here.
This is a special edition of the Louisiana Now podcast, a reading of the Easter Story by host Todd Rossnagel. This reading comes from all four gospels and various translations.
- To find a United Methodist church in the Louisiana Conference, please visit our directory: https://www.la-umc.org/churches
- To find a listing of online church services in the Louisiana Conference, please visit here.
- To find a United Methodist church near you, please visit: https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-church
What happens between the moment someone feels called to ministry and the day they stand before the Annual Conference for commissioning or ordination? In this episode of the Louisiana NOW Podcast, Todd Rossnagel sits down with Rev. Sonya Lars, Registrar for the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. Rev. Lars shares how her role as registrar involves far more than paperwork and timelines. As the "caretaker of the files," she helps guide candidates through the complex process of discernment, education, and preparation for ministry. Along the way, she works with pastors, district superintendents, and the Board of Ordained Ministry to ensure candidates are supported as they discover where their gifts and graces can best serve the Church.
There are moments when the world feels so fractured, so loud, and so heavy that we find ourselves asking a simple but unsettling question: How do we speak faithfully now?
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we're joined by author and historian Dr. Ashley Boggan, along with Rev. Ali Young, Director of Equipping Ministries, for a conversation rooted in United Methodist history but aimed squarely at the present moment. Drawing from Ashley's book Wesleyan Vile-tality, we explore the moment John Wesley famously "submitted to be more vile," and what that act of courage can teach us about faith, risk, and witness today.
This is not a conversation about being loud or reactive. It's about putting aside reputation for the sake of love, bending unjust rules so others can experience grace, and finding our voice when silence feels safer. In a time that often feels unspeakable, this conversation invites us to remember who we were, question who we are, and reclaim who we're called to be.
For more on the FREE event in Woodworth, where all are encouraged to attend, click here.
Recently, leaders from our conference joined colleagues from across the South Central Jurisdiction in El Paso for the All Things in Common gathering. Bishops, conference staff, and leaders came together for worship, conversation, and honest storytelling about where the Church is and where God might be leading next.
But El Paso wasn't just a meeting location. It was a place already deeply connected to the Louisiana Conference.
While there, we spent time at Lydia Patterson Institute, a United Methodist school serving students in the El Paso–Juárez border region, a school that many in Louisiana know well, and care deeply about.
Earlier this year, during our Annual Conference session, LPI President Dr. Carla Cardoza shared urgent news. A sudden pause on student visa interviews by the U.S. State Department impacted nearly half of LPI's student body. In response, the Louisiana Conference, along with the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana, made a significant financial commitment to help the school continue educating students remotely.
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cardoza in her office at Lydia Patterson Institute.
She shares how that gift was used, how the school has navigated the visa shutdown, and what it means to lead a community of hope and resilience amid unprecedented government disruption.
Support LPI - Click Here
This episode of the Louisiana NOW features an interview with Steve Barlow, the new Director of Finance and Conference Treasurer, and Rev. Dr. Van Stinson, the Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Together, we explore Steve's transition into his role and his connection to the Gulf Coast. Reflecting on his past experiences, Steve shares how his time caring for his mother and a world cruise inspired his career path toward meaningful work in Louisiana. We also discuss the importance of financial stewardship within the Church, discussing the need for adaptive income strategies to further mission work. Steve draws on his extensive business background to highlight the parallels between managing finances in retail and the church.
Clergy will be invited to make a healthcare plan selection during open enrollment beginning October 29 and ending November 13th. Currently, there are six healthcare plans to choose from. Everyone is invited to utilize Wespath's online tool, ALEX. Participants can use ALEX to estimate costs and receive a personalized recommendation for their 2026 HealthFlex elections. ALEX will remain available throughout the Annual Election period (October 29 - November 13) and participants can visit as often as they would like. ALEX will give individuals the option to look up actual claims estimates using their Blue Cross Blue Shield Member ID and group number. This allows ALEX to make the best recomendations related to your plan selection. Your Member ID and Group number are easily found on your insurance card.
Annual Election is your opportunity to choose or modify your HealthFlex coverage for the coming year. With options for medical, dental and vision coverage, health accounts to help you save for medical expenses and a host of award-winning well-being programs, there's a plan that's right for you.
The best way to learn about your 2026 HealthFlex options and to make your selections is to log into Benefits Access. If you don't have access, you can find many of the same helpful resources below. Learn about your plan options, how to make the best choice for 2026, and where to go for additional information or support.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
Bishop William W. Hutchinson and Rev. Don Cottrill reflect on the enormous responsibility of guiding the Louisiana Conference through Katrina and Rita. From promises to pastors to organizing large-scale relief, they reveal the leadership lessons forged in crisis. This closing episode captures the spirit of connection, courage, and hope beyond the storm.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
Born from the merger of two historically separate congregations, First Grace UMC stands as a living example of unity and justice. Pastor Shawn Anglim and lay leader Margaret Washington share how Katrina’s upheaval opened the door to a new kind of church. Their story is one of faith, inclusion, and enduring community witness.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
Rev. Martha Orphe played a central role in creating “Mission Zones” to keep ministry alive when congregations were displaced. She explains how cooperation and creativity shaped this new model for serving communities. The episode reveals how thoughtful structure can sustain hope after disaster.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
Katrina became a defining moment for Rev. Kaseem and Sabrina Short, awakening a call to serve in bold new ways. They share how the crisis clarified their mission and deepened their faith. Their journey — selling everything they had and moving from Seattle, back home - underscores that God’s call can come in life’s most turbulent seasons.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
Just three weeks after Katrina, Hurricane Rita struck southwest Louisiana, forcing churches already in relief mode into survival mode. Rev. Angela Bulhof and Rev. Karl Klaus recall the emotional and logistical challenges of evacuating twice. Their reflections highlight resilience in the face of back-to-back disasters.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
As a teenager from Ohio, Dan Bracken’s first mission trip to Louisiana after Katrina changed the trajectory of his life. He shares memories of long days, deep connections, and the enduring power of service. Guided by the saying “I don’t know how, but I know who,” Dan’s story is one of mission that lasts far beyond the trip.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
Rob Weber and Drew Sutton took cameras into the hardest-hit areas after Katrina and Rita, documenting loss and resilience alike. Their work became a powerful fundraising and awareness tool for the church’s recovery efforts. This conversation explores how telling the story can be a form of ministry in itself.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
Rev. Ellen Alston recounts leading her congregation through the uncertainty of evacuation, the shock of loss, and the challenges of ministering in a scattered city. She reflects on the pastoral role as both spiritual guide and community anchor during a prolonged crisis. Her journey reveals the depth of care and adaptability required when shepherding through disaster.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and holy grit from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
After Katrina toppled the steeple of Rayne Memorial UMC into its sanctuary, Rev. Callie Winn Crawford wrestled with both the physical and emotional rebuilding. She shares how mental health strategies and intentional purpose-setting guided her through the storm’s aftermath. Her story offers a roadmap for finding clarity and mission after chaos.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and holy grit from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.
When floodwaters swallowed Bethany UMC up to its roofline, Rev. Hadley Edwards faced the unthinkable. With faith, grit, and the help of volunteers from across the country, he led the congregation through a complete rebuild. This episode is a testament to how devastation can give way to a thriving ministry once again.
Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and holy grit from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together. Host Rev. Todd Rossnagel sits with over ten people in the Louisiana Conference; sharing stories of how faith communities responded, practical wisdom for leaders, churches, and neighbors facing today’s disasters—natural or otherwise.
In this episode, we catch up with Rev. Dr. Ramonalynn Bethley, the newly appointed District Superintendent in the North District of The Louisiana Conference. Bishop Delores J. Williamston has appointed Bethley as superintendent of the North District of The Louisiana Conference, effective July 1.
This appointment marks a return to the role for Bethley, who previously served as a district superintendent from 2005 to 2012 in the Alexandria (2005-2008) and New Orleans (2008-2012) districts.
Bishop Williamston expressed deep appreciation for Bethley’s experience and leadership.
“I am honored to announce that Rev. Dr. Ramonalynn Bethley will again join in the ministry of the appointive cabinet as a superintendent in The Louisiana Conference,” said Bishop Williamston. “Rev. Bethley brings her past experiences, wisdom, and knowledge to the role of superintendency, along with her faithful and steady commitment to The United Methodist Church. She has served passionately in the local church, conference, and on the appointive cabinet previously, and I believe her giftedness will lead clergy and laity strategically in the North District as we live into our vision to build, connect, and equip disciples of Jesus Christ for a transformative future.”
This is a special edition of the Louisiana NOW podcast - we travel west to Kerrville, Texas. After devastating flooding along the Guadalupe River, the community of Kerrville, Texas, turns to faith, prayer, and each other. In this episode, we hear from Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey and leaders at First United Methodist Church of Kerrville, located near Camp Mystic, where many lives were lost. Through grief, the congregation sings The Goodness of God, a powerful act of hope. This is a story of resilience, compassion, and the strength found in showing up. To give and to help, please head here.
In this episode of The Louisiana NOW podcast, we are joined by Dr. Carla Cardoza, President of Lydia Patterson Institute and Bishop Delores J. Williamston. In a powerful response to an unfolding immigration crisis affecting the Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI), the Council on Finance and Administration of The Louisiana Conference, in partnership with the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana, announced a $240,000 gift to support the El Paso-based United Methodist school. The decision was made in an immediate series of meetings following emotional scenes at the 2025 Annual Conference, where LPI President Dr. Carla Cardoza broke down in tears during her address. Dr. Cardoza had just received news that the U.S. Consulate would no longer schedule visa interviews for students. It's a decision that could prevent 30% of LPI’s student body from attending school this fall.
Please call, write, or email your local, state, and federal officials. Urge them to restore access to student visa interviews and support educational institutions like LPI that stand at the intersection of faith, education, and opportunity. Lives are being shaped at LPI—let your voice be part of the story.
We continue to preview the 2025 Annual Conference. In this episode, we talk more about the Strategic Implementation Team. We are joined by Associate Lay Leader, Susie Cox and Rev. Dr. Van Stinson, Assistant to the Bishop. We learn more about the SIT Team, what it is and what they've been up to this year. Formed in 2024 under the guidance of Bishop Delores J. Williamston, the Strategic Implementation Team is a key component of the conference's mission to adapt and thrive in changing times. The team's formation followed a comprehensive Organizational Review, which identified key areas for strategic reorganization to better align the conference’s resources with its mission.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we’re joined by Bishop Delores J. Williamston as she reflects on the theme of JOY, a guiding focus for the 2025 Annaul Conference. Bishop Williamston shares how joy is not only a personal source of strength but also a collective call for the Church in a time of healing, rebuilding, and hope.
We also catch up with the Bishop fresh off her journey to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the pilgrimage—what it was like to walk where Jesus walked, the moments that moved her most, and how the experience will shape her leadership in the months ahead.
Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with laughter, deep insights, and a renewed sense of direction for the road ahead.
Our guest speaker for the 2025 Annual Conference is Rev. F. Douglas Powe, Jr., PhD. In this episode, we learn more about him, and what he will share with us during his time at Annual Conference. Learn more about how it's time to re-examine John Wesley's model of evangelism as a full, natural circle, where it's a communal beginning point rather than a solitary end. Dr. Powe is the President of Phillips Theological Seminary. Powe comes to Phillips from Wesley Theological Seminary, where he served as director of The Lewis Center for Church Leadership and the James C. Logan Chair in Evangelism (an E. Stanley Jones Professorship). Powe is an ordained elder in the Baltimore/Washington Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He received his BA from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1987, his MDiv from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 1998, and his PhD from Emory University in 2004.
- Books: Transforming Evangelism: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith Sustaining While Disrupting: The Challenge of Congregational Innovation
Since 1975, the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana has offered an array of financial services for churches and individuals while promoting a culture of generosity to United Methodist donors and churches. For more on the Foundation, please head to their web site.
For more on the 2025 Annual Conference, please head here.
We are gearing up for a special event - People Like Me - a two-day immersive retreat focused on building intercultural competency, strengthening inclusive leadership, and helping churches reflect the rich diversity of their communities. Led by our very own, Rev. Katrena King, our Conference’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist, the retreat offers tools like the Intercultural Development Inventory, also known as the IDI - it will also include space for authentic storytelling, which will be done in a very unique way – and workshops on everything from tough conversations to vision casting.
And that brings us to our guest.
Samuel Rodriguez is the Director of Congregational Development for the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. For over 27 years, he’s been helping churches plant, grow, and thrive—especially in multicultural and multi-ethnic contexts. He will be the special guest at People Like Me. Join us for a conversation about why events like People Like Me matter—and how the future of the Church depends on the kind of work he and Katrena will be doing in Woodworth.
This is a special edition of the Louisiana Now podcast, a reading of the Easter Story by host Todd Rossnagel. This reading comes from all four gospels and various translations.
- To find a United Methodist church in the Louisiana Conference, please visit our directory: https://www.la-umc.org/churches
- To find a listing of online church services in the Louisiana Conference, please visit here.
- To find a United Methodist church near you, please visit: https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-church
This Lent, ponder the themes of justice, poverty, freedom, and love. The four New Testament Gospels aren’t the same story, but they offer the same Resurrection hope. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John devote most of their story detailing Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem, all highlighting Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city, the suffering and humiliation of the cross, and the empty tomb come Sunday morning, but the stories they tell aren’t quite the same. Each Gospel offers a different lens through which we understand Jesus’ Passion. One portrait reveals Jesus to be in control, while another emphasizes his suffering. In one story Jesus offers hope to the thief on the cross, and in another Jesus only receives derision. These different perspectives aren’t a reason to dismiss the Gospels; rather they reveal an abundant, diverse, and complementary picture of God’s work in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Buy Matt's book here.
For more on the 2025 Annual Conference, head here.
The Common Ground Youth Retreat is set for February 21-23, 2025, at Camp Istrouma, offering a weekend of connection, faith-building, and fun for United Methodist youth in grades 6-12 across Louisiana. Organized by youth directors from the Louisiana United Methodist Conference, the retreat invites young people to deepen their relationship with Christ and each other in a supportive environment. Registration for the retreat (closes January 31st) is $30 per participant, covering meals, activities, and costs for speakers and musicians.
Register here.
Question? Email us. Communications@la-umc.org
Join us for People Like Me – a two-day immersive retreat led by Rev. Katrena King, our Conference's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist. This event, January 10-11 in Woodworth, is designed for anyone ready to take bold steps toward deeper intercultural competency and create stronger, more inclusive faith communities.
At this retreat, you'll participate in hands-on workshops, engage in courageous conversations, and explore your own development through tools like the Intercultural Development Inventory. Through storytelling, skill-building, and conflict-resolution sessions, we’ll create a supportive space to connect, learn, and grow together. This isn’t just about training; it's about fostering meaningful relationships across diverse backgrounds to strengthen our shared mission.'
Register Today!
"They don't want to die; they want to grow!" It's a powerful realization for Rev. Robert Johnson who just completed four listening sessions all across The Louisiana Conference; listening sessions focused on the future of the Black Church. Johnson serves as the Black Church Vitality strategist in The Louisiana Conference and is our guest on this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast. We discuss what he heard during the listening sessions, the strength of the Black Church in this moment, the value in listening and what's next as we prepare for huge event in 2025.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Karrie Gaspard joins the show. Gaspard is a doctoral student at Tulane University, and is an expert in dissecting the complexities of Christian Nationalism and its encroachment into the fabric of Christianity. As a former educator and licensed social worker with a profound understanding of the intersections between religious and political spheres, Karrie offers invaluable insights into the origins and manifestations of Christian Nationalism. The conversation explores practical methods for identifying and challenging these narratives, assessing when patriotic sentiments may inadvertently align with nationalistic ideologies. Todd and Karrie delve into what it means to be both a Christian and a patriot without crossing into the realms of Christian Nationalism. They also give pastors a practical method for how to navigate these narratives.
Tim Alberta's book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism
Caleb Campbell's book, Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor.
To read the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church, go here.
Hurricane Francine brought a positive development to two United Methodist Churches in Louisiana. Both First Grace United Methodist Church and Cornerstone United Methodist Church partnered with Together New Orleans to be a part of the Community Lighthouse project, a bold initiative to create a network of solar-powered churches and community centers across the city.
The result? The largest off-grid energy project in the world. And it worked during Hurricane Francine. In this episode, Bishop Delores J. Williamston chats with Rev. Shawn Anglim of First Grace United Methodist Church about the project and the hope that it brought to the community.
More on the project can be found here.
If you would like to help relief efforts in Louisiana, please visit www.la-umc.org/relief or text RELIEF to 800-500-5858.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we sit down with John Smith, the new Conference Lay Leader, and Susie Cox, the new Associate Lay Leader. Together, we explore the crucial role of lay leadership in the United Methodist Church. We reflect on their personal journeys of faith and what inspired them to step into leadership roles within their local congregations. They share insights on the difference between clergy and lay leaders, offering unique perspectives from the laity that help shape the future of the Church.
If you'd like to reach the show, please send us an email: podcast@la-umc.org
Thanks for listening!
In this episode, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Vicki Loflin Johnson and Rev. Ali Young, Director of Clergy Excellence in The Louisiana Conference, to talk about the upcoming clergy retreat called Grieving Well.
Clergy are expected to share the burden of others’ grief as well as the collective grief of the institutions we serve. In the midst of caring for others, how can we make space for tending our own souls?
In this one-day retreat we will consider ways that we as leaders might faithfully tend our own grief while teaching and encouraging our congregations to do the same. We will share ideas and resources to help create personal and congregational rituals for mourning. We will reflect together about the potential benefits and positive outcomes when we practice grieving well.
Our day apart will be led by Dr. Johnson who believes that tending our grief is an essential wellbeing practice for ministry leaders in every season, and especially in response to the last several years of leadership in the church.
Join Vicki for this intentional conversation about healing and wholeness. She served for 30 years in the Mississippi Conference in a variety of settings—small church pastor, clergy couple co-appointment, executive pastor, district superintendent, and nine years as senior pastor of a community-focused downtown church. Coaching professionally since 2015, she holds a Level 2/PCC credential with the International Coaching Federation, is a Lead Trainer with Coach Approach Skills Training (CAST) and created a Level 2 Leadership Coach Specialization through Radiant Coaches Academy. Vicki is also certified as an Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist, Spiritual Director, and 200-hour E-RYT yoga instructor. In 2020, she founded The Art of WellBeing (www.coachingtheartofwellbeing.com) —offering individual and group coaching in support of clergy leadership and wellbeing. Vicki and her husband Roger live in East Texas.
Welcome to another episode of the Louisiana Now podcast. In this episode, we sit down with bishop Delores J. Williamston, bishop of The Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. The 2024 Annual Conference just wrapped up last week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We had a chance to sit down with Bishop Williamston before she left this week for the Arkansas annual conference. She reflects on so many high moments from the annual conference, from the rollout of her vision to the incredible ordination service at First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge.
You won't want to miss this episode.
We sit down with Rev. Amy Castro of Westlake United Methodist Church to talk about her incredible journey this week. She was driving home after graduating from seminary at Perkins School of Theology on the campus of SMU and drove straight to tornado damage at her church in southwest Louisiana.
She shares a heartwarming tale of resilience and community support that followed in the moments after the storm. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about faith, hope, and the incredible strength of community bonds in times of crisis. To hear the episode Todd and Amy discuss in this episode, Praise Him in the Hallway, please click here.
We wrap our coverage from Charlotte, North Carolina. In this final episode, we wanted to share some interviews on the major event that came out of General Conference - Delegates voted to remove restrictive and harmful language from the United Methodist Book of Discipline after more than fifty years of intense, prayerful debate.
For more on our coverage from General Conference, please click here.
Our updates from General Conference continue. In this episode, we look back at the start of Week 2 from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Bishop Delores J. Williamston presided over the morning plenary session and we had a chance to catch up with her afterward. She talks more about what it felt to sit in the chair and what this week looks like.
Todd Rossnagel and Todd Seifert have served together on UMAC (United Methodist Association of Communicators) leadership teams. As you might expect, identifying two Todd's became a challenge on ZOOM, so Todd Rossnagel received the nickname "Cajun Todd" (Louisiana), while Todd Seifert earned the nickname "Plain Todd" (Great Plains).
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Rossnagel and Seifert unpack General Conference, discuss what it's like to cover General Conference from a media perspective, and share more about Bishop Delores J. Williamston, who served in the Great Plains Conference before being assigned to the Louisiana Conference.
UNITED METHODIST NEWS: General Conference has now passed much of the legislation that aims to give The United Methodist Church’s different geographic regions equal standing in decision-making.
In what outgoing Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton called “a historic day for our church,” delegates voted 586 to 164 for an amendment to the denomination’s constitution that will now go before annual conference voters for potential ratification.
A constitutional amendment requires at least a two-thirds vote at General Conference; the regionalization amendment received 78% of the vote. To be ratified, the amendment also will need at least a two-thirds total vote of annual conference lay and clergy voters. Annual conferences are church regions consisting of multiple congregations and other ministries.
Regionalization has become United Methodist shorthand for a package of legislation that would restructure the denomination. Under the legislation, the U.S. and each central conference — church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines — would become regional conferences with the same authority to adapt the Book of Discipline, the denomination’s policy book, for more missional effectiveness.
At present, only central conferences have that authority under the denomination’s constitution to adapt the Discipline as missional needs and different legal contexts require.
To see the story with Rev. Marissa Horvath, please click here.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we delve into the start of General Conference held in Charlotte, North Carolina. We catch up with Bishop Delores J. Williamston, Jennifer Swann, and other delegates.
The General Conference of The United Methodist Church is meeting April 23 through May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, NC. In this episode, Todd Rossnagel shares a preview of the gathering, including comments from Bishop Delores J. Williamston, Rev. Bardy Whitton, and Jennifer Swann, members of the Louisiana delegation.
For more on General Conference, and to stay up to date with the latest news, decisions and celebrations from this global gathering, please click here.
To watch the Louisiana Conference preview show, mentioned in this episode, please click here.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we visit with Dr. Ashley Boggan D., the General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History.
Ahsley helps to ensure that the UMC understands its past in order to envision a more equitable future for all Methodists. Boggan earned her PhD from Drew Theological School’s Graduate Division of Religion, specializing in both Methodist/Wesleyan Studies and Women’s/Gender Studies.
For more on Boggan's series of talks at the 2023 Annual Conference, go here.
For more on the Radicle Methodism course, click here.
For more on Donna Fowler Marchant's Mothers in Israel: Methodist beginnings through the Eyes of Women, go here. Thank you for listening and supporting the Louisiana NOW podcast.
In this episode, we catch up with Rev. Katrena Porter King has been appointed to the Louisiana Conference as the new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategist. This strategic addition to the extended cabinet underscores the Conference's commitment to fostering an environment that champions inclusivity and justice, as well as actively promoting diversity in the staff and leadership structure. Bishop Delores J. Williamston welcomes Rev. King, stating, "I look forward to the ministry that Rev. Katrena King will bring to the Louisiana Conference as we continue to make strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her gifting will assist the conference as we look at practices and policies around this critical work. Katrena’s experience holding space in community collaborations is an asset to us as we continue the work that began in 2021 around anti-racism or justice-orientated issues." Rev. King, recently commissioned as a Provisional Deacon at the 2023 Louisiana Annual Conference, brings a wealth of experience and a unique set of skills. Her approach to guiding conversations on complex topics allows for creating safe and open sharing spaces. She empowers individuals to recognize and refine their leadership abilities while fostering visionary and strategic thinking. As a graduate of Leadership Lafayette Class XXXIV and a recipient of the 20 Under 40 Acadiana Leadership Award, Rev. King's contributions have been recognized as both significant and impactful. Additionally, her service on the General Commission and the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) further demonstrates her passion for advocating for equity and representation. The Louisiana Conference looks forward to the innovative contributions Rev. King will bring to the table. Her strategic vision and commitment to community engagement are vital as the Conference continues its journey toward creating a more equitable and just society.
We are thrilled to feature a conversation with Britney Winn Lee. She is leading the innovative A New Thing workshop, an initiative presented by the United Methodist Foundation. This workshop is dedicated to turning visionary ideas into tangible realities, offering a platform for creative thinking and strategic execution.
Utilizing Kenda Creasy Dean’s Innovating for Love: Joining God’s Expedition Through Christian Social Innovation, the programs will offer several half-day workshops to explore the theology behind and current necessity for ministry innovation. In this episode, we discuss what it means to execute innovative ideas in the local church, and why the word 'innovative' might not even be the best word! For more on the A New Thing Workshop, please head here.
Britney's books, including Rally!, can be found here.
Welcome to the second of two interviews with Bishop Delores J. Williamston. In this episode, we're thrilled to sit down again with Bishop Williamston to reflect on her eventful and transformative first year in Louisiana. From her start in January, through the dynamic 'Boots on the Ground Tour' across the state, to the memorable installation service at Dillard University, the 2023 Annual Conference in June, and the insightful listening sessions, held in the fall - it's been a year of growth, connection, and HōPE.
Join us as we review these significant milestones and also look ahead to what 2024 holds. Bishop Williamston shares her experiences, insights, and visions for the future in this special year-end episode.
Welcome to Louisiana NOW, the podcast focused on the news, opportunities and witness of the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. In the next two episodes, we sit down with Bishop Delores J. Williamston.
In this episode, Bishop Williamston shares her insightful thoughts on advent and Christmas. We'll delve into her childhood memories, reminisce about her impactful times serving as a pastor in Kansas, and hear her inspiring message to pastors across Louisiana as we prepare for the festive season. Stay tuned for a heartwarming journey through memories and messages of HōPE, faith, and joy with Bishop Williamston.
In this episode, we delve into one of the most significant seasons in the church calendar – Christmas. (Yes, we know it's technically Advent)
In this episode, we're thrilled to visit with Rev. Chad Brooks, the Church Vitality strategist for the Louisiana Conference, with insights on how churches can gear up for Christmas, a time known for its high visitor engagement. We’ll explore practical tips and innovative strategies to make this festive season both spiritually enriching and welcoming for all who walk through the church doors.
And that's not all – host Todd Rossnagel will be sharing a few social media hacks to boost your church's online presence this Christmas. With these tips, we aim to help you create a buzz on social media that translates into greater engagement and brings more people to experience the joy and community of the season.
Todd's full list can be found here.
Remember, we always love to hear from our listeners. Whether you have a question, a comment, or just want to share your Christmas preparations, reach out to us at podcast@la-umc.org. We’re eager to hear your stories and insights.
In this episode, we catch up with John Wimberly and Rev. Dr. Van Stinson.
Like all mainline denominations today, United Methodist conferences and jurisdictions are facing the need to make dramatic adaptations from past ways of operating. A convergence of factors—declining congregational membership, the evolution of communication channels, remote work environments, virtual gatherings, and ever-evolving mission opportunities—has ushered in a new era where the conventional ways of doing things no longer suffice in carrying out God's divine work. Amid so much ecclesial, cultural, and economic change, the Bishop and Extended Cabinet have identified the need for a planning and implementation process to create a flexible, agile operational system that can adapt quickly to the known and unknown ministry opportunities that lie ahead.
The Louisiana Conference has enlisted the expertise of John Wimberly, an experienced church consultant, to help us think about the future organizationally (conference structure, staff design, governance system, etc.). He has done similar work with Great Plains and Mountain Sky Conferences. He recently finished a similar job with Central, North, and Northwest Texas Conferences. His approach centers on the art of listening, engaging in interviews and focus groups to glean insights into people's perceptions of our current systems and their aspirations for the future. The ultimate goal is to articulate a clear and concise mission statement that will guide our pivotal decisions and strategies, aligning our organizational structure and operations with our mission.
To learn more, head here.
Jay Augustine is not new to the Louisiana NOW audience. Augustine has been a guest before on the podcast, as he was the guest speaker at the 2022 Annual Conference. We welcome him back for another interview as he has a new book, When Prophets Preach: Leadership and the Politics of the Pulpit.
Jay serves as senior pastor of St. Joseph AME Church, in Durham, NC, and as general chaplain of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is an accomplished author, respected academic leader, and nationally recognized social justice advocate who speaks for the equality of all human beings.
Prior to Dr. Augustine’s current pastoral service, he led Historic St. James AME Church (1844), in downtown New Orleans, the oldest predominantly black, Protestant congregation in the Deep South, while simultaneously teaching at Southern University Law Center. He recently served as a visiting professor at North Carolina Central University Law School and as a consulting faculty member at Duke University Divinity School, where he is also a member of the Board of Visitors and a missional strategist.
To see Jay's teaching sessions from the 2022 Annual Conference, go here.
In this installment of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we connect with Rev. Frances Hooton, who serves as the District Superintendent of the Lake Charles Acadiana District within the Louisiana Conference. During this episode, we delve into Rev. Hooton's inspiring journey, her call to ministry, the unique allure of Louisiana as a place for ministry, the complexities of dealing with hurricane-related grief, and the ongoing challenges posed by the post-disaffiliation landscape within The United Methodist Church. In this episode, Todd references the AC23 logo; you can see that logo below:
717 days. That's how long it had been since the congregation of St. Charles United Methodist Church in Destrehan worshiped in its sanctuary. In the summer of 2021, Hurricane Ida devastated the community just west of Kenner, as the storm became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to make landfall in Louisiana history.
The roof of St. Charles' sanctuary was completely torn away by the 150mph winds, and rainwater flooded the building, and since the storm, the congregation has been meeting in its fellowship hall on the south side of the church campus. Sunday, church members second-lined from the fellowship hall to the newly renovated sanctuary and Todd Rossnagel sat down with Rev. Michelle Harris to talk about the past two years and the lessons learned.
If you'd like to reach the Louisiana NOW podcast, please send us an email: podcast@la-umc.org
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we introduce the newest podcast in the Louisiana Conference - Black Church Matters.
The Black Church Matters podcast is hosted by Rev. Karli Pidgeon, District Superintendent of the Baton Rouge and New Orleans districts of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Black Church Matters seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the triumphs and challenges facing black churches, shedding light on their profound cultural and social contributions. Through compelling discussions, the podcast will explore the ways in which these churches continue to serve as pillars of strength, resilience, and hope within their communities.
The Black Church Matters podcast will feature Bishop Delores J. Williamston as the first guest, so be on the lookout for it wherever you listen to great podcasts.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we visit with Rev. Fred Wideman.
The 2023 Annual Conference of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church witnessed a significant development as efforts were announced to address the void left by churches that have chosen to disaffiliate from the conference. In recent months, a number of churches, including 95 this year and 68 last year, decided to leave the denomination due to resistance to LGBTQ inclusion.
One area affected by disaffiliation was Ruston, Louisiana, where two United Methodist churches made the decision to leave the UMC. Grace United Methodist Church found itself nearly divided, with numerous members opting to transfer their membership to the conference while embarking on establishing a new congregation. Recognizing the importance of supporting these individuals, the Louisiana Conference Congregational Development team is actively working with the Ruston group to explore various possibilities, and Rev. Fred Wideman has been appointed as their "shepherd."
We discuss what that means and his hope for the future in Ruston and beyond.
In this episode, Louisiana NOW host Todd Rossnagel interviews Dr. Ashley Boggan, the General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History. Dr. Boggan will be our special guest at the 2023 Annual Conference, and in this interview, she shares more about what she will be discussing and where she sees hope in the United Methodist Church.
We are getting set for the 2023 Annual Conference, set to take place June 13-16 in Baton Rouge, LA. In this episode, we sit down with Bishop Delores J. Williamston who previews our time together.
For more information on AC23, please head to this website.
Dianne Wilkinson understands the unique challenges that come with managing and reporting the church’s finances. She has 35 years of experience serving in different capacities on church staff, including business administrator. In an upcoming seminar, sponsored by the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana, Dianne will discuss a variety of best practices and review daily routines and processes used in the church business office to prevent fraud, protect your integrity and do it right!
For more on the times and locations of this seminar, please head here.
In this final episode of our Lenten series, Bishop Delores J. Williamston reflects on each of the Lenten devotionals and points us to Easter.
If you would like to listen to the Easter story narrated by Todd Rossnagel, search our podcast library for the episode prior to this one.
This is a special edition of the Louisiana Now podcast, a reading of the Easter Story by host Todd Rossnagel. This reading comes from all four gospels and various translations. * To find a United Methodist church in the Louisiana Conference, please visit our directory: https://www.la-umc.org/churches * To find a listing of online church services in the Louisiana Conference, please visit here. * To find a United Methodist church near you, please visit: https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-church
In this week's Lenten devotional, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Van Stinson, who unpacks Palm Sunday. While we all love a good parade, there is much more happening in the Palm Sunday text. Stinson says it's an opportunity to remind us what it truly means to "follow" Jesus.
Thank you for listening to the Louisiana NOW podcast. If you would like to reach the show, please contact us at podcast@la-umc.org and share the show with someone you love.
For this week's Lenten devotional, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Tom Dolph, District Superintendent of the Monroe and Shreveport districts.
Tom takes us to John, the 11th chapter - verses 1-45, and he explores how our Lenten examinations and preparations invite us to consider the “Iffyness” of our faith.
As you know, we are in the season of Lent, and we are providing you with Lenten devotionals throughout the Lenten season. We are now in the fourth week of Lent, and for this week’s devotion, we will be joined by District Superintendent Rev. Karli Pidgeon as she reflects on the Gospel of John, Chapter 9, verses 1-41, the story of Jesus healing a man who was born blind. Her message reminds us that though there is darkness in the world, we must keep our hearts and minds open to the possibility of miracles.
Our third week of Lenten devotionals features Rev. Scott Bullock as he delves into Exodus 17:1-7, the Israelites' crisis of faith in the wilderness. Rev. Bullock shares a lesson about the danger of allowing difficult circumstances to undermine our faith and the importance of trusting God to provide for our needs.
In this week's Lenten devotional, Rev. Jan Holloway Curwick shares a reflection on the story of Nicodemus, found in the 3rd chapter of John. She challenges all of us to hear how the Spirit might be calling us to re-think and re-shape our world.
Bishop Delores Williamston begins our Lenten devotional series. She reflects on Matthew, chapter 4, verses 1-11 and what it means to "give something up" at Lent, and how to overcome distraction. You can see a new Lenten devotional every Thursday at Noon on our Facebook and YouTube channels.
Rev. Donnie Wilkinson is our guest on this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast. Donnie is a member of the Louisiana Conference Anti-Racism Taskforce. In this episode, we discuss an important book study that we are all invited to participate in.
The online book study will discuss Jonathan Augustine's book, Called to Reconciliation, and the class will meet every Wednesday in February, over Zoom.
The class will be held at either 12Noon or 7:00pm. The Noon class will be taught by Rev. Donnie Wilkinson and the link to register for that class is found here.
The 7:00pm class will be led by Jennifer Rossnagel and the link to register for that class is found here.
Wilkinson is the Senior Pastor at Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA.
If you would like to get in touch with us here at the Louisiana NOW podcast, please send us an email: podcast@la-umc.org
Join us for a conversation with Bishop Delores Williamston, who is set to become the new bishop of the Louisiana Conference on January 1. This is the second of two episodes.
In this episode, Todd Rossnagel asks Bishop Williamston about what brings her joy and what sabbath looks like for her. We also get a glimpse of her call story, and we also get to meet her pet dog, a Shih Tzu, who has several names!
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Bishop Delores J. “Dee” Williamston, a Kansas Army National Guard veteran, and a Methodist church administrator, was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022.
Bishop Williamston was ordained as an elder in 2010 and previously served in the Great Plains Conference as the superintendent for the Hays, Hutchinson and Salina Districts. She also served as Director of Clergy Excellence and Assistant to the Bishop.
Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Independence, Salina, Mentor, and Topeka in Kansas. She earned her master’s of divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, with a specialty in Black Church ministries and evangelism. She is pursuing a doctorate of ministry from Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Bishop Williamston’s background includes a 22-year military career in the Kansas Army National Guard, where she served as a technician and eventually became chief supervisor of the account and finance operations at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Topeka. Her rank upon retirement from the National Guard was sergeant first class.
Bishop Williamston, a breast cancer survivor, has one son, seven grandchildren, and one pet Shih Tzu.
Join us for a conversation with Bishop Delores Williamston, who is set to become the new bishop of the Louisiana Conference on January 1.
This episode is the first of two.
In this episode, Todd Rossnagel asks Bishop Williamston about her family, her background, which includes work inside the church as well as military service. They also discuss the historic nature of her election.
To watch the consecration service from the 2022 South Central Jurisdiction, please head here.
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Bishop Delores J. “Dee” Williamston, a Kansas Army National Guard veteran, and a Methodist church administrator, was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022.
Bishop Williamston was ordained as an elder in 2010 and previously served in the Great Plains Conference as the superintendent for the Hays, Hutchinson and Salina Districts. She also served as Director of Clergy Excellence and Assistant to the Bishop.
Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Independence, Salina, Mentor, and Topeka in Kansas. She earned her master’s of divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, with a specialty in Black Church ministries and evangelism. She is pursuing a doctorate of ministry from Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Bishop Williamston’s background includes a 22-year military career in the Kansas Army National Guard, where she served as a technician and eventually became chief supervisor of the account and finance operations at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Topeka. Her rank upon retirement from the National Guard was sergeant first class.
Bishop Williamston, a breast cancer survivor, has one son, seven grandchildren, and one pet Shih Tzu.
It's been a busy few weeks in the Louisiana Conference. From news of a new bishop to news of a departing bishop and then churches voting to disaffiliate. We have been through a series of emotions! In this episode, Todd Rossnagel and Van Stinson sit down to unpack all of it.
They discuss the historic election of Bishop Delores J. Williamston and her assignment to Louisiana, they reflect on the leadership of Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey as she prepares for her new assignment in the Texas Conference and they look back at the work of the Annual Conference during a special called session where 58 churches disaffiliated from the UMC.
If you would like to learn more about Bishop Delores Williamston, please head here.
If you would like to learn more about the farewell reception for Bishop Harvey and Mr. Dean Harvey, please head here.
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey joins us for the final episode of Staying. Hear from Bishop Harvey, Van Stinson, and Todd Rossnagel as they reflect on the wisdom and insight of our 12 guests. If you would like to see the entire series, please head to our YouTube page.
We thank all of our guests for their willingness to share and we thank you for watching and sharing. While the Staying series has come to an end, we encourage everyone to continue these important conversations. If you need resources, please contact us.
Our Staying podcast series continues. In this episode, we are joined by Rev. John Winn. Listen as he shares why he is staying with the UMC. Hear insight and wisdom from over 70 years of pastoral experience.
Our Staying series continues as we visit with Rev. Quinn O'Bannon, who joined us remotely from Virginia. Quinn has a unique perspective as he serves as a Navy chaplain. "God looks past our differences because God uses each of us."
Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
In this episode of Staying, we visit with Rev. Katie Black. Both of the churches she serves are discerning their future. Meanwhile, Rev. Black has decided to stay with the UMC and the Louisiana Conference. Hear how she is navigating this unique time.
We continue with Staying, our video series on the value of staying with the United Methodist Church. In this episode, we catch up with Rev. Robert Johnson, a local pastor in the Louisiana Conference.
If you have a question or an idea for the show, please email us: podcast@la-umc.org
For more on the Staying series, please head to our web site: www.la-umc.org/staying
If you hold traditional views, you will always have a "seat at the table" in the United Methodist Church. Hear from Rev. Truman Stagg as to why he is #Staying in the UMC. Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
In this episode of Staying, we visit with Katrena King. King brings a unique perspective as she is currently enrolled in seminary, pursuing the deacon track, and serves as a ministry intern.
Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
Our next episode of Staying features an interview with Kenny Beauvais. Kenny is a lifelong Methodist and, over the years, has come to embrace diversity. As he says, "it's Methodism 101." Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
Wondering about seminaries and the pastoral path? In this episode of Staying, we are joined by Rev. Brady Whitton, who chairs the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Louisiana Conference.
Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
"Deepening empathy can never be a bad thing." In this episode of Staying, we sit down with Jessica Trahan as she discusses the value of seeing life from another perspective. Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
What is the role of a district superintendent in the discernment process? It's listed as one of the first steps, and it's one of the reasons we thought it was important to catch up with one of our four district superintendents in Louisiana, the Rev. Karli Pidgeon.
Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
What does it mean to give the Bible authority? In our conversation with Rev. Jay Hogewood, we lift up the centrality of scriptural authority to our common life and witness.
Staying is a special series of conversations on the value of staying with the United Methodist Church.
This video series is available on our Facebook page, our YouTube page and as a podcast, on our Louisiana NOW podcast platform.
Quite simply – there are some churches discussing whether they feel called to potentially leave the United Methodist Church. We think now is the time to discuss, share and reflect on the value of staying.
To be clear – the United Methodist Church is NOT splitting. Instead, there is a group of churches and congregations, some in Louisiana, who are discerning whether now is the time to leave the denomination over the issue of ordination and marriage of LGBTQ persons.
That issue is at the heart of their decision to leave. It's an issue that has been debated for over 50 years. This series of conversations is not about those particular issues. Instead, we want to talk about the value of staying and what that means for your church and your community.
At the same time, we want to set the record straight about a series of falsehoods, misinformation, and downright disinformation that are intentionally being spread by some wishing to harm the United Methodist Church.
We continue our special series, Staying.
During a time when some are discussing leaving the United Methodist Church, now is the time to talk about staying.
Think you have to leave the UMC if you hold conservative viewpoints or consider yourself a traditionalist? Think again. We visit with Rev. Weldon Bares, Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Lake Charles. Rev. Bares says there is tremendous value to having a church with diverse theological opinions.
In this episode of Staying, Todd Rossnagel catches up with his co-host of the series, Rev. Dr. Van Stinson. They preview some of the episodes that will be featured in the next few weeks.
Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value and importance of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
If you would like to share your opinion, please email the show: podcast@la-umc.org or you can call us: 504-507-1542.
In this episode of Staying, Todd Rossnagel catches up with his co-host of the series, Rev. Dr. Van Stinson. They preview some of the episodes that will be featured in the next few weeks.
Staying is a video/podcast series that focuses on the value and importance of staying in the United Methodist Church. During this season of discernment, when some churches are talking about leaving, this is the time to talk about what it means to STAY in the UMC.
If you would like to share your opinion, please email the show: podcast@la-umc.org or you can call us: 504-507-1542.
In this debut episode of Staying, a special series of conversations on the value of staying with the United Methodist Church, we catch up with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey.
There is a lot of discussion about churches potentially leaving the United Methodist Church. We think now is the time to discuss, share and reflect on the value of STAYING.
To be clear – the United Methodist Church is NOT splitting. There is, instead, a group of churches and congregations, some in Louisiana, who – they themselves, as they are allowed to do so, are deciding to leave the denomination over the issue of ordination and marriage of LGBTQ persons.
That issue is at the heart of their decision to leave. And that issue has been debated for over 50 years. This series of conversations is not about those particular issues. Instead, we want to set the record straight about a series of falsehoods, misinformation, and downright disinformation that are intentionally being spread by those wishing to harm the United Methodist Church.
We want to talk about the value of staying and what that means for our Conference, your church, and your community.
Join us here, on Facebook, or on our YouTube channel. You can reach us via email: podcast@la-umc.org, or you can call our show: at 504-507-1542.
In this debut episode of Staying, a special series of conversations on the value of staying with the United Methodist Church, we catch up with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey.
There is a lot of discussion about churches potentially leaving the United Methodist Church. We think now is the time to discuss, share and reflect on the value of STAYING.
To be clear – the United Methodist Church is NOT splitting. There is, instead, a group of churches and congregations, some in Louisiana, who – they themselves, as they are allowed to do so, are deciding to leave the denomination over the issue of ordination and marriage of LGBTQ persons.
That issue is at the heart of their decision to leave. And that issue has been debated for over 50 years. This series of conversations is not about those particular issues. Instead, we want to set the record straight about a series of falsehoods, misinformation, and downright disinformation that are intentionally being spread by those wishing to harm the United Methodist Church.
We want to talk about the value of staying and what that means for our Conference, your church, and your community.
Join us here, on Facebook, or on our YouTube channel. You can reach us via email: podcast@la-umc.org, or you can call our show: at 504-507-1542.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we catch up with Rev. Ali Young and Rev. Van Stinson, both with the Louisiana Conference Office of Clergy Excellence. What does it mean to have an office focused on ‘clergy excellence’. We unpack that and much more as we discuss what it means to pastor in today’s divisive and ever-changing environment. Young and Stinson focus on how the Conference invites those in discernment into the process, how to equip young clergy and new clergy for fruitfulness, and how to offer opportunities for development both personally and professionally to sustain clergy throughout their careers.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we are joined by Rev. Matt Rawle. The Louisiana pastor has written yet another book: Jesus Revealed, The I Am Statements in the Gospel of John. In his latest book, Rawle explores the seven “I am” statements as works of art that resonate throughout John and all of Scripture. He shows how these words point beyond themselves to the deep mystery of Jesus Christ. For more on Matt’s latest book, head here or here.
On the final day of Annual Conference, the Louisiana Conference delegates overwhelmingly approved a resolution to urge the Louisiana Legislature to create a second majority-black Congressional district. But, the vote was not unanimous, and the scattered handful of “no” votes inspired Dez Dunn to address the conference. In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we catch up with Dez. We will re-visit his speech, learn more about his reasoning for speaking, more about the support shown for Dez and even more about his battle against cancer. If you would like to see the Anti-Racism Taskforce report and Dez’s speech, head here.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we visit with Rev. Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine. Jay Augustine will be one of several guest speakers at the 2022 Annual Conference in Baton Rouge, June 14-17. He is a nationally acclaimed social justice advocate and serves as senior pastor of St. Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church in Durham, North Carolina, a law professor at North Carolina Central University, and strategist with the Duke University Center for Reconciliation. He is also a former civil rights litigator and the author of Called to Reconciliation: How the Church Can Model Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion, which will ground his talk and our work at annual conference. You can find Called to Reconciliation here. For more on Annual Conference, please head here.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone will be a special guest at the 2022 Annual Conference. Bishop Malone will preach our opening worship and will also address the laity at the Laity Session. Our conversation focuses on her address to the Louisiana Conference and much more. Bishop Malone was assigned to the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church effective September 1, 2016. As resident bishop, she provides spiritual oversight; shares in equipping, teaching and encouraging mission, outreach, witness and service; and serves as a shepherd of the church in providing a prophetic witness of justice, mercy and unity. Malone serves on the Boards of Trustees at the United Methodist-affiliated colleges, seminaries and organizations in East Ohio. She also is currently the president of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, the secretary of the Council of Bishops, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Africa University. Malone was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and was raised in Chicago, Illinois. She is the daughter of the late Rev. Willie and the late April Smith. She grew up in The United Methodist Church and accepted her call to ministry at the early age of 13.For more on the 2022 Annual Conference, please head here: www.la-umc.org/ac22
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we feature speeches from Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey and Bishop Thomas Bickerton. Both bishops recently addressed the Council of Bishops and the church during the most recent Council of Bishops meeting. The bishops of The United Methodist Church completed their Spring meeting in a spirit of collegiality and love for one another and the worldwide denomination.
In a moving time of worship, the bishops celebrated the leadership of the Council with the passing of the gavel as New York Area Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton assumed the mantle as the new president of the Council of Bishops (COB) of the UMC.
In his address, Bishop Bickerton called on the United Methodists to commit to “spending most of our time positioning our church for the next chapter of our life together: talking about the movement of the spirit in our midst, the exciting days that lie ahead, and the joy we will have being able to live out our calling to preach the Good News of God’s love rather than the bad news of what’s happening to us in the current moment.”
“This is our church – let us claim it, guard it, preserve it, and use it to bless generations for years to come just as we were blessed by those who came before us.” Using Romans 12, Bishop Harvey called on her colleagues and fellow United Methodists to remember that together, “we are the body of Christ, and when we actively start lopping off parts of the body, we cease to be who God has called us to be.”
Noting that trying to “figure out how to make sense” of separation and the time spent has been “egregious.” Bishop Harvey said that the Book of Discipline is often silent or vague when it comes to addressing separation.
That’s because, she said, “the Book of Discipline is designed to give us direction for how to be United Methodist, not how NOT to be United Methodist.”
Watching online videos from church leaders that start with the premise of understanding the process of disaffiliation saddens her, she said, “in the very pit of my stomach.”
“We ought never pander nor foster division,” she said. “We do not need an enemy to lead! We lead out of and because of the love and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!”
Bishop Harvey said that she is a “big tent church person” who believes every voice is important to the whole. But, she added, the church needs to be very clear about who it is and who it is called to be. For more on these meetings, please head to the Council of Bishops web site: https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/
In the latest Louisiana NOW episode, Todd Rossnagel is joined by Brady Shearer, YouTube influencer and CEO of Pro Church Tools. Brady’s YouTube channel focuses on church communication and everything from how to video church services to designing church web sites. Rossnagel and Shearer discuss the 167 hours beyond church’s Sunday services and navigating their ministries through the single biggest communication shift we've seen in the last 500 years. Shearer is an influential YouTuber and his insight will help all of us as we navigate what's next in church communications.
For more on Brady Shearer please visit his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/prochurchtools
If you have an idea for an episode, we would love to hear from you. The podcast hotline is 504-507-1542 or you can send us an email, podcast@la-umc.org
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we share the Easter Story. The reading by Todd Rossnagel comes from a variety of translations of each of the four gospels. Happy Easter everyone.
In this episode, we catch up with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey. We discuss the 2022 Annual Conference, storm recovery, disaffiliation matters, and Wordle. Bishop Harvey shares from the heart as she discusses the future of The United Methodist Church. Here are some links that we mention during the show: * Annual Conference Registration: www.la-umc.org/ac22 * Algiers: https://www.la-umc.org/newsdetail/algiers-celebration-acknowledging-the-past-and-looking-to-the-future-16411726 * Regarding Separation: https://www.la-umc.org/newsdetail/regarding-separation-16402647 * Wordle: https://www.la-umc.org/newsdetail/lent-a-season-of-wordle-16379525
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Todd Rossnagel is joined by Adria Kimbrough, the coach of Dillard University’s mock trial team. Founded in 2016, Dillard Mock Trial has quickly proven itself to be a force in the college mock trial universe. Only two years after its founding, Dillard Mock Trial reached the opening round of the national competition. This year, the Mock Trial team has advanced to the national championship series. The team’s journey has been anchored by United Methodist churches in the New Orleans district and the story behind the story is one you’ll find inspiring. To follow the team, please follow their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dillardprelaw/
In the latest Louisiana NOW episode, Todd Rossnagel visits with Bishop Thomas Bickerton, resident bishop of the New York area and the newly elected and soon-to-be President of the Council of Bishops. Rossnagel and Bickerton cover a lot of ground, including an update on General Conference 2020. They also look back on the developments regarding COVID, Black History Month, and more on the future of the United Methodist Church. And guess what Bishop Bickerton is a fan of? Baseball! And guess what that means? Todd gets to talk about baseball! Actually, Bishop Bickerton’s thoughts on baseball are fantastic, so you will want to hear those. Thank you for listening to the Louisiana NOW podcast. For more on Bishop Bickerton, please head here: https://www.nyac.com/bishopthomasjbickerton If you have an idea for an episode, we would love to hear from you. The podcast hotline is 504-507-1542 or you can send us an email, podcast@la-umc.org
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we catch up with Charles Green, the new director of campus ministry on the campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge. Guest host Rev. Sam Hubbard recently interviewed Charles and explored several topics, such as the history of Southern, what students need today and even cancel culture, and how Christians are to respond.
For more on their interview, please check out Sam's NP2Cast.
If you have an interest in the Wesley Center at Southern, please reach out to the Office of Congregational Development and Transformation and someone will be able to connect you; 225-346-1646.
In this episode, Todd Rossnagel catches up with Rick Wheat, CEO of the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home. They are ready to move into their facility in southeast Louisiana and we catch up to find out more about this exciting development. We also catch up with Rev. Austin Rinehart from McGuire United Methodist Church. On Christmas Eve, McGuire raised a significant amount of money for the Children's Home. Many churches across the connection raise money for the Children's Home; find out what makes this offering unique.
In the episode, Rick discusses several websites to visit; here are those links:
https://www.WorkForMethodist.com
https://www.RecruitFosterCare.com
https://www.MCHSELA.com
If you would like to learn more about the Advent Conspiracy, please head here:
https://adventconspiracy.org/
You can also reach out to Austin by emailing him: austin.rinehart@me.com
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Dr. Robert Peltier of North Oaks Health System in Hammond, LA. Along with serving as North Oaks Chief Medical Officer, he serves as chairman of Louisiana Hospital Association’s Chief Medical Officer Roundtable, where his leadership has helped to shape best practices for the state’s medical response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Todd and Dr. Peltier discuss the omicron variant and what is next with the pandemic.
If you have a question for the show, please email the Louisiana NOW podcast: podcast@la-umc.org or call the show 1-504-507-1542.
In this special 2-part episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we share interviews from Shift Happens, a conference recently held in Houston. The national conference left all of us inspired, as we experienced transformative and practical teachings to help Louisiana churches plan for 2022 and beyond. The conference was planned by SBC, Strengthening the Black Church. In this second of two special episodes, we visit with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey (Louisiana Conference), Bishops James Swanson (Mississippi Conference), Bishop Tracy Smith Malone (East Ohio Conference), Rev. Florida Fowler, Office of Congregational Development and Transformation (Louisiana) and Rev. Karli Pidgeon (District Superintendent, Louisiana)
In this special 2-part episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we share interviews from Shift Happens, a conference recently held in Houston. The national conference left all of us inspired, as we experienced transformative and practical teachings to help Louisiana churches plan for 2022 and beyond. In Part 1, we visit with nine pastors in the Louisiana Conference who attended Shift Happens. We hear their experiences and how they are living into the new now and how their churches can best plan for what lies ahead. Part 2 features interview with leaders in the Louisiana Conference and bishops of the United Methodist Church.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we catch up with Rev. Matt Rawle, author and pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier. Matt’s latest book is The Heart That Grew Three Sizes. We don’t know why the Grinch hated Christmas. We just know he did. In this new Advent study, Matt Rawle explores the faith themes in the Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! including, how did the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes come Christmas morning? How did Christmas save the Grinch? Could it be that the very thing we think we hate is the one thing that changes our lives? This Advent and Christmas season, look at a familiar classic through the lens of faith and see how Christ speaks to us through our culture. Here are some additional links discussed in today’s show: Tim Gombis’ Study on Mark Wilco
Our guest for this episode of the Louisiana NOW is Rev. Mike Bowie, Executive Director, Strengthening the Black Church. Mike joins Todd to discuss Shift Happens, the national conference that is scheduled for December 1-2 in Houston. For 2 days, you will be inspired and experience transformative and practical teachings to help you and your team plan for 2022 and beyond. You can participate either virtually or in-person at the St. Johns Downtown in Houston, Texas. To register, please head here. For more on SBC, head here.
Our guest in this episode is Rev. Rachel Billups from Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Ohio. Each Christmas, the Ginhamsburg congregation takes up a Christmas Miracle offering that a will help areas of need, both in Ohio and across the world. This year, a portion of the offering will go to relief efforts in southwest Louisiana. This is not the first time the good folks of Ginghamsburg have dedicated their Christmas offering to Louisiana. They did so back in 2016 after the Baton Rouge Flood and after Hurricane Katrina. We caught up with Rev. Billups while she and her crew were in Lake Charles to document the relief efforts. For more on Ginghamsburg, please head to their web site: https://ginghamsburg.org/ We also discuss news of Annual Conference 2022, which will be held Monday, June 13, 2022 to Friday, June 17, 2022. For more, head here: www.la-umc.org/ac22
When Hurricane Ida struck southeast Louisiana, the congregation of New Life Community Church in Luling sprang into action. They have fed over 1200 hot meals every single evening for the community and a hot meal every evening for the linemen who were busy turning on the lights in Luling. They’ve also provided them with a place to sleep and even breakfast in the morning. The outpouring of support and love has been inspirational. Todd Rossnagel traveled to Luling to catch up with Rev. Michi Head and Beth Dupuy who has been busy serving the community.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we visit with Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy, Louisiana’s New Poet Laureate and a Conrad N. Hilton endowed professor of English at Dillard University in New Orleans. Saloy is an author & folklorist, educator, and scholar. She is an award-winning author of contemporary Creole culture in poems about Black New Orleans before and after Katrina, as a Folklorist, Saloy documents sidewalk songs, jump-rope rhymes, and clap-hand games to discuss the importance of play. As a poet, her first book, Red Beans & Ricely Yours, won the T.S. Eliot Prize and the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award and tied for a third. To learn more about her, visit her website: http://www.monalisasaloy.com/ and you can also see her About page that Todd talked about in the show. To learn more about the Poet Laureate office in Louisiana, head to their web site: https://www.leh.org/our-work/special-initiatives/louisiana-poet-laureate/ Todd also referenced a podcast from Dillard University hosted by Eddie Francis. It’s called Conversations on the Oaks You can listen to Eddie’s conversation with Dr. Saloy here and to listen to the episode on public health that Todd referenced, click here.
The latest Louisiana NOW podcast features an interview with Rev. Kirby Verret who pastors Clanton Chapel United Methodist Church in Dulac. Clanton Chapel is the only Native American United Methodist Congregation in Louisiana and Verret has been pastoring the church for over 30 years. Clanton Chapel is located in Dulac, a community hard hit by Hurricane Ida. We headed there to get an update on the recovery process and while there, had a chance to sit down with Verret. You’ll find his optimism both infectious and encouraging. If you would like to help in Louisiana, please head to: www.la-umc.org/relief or text RELIEF to 800-500-5858. If you would like to call the show, please dial 504-507-1542.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we visit with Bill Howell, recently hired as the new Director of the Office of Missional Engagement and Outreach. This office manages the Conference's disaster response ministry. Howell, a certified lay minister from Jacksonville, Florida, has extensive missions and emergency response training. His background ranges from mission training with Global Ministries to vision research at Florida State University as a published researcher to active duty service in the United States Air Force and reserve duty at the U.S. Central Command as an intelligence officer. If you would like to help the relief efforts in Louisiana, please visit www.la-umc.org/relief or text RELIEF to 800-500-5858. If you would like to call the Louisiana NOW podcast, please call (504) 507-1542. Folks from all over the country have been calling the hotline to leave us a message of hope.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we hear messages of hope from bishops of the United Methodist Church. If you would like to help the relief efforts in Louisiana, please visit www.la-umc.org/relief or text RELIEF to 800-500-5858. If you would like to leave a message of hope for Louisiana, please call the Louisiana NOW hotline at 504-507-1542.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast we update the state of affairs after Hurricane Ida. We encourage our listeners to give as they can to our disaster relief fund: www.la-UMC.org/relief and to call our podcast hotline at (504) 507-1542.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we visit with Rev. Dr. Vicki Johnson who will be leading “The Art of Well Being”, a fall cohort designed to help any leader who looks at their life as ministry. The cohort begins September 23rd and will happen on every other Thursday until December 2nd. If you would like more information, please head to: www.la-umc.org/wellbeing or head to Johnson’s web site: ww.coachingtheartofwellbeing.com In the show, Vicki referenced a children’s book called “Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda” by Lauren Alderfer. You can check it out here.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Chris Spencer, the new President and CEO of the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana. Spencer was recently named President after Rob Fairly announced his retirement. Chris has served as the Foundation’s development officer for south Louisiana since 2017. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served as a commercial banker, private banker and regional communications manager in a 24-year career with JPMorgan Chase in Baton Rouge. Chris earned a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and we had a little fun as he is surrounded by plenty of Duke graduates in Louisiana. Chris mentioned several of his favorite restaurants in Louisiana and here’s the list: Castalano’s in Morgan City Cafe Reconcile in New Orleans Spar’s in Houma 121 Artisan Bistro in Lake Charles Pop’s Po-Boys in Lafayette
It took 504 days for Mid City Church to launch. In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we take a closer look at the campus of First United Methodist Church and what led to the launching of in-person gatherings. From COVID to Delta and everything in between, Rev. Fernie Rivera shares the story of Mid City Church. If you would like to learn more about Mid City, please visit their web site: http://midcity.church/ If you have an idea for the show or would just like to drop us a note, email us: podcast@la-umc.org or call the show: 504-507-1542
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we catch up with Bishop Cynthia Fierro. We discuss the pandemic; both what she is seeing and what she thinks is looming ahead. We also discuss the fire at Vidalia United Methodist Church, the continuing situation in Lake Charles, and more on the 2021 and the 2022 Annual Conference.
Bishop Harvey says we should pencil in June 15-18 as dates for the 2022 Annual Conference.
If you would like to help the Vidalia United Methodist Church in their efforts to rebuild, please visit: www.la-umc.org/vidalia
If you would like to help the efforts to rebuild in southwest Louisiana, you are invited to donate to our efforts by visiting: www.la-umc.org/relief
If you have an idea for the show, drop us an email: podcast@la-umc.org or call us: 504-507-1542
If you've read this far, thank you for listening.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel shares more on the fire at Vidalia United Methodist Church. You can help the church rebuild by heading to our website: www.la-umc.org/vidalia. In this episode, Rossnagel visits with Chris Hine from Baton Rouge. What brought him to Vidalia early Monday morning? And why is he so interested in the church? Listen to find out.
Photos of the burned church can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWbtYT6
If you would like to reach the show, send us an email: podcast@la-umc.org or you can call the show: 504-507-1542
Early Sunday morning, a fire destroyed Vidalia United Methodist Church. In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel catches up with Rev. Dr. Steve McDonald, pastor at Vidalia, Ferriday, and Jonesville. McDonald shares more on what's next for the church, how the church will respond to the fire and we learn more about McDonald himself, new to the Louisiana Conference.
If you have an idea for the show, email us: podcast@la-umc.org or call the show: 504-507-1542
We are re-airing this special episode, our interview with author Joan Ryan. Ryan is an award-winning journalist and the author of four books. Her latest book, Intangibles; Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry analyzes the concept behind “team chemistry”. In her interview with Todd Rossnagel, you’ll hear how “team chemistry” is applicable to the church world and, for that matter, anyone who manages a team. You can find Joan’s book wherever you buy books, including here: https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/joan-ryan/intangibles/9780316434904/
We are back with new episodes of the Louisiana NOW podcast very soon. If you want to reach out to the show, please email us: podcast@la-umc.org or call the show: 504-507-1542
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel heads to Lake Charles to visit with volunteers who are assisting homeowners in need. The area suffered a massive flood in May, and some homes had just been repaired from the back-to-back hurricanes in 2020. We also preview the upcoming Conference-wide Disaster Workday. Details for the workday can be found here: https://www.la-umc.org/workday If you would like to help, please head here: https://www.la-umc.org/hurricanehelp or you can give by clicking here: https://secure.anedot.com/la-conference-of-the-umc/relief CALL US! We’d like to hear from you, please call the Louisiana NOW hotline: 504-507-1542. Leave us a message or share an idea for the show, we’d love to hear from you!
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Dr. Robert Peltier of North Oaks Health System in Hammond, LA. Along with serving as North Oaks Chief Medical Officer, he serves as chairman of Louisiana Hospital Association’s Chief Medical Officer Roundtable, where his leadership has helped to shape best practices for the state’s medical response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. In this interview, Rossnagel asks Dr. Peltier about vaccination hesitation and how the church can respond to communities in need. The Louisiana NOW podcast wants to hear from YOU! Do you enjoy the show? Do you have an idea for the show? Call us and leave us a message: 504-507-1542 In a previous podcast, we discussed a holy land trip for the Louisiana Conference. For more on that trip, please click here.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we visit with James Ridgway, President and CEO of EO tours. EO is a Christian travel ministry that has been delivering Christian journeys for almost 50 years. Travelers have joined EO around the world on Holy Land pilgrimages, Bible land expeditions – by land and sea, Church heritage tours, retreat cruises, and cultural explorations. Ridgway updates Todd Rossnagel on the conflict in Israel, as well as how the pandemic is affecting tourism in Israel. If you would like to learn more about EO Tours, please head here: http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/
If you would like to help the relief efforts in Louisiana, please visit: www.la-umc.org/relief. You can also text the word RELIEF to 1-800-500-5858. If you are in need of assistance, please call the Louisiana Conference Disaster Assistance Hotline at: 337-476-1080
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Rev. Sam Hubbard takes over the show! Hubbard hosts his own podcast, found here and this is a special crossover episode. Hubbard shares part of his conversation with some of the folks involved with "Red Stick Together"; a Fresh Expression of Broadmoor UMC in Baton Rouge. You’ll hear from Beth Hager, Rich Sampson, and Rev. Kennon Pickett and their stories of how (and why) Red Stick got started, as well as how it evolved through the pandemic. Trust us, you won't wanna miss this inspiring story. It’s all part of the Office of Congregational Development and Transformation, which is hosting a series of Vision Days, both in-person and virtual. To learn more about Vision Days, please head to: https://www.la-umc.org/vision-days If you want to know more about Red Stick Together and Broadmoor UMC check out: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/broadmoormethodist/ Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user6232383 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG_bMNO-UBxQaIFD-e9iPZA Instagram: broadmoormethodist Broadmor Website: https://broadmoormethodist.org Red Stick Together Website: https://broadmoormethodist.org/red-stick-together/ If you want to check out past and future episodes of the NP2Cast: Youtube Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE-Ov3bzRJ4V00SH83GGHfyyY8RZu00xp Podcast: https://np2cast.buzzsprout.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/np2cast Have a nudging from the Holy Spirit to go to a NEW PLACE so you can reach NEW PEOPLE? https://www.la-umc.org/transformation Email: shubbard@la-umc.org We want to partner with you to start Fresh Expressions of Church in all-new places that will reach all new people! It all starts by catching a vision for your FX at a VISION DAY! In these interactive days of training you will: ~ Catalyze a vision for a church that sends out the everyday people of God to be on mission in their networks and neighborhoods ~ Brainstorm ways to connect with people your church may not be currently engaging ~ Discover how fresh expressions of church can emerge alongside your traditional church ~ Explore creative ways of being the church in the world today Fresh Expressions US has been working together with ministry leaders to bring you the best of innovative practices that are transforming churches across North America...and now Louisiana! Register Today to discover actionable steps that any congregation can take to be a more effective witness in the world in which we find ourselves. Choose from one of the following dates & locations: ~ May 14th, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Baton Rouge ~ June 4th, 9:00am - 3:00pm, Virtual ~ June 18th, 9:30am - 3:30pm, Ruston ~ June 25th, 9:00am - 3:00pm, Virtual
In the latest episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel catches up with Rev. Johnathan Richardson, Pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in New Orleans. Richardson recently wrote a critical essay in Christian Century magazine entitled Christian Peacemaking and the Role of Forgiveness. If you would like to read the article, please visit this link: https://www.christiancentury.org/article/critical-essay/christian-peacemaking-and-role-forgiveness Richardson writes this: "Christianity is a religion rooted in historical claims about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Therefore, Christian peacemakers cannot deny history or forget it. Specifically, they cannot forget the history that sends police “into ghettos armed with the same self-generated fears that compelled the people who think they are white to flee the cities and into the Dream,” as Coates writes. This history and its deepest realities are at the center of Christian peacemaking. Peace can only come with a true accounting of history."
In today’s episode, Todd Rossnagel visits with Rev. Elaine Burleigh, Director of the Office of Missional Engagement and Outreach. The hurricane recovery in Louisiana continues and we constantly need your help. If you would like to help the continuing efforts, please visit our web site: www.la-umc.org or www.la-umc.org/hurricanehelp
It was one year ago when Rev. Tiffani Lyon joined us on the Louisiana NOW podcast. Lyon serves as a chaplain in St. Tammany Parish and has been offering hope and compassion to hundreds since the pandemic. In this episode, Todd Rossnagel catches up with Lyon. Rossnagel remembers her challenge in assisting people from behind glass and through electronic devices. It led him to ask — can a deeply felt presence be possible at a distance? Lyon answers that and sheds light on how to stay strong in the midst of everything we are facing.
In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we share the Easter Story. The reading by Todd Rossnagel comes from a variety of translations of each of the four gospels. Happy Easter everyone.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Van Stinson, assistant to the bishop and Director of Clergy Excellence in Louisiana. It’s been one year since churches stopped worshipping in-person. No one knew what was to come and no one knew what we would endure. Stinson reflects on the past year and gives u insight into what was being discussed by the cabinet as they met for appointive season just as a global pandemic was about to alter our lives. Stinson also discusses a new initiative by the Office of Clergy Excellence — the Clergy Support Initiative. If you would like to learn more about this effort, please head to: www.la-umc.org/clergysupport
Recently, the Louisiana NOW podcast was awarded first and third place in the audio division for the United Methodist Association of Communicators awards, and that includes Best in Class. We are super excited and extremely humbled by this recognition of our work here on the Louisiana NOW podcast. In this episode, Todd Rossnagel shares his thoughts about the award and also shares the episode that won first place — Jewels in Your Crown.
Recently, Rob Fairly, President and CEO of the The United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana announced his retirement. In this episode, we catch up with Rob who began his employment at the Foundation in 1998, first as a development officer, then moved to Executive Vice President in 2005. Rob has served as President and CEO since 2006. Located in Baton Rouge, the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana was founded in 1975 and serves United Methodist churches, institutions, and individuals within the Louisiana Annual Conference, providing financial guidance and education, loans, and grants. It is one of the largest United Methodist Foundations in the denomination.The Foundation’s Executive Committee has named Chris Spencer President and CEO of the organization, effective July 1, 2021.
“Rob Fairly has been a critical part of the Louisiana Conference's life and work," Bishop Harvey said. "We celebrate his retirement and give thanks for his service to the Conference. He leaves a great legacy of servant leadership and love for the church. His impact across the Conference will be felt for years to come.” You can visit the Foundation’s website here.
In this episode, we will look at the witness handed down from a generation of pastoral leadership over 100 years ago. As we honor Black History month, we honor the life of Rev. Peter W. Clark who served the Methodist Church faithfully during the latter 19th century and the early 290th century. Our guest is Elaine Adams, an author and historian who wrote The Reverend Peter W. Clark: Sweet Preacher and Steadfast Reformer. The book highlights Clark's faithful leadership and incredible life. It's a story of mystery, challenge, hardship and an unshakable commitment to the church, neighbor and God; a story that, at times, seems so distant, yet at the same time, it’s as if we are hearing a story from the 21st century. Elaine’s book was named a 2013 Louisiana Notable Book by the Louisiana Library Association. Special note: This episode details a serial killer that some might find unsettling.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we look at an important series of webinars called Steeple to Street. These webinars, offered by the Office of Congregational Development and Transformation and Fresh Expressions, will be held each Wednesday in March and will focus on creating a new kind of local church in a new kind of world. Todd Rossnagel is joined by Rev. Sam Hubbard and Chris Backert, National Director of Fresh Expressions. For more on Steeple to Street, head to our web site: www.la-umc.org
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we look at how the pandemic is affecting the hunger problem in Louisiana. We are joined by Mike Manning, President and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and Rev. Jo Ann Cooper, from Gretna United Methodist Church. Together, they share a picture of what it means to live out Matthew 25. If you would like to help or partner with one of the five Food Banks in Louisiana, please click here for a listing.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, Senior Pastor of historic Foundry UMC in Washington, DC. Ginger wrote Sacred Resistance, which can be found here. The book serves as the backdrop for today’s podcast and it also addresses these questions, among others: • When Christians see that something is wrong in our nation or community, how and when should we respond?
• When we see multiple instances of 'wrong', how do we choose which ones to address?
• How can pastors and other leaders faithfully take risks without violating relationships with the congregation or denomination?
• What historical, biblical, and theological safety nets can be relied on?
• How can we take care of ourselves and one another, so that our ministries and lives are sustained?
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling is the episcopal servant and leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and has an office in Washington D.C. She reflects on the events of January 6th and looks toward Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Inauguration. Bishop Easterling is the first woman to lead the Baltimore-Washington Conference and was appointed in September 2016, following her election to the episcopacy that July. Prior to being elected, she served as Dean of the Cabinet of the New England Conference and as a superintendent, leading 57 congregations in the Boston Hope District. She was ordained a Deacon in 1995 and an Elder in 1997, and was pastor of Union UMC in Boston’s historic South End, Pearl Street UMC in Brockton, Mass., and Old West Church, UM, in Boston. You can find her statement condemning the violence at the U.S. Capitol, here. To watch the film discussed in this episode, click here.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Serena Eckert and Jason Moore about a new webinar being held Thursday, January 21st called “Both/And”. The webinar, hosted by Jason Moore, will focus on maximizing hybrid worship experiences for online and in-person audiences. The webinar will help all of us explore how to create interactive experiences for both audiences and do so in real-time.
There is no cost to attend the webinar, but registration is required — please head to www.la-umc.org/bothand
In this episode, we look back at an eventful 2020. From coronavirus to racial unrest to the single most active Hurricane season in Louisiana, we do not need to tell you just how intense 2020 was. Our emotions and our patience were, at times, stretched to their limits. However, there were multiple moments where hope was clearly evident.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we visit with Rev. Matt Rawle, senior pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City. Matt has authored a series of books titled The Pop in Culture Series. The series includes The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, The Redemption of Scrooge,What Makes a Hero?,and The Gift of the Nutcracker. As we celebrate Christmas, we sit down to discuss The Redemption of Scrooge. Rawle asks the question, 'Is redemption possible for Ebenezer Scrooge?" Rawle believes so as he discovers the teachings of Jesus in the words of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. For more on Rawle’s books, head here.
In this episode, we explore the creative arts - specifically that of sewing and pottery. During the 2020 Celebration of Ministry Service, ordained elders received their stoles and ordained deacons received basins. Both of these items were handmade — the stoles were made by Rev. Melinda Halom in Wisconsin and the basins were made by Jane Knight here in Louisiana. We caught up with both of them to hear more about their passion for the creative arts and where they see God through their craft. If you would like to watch the Celebration of Ministry Service, please head here. To see photos from the Celebration of Ministry Service, please head here. Melinda Halom’s web site is https://www.quiltedwithprayer.com/
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we catch up with the 2020 Class of Ordinands. This year, Clair Carter, Leah Gaughan, Susan Lawrence, Josh Elder, Michelle Harris, Reyn Sewell, Amanda Rose Price Smith, and Chris Winterman were all ordained in the Louisiana Conference. We visit with each of them about why they chose ministry, specifically the path of ordination, and how COVID is affecting the church. If you would like to view the 2020 Ordination Service, please head to our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/DPQGi5Z4Da8
We’ve turned 50! In this special episode, we share clips from some of our past 49 episodes. From the pandemic to racial injustice to hurricanes - it’s been an intense year. Which episode was your favorite? We’d love to hear from you. Our email is podcast@la-umc.org
The shows featured in this episode are listed below:
Jewels in Your Crown Dr. Walter Kimbrough Dismantling Racism: Anti-Blackness New To Town: The Story of Rev. Gregg Taylor Angels on the Front Lines Preparing for Easter with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going
In this special episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we are joined by Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, senior pastor at St. John’s United Methodist Church, which is serving as a polling location for three precincts in Baton Rouge on Election Day. The church has set up prayer stations all across its campus in hopes that voters take a moment to pause, reflect, and pray about the days and weeks ahead. She shares her thoughts on the church’s role in the midst of this historic day.
We were recently back in Lake Charles to cover the relief efforts and caught up with Rev. Amy Duhon Castro who shares her story of survival, grief and hope. We also catch up with a delivery driver, who understands exactly how grace works through his job. If you would like to help the recovery efforts in Lake Charles, please visit www.la-umc.org/relief For more on the supply efforts in Lake Charles, please go here: https://www.la-umc.org/newsdetail/asbury-umc-supply-depot-closes-recovery-effort-moves-to-lake-charles-14348125
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we visit with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey and preview 2020 Annual Conference which has been postponed to Saturday November 21st online, via ZOOM. For more information on 2020 Annual Conference, please head to our web site: www.la-umc.org
The back-to-back hurricanes have caused many problems in southwest Louisiana, but in this episode of Louisiana NOW, we hear the hope and optimism of a homeowner and a restaurant owner. We also catch up with Rev. Walter Parker - a pastor in Jennings Louisiana who is looking forward to helping people. We also discuss some of the Phase 3 Guidelines, which can be found here. And we also briefly discuss 2020 Annual Conference. Those details can be found here: https://www.la-umc.org/eventdetail/13127993
Hurricane Delta has struck southwest Louisiana, just as the area was beginning to start the recovery process after Hurricane Laura. In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel catches up with Rev. Angela Bulhof and Rev. John Robert Black, two pastors from Lake Charles, along with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey to discuss the recovery process. If you would like to help, please visit: www.la-umc.org/relief
In this special episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Todd Rossnagel is back in Lake Charles. Rossnagel documents some of the many volunteers who helped during a recent clean-up day in DeRidder, including students from LSU’s Wesley Foundation. He also caught up with reporter Kathy Gilbert and photographer Mike Dubose who were in town to document the recovery efforts for United Methodist News. Kathy shares how she approaches stories from a faith perspective and Mike shares the keys to a good photograph. If you would like to see photos from the workday in DeRidder or the damaged churches, specifically the church in Grand Cheniere - please head here. If you would like to help the recovery efforts in Louisiana, please visit www.la-umc.org/relief
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Dillard University President, Dr. Walter Kimbrough. Recently, Dr. Kimbrough, along with Xavier President Reynold Verret, announced that they are participating in a vaccine trial for COVID-19. “Our communities have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with harrowing consequences for the lives and health of our fellow citizens. Overcoming the virus will require the availability of vaccines effective for all peoples in our communities, especially our Black and brown neighbors.,” the presidents wrote in a joint statement. In this episode, we will hear more about why he decided to do this, what it’s like, and some of the controversies with the decision. We will also cover other topics, including the rise of HBCU policymakers in the U.S. https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/06/03/president-discusses-need-go-beyond-statements-response-killing-george-floyd-opinion
Power remains out in southwest Louisiana, but that did not stop several churches in the Lake Charles district from worshipping together. In this podcast, Todd Rossnagel travels to Lake Charles and catches up with two pastors: Rev. Davis Clark at Warren United Methodist Church and Rev. Weldon Bares at FUMC, Lake Charles. We also share a story of a contractor who has a deep desire to help the kingdom because of a pastor who pastored him decades ago. If you would like to support the relief efforts in Louisiana, please head to our web site: www.la-umc.org/relief
In this special edition of the Louisiana NOW podcast, host Todd Rossnagel hits the road and records from southwest Louisiana. Specifically, he is recording from Sulphur and Westlake, where United Methodists from all across the state and the country came together on Labor Day to help clean up. We visit with the Rev. Karli Pidgeon, Lake Charles District Superintendent, Rev. Joy Comeaux, Westlake UMC, and Rev. Brady Whitton, FUMC Baton Rouge. If you would like to help Louisiana, please visit this link: www.la-umc.org/relief
Hurricane Laura has left behind destruction that will be remembered for generations. In this episode, we are going to discuss three items. We want to share details on how you can help. It’s a question we are all asking ourselves and you’ve probably been asked by a friend or a neighbor – how can we help? Also in this episode – the Sunday after – we will share messages of hope in sermons that were shared the first "Sunday after Laura”. Also, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey appeals for donations. If you would like to give, please go to: www.la-umc.org/relief or text “relief” to 800 500 5858.
Hurricane Laura will strike Louisiana as a Category 4 storm. In this episode, Todd Rossnagel is joined by Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, Rev. Dr. Van Stinson, Rev. Elaine Burleigh, Rev. Karli Pidgeon, Rev. Andy Goff, Rev. Laraine Waughtal, Rev. John Robert Black and Rev. Juan Huertas. Each of these individuals are preparing for Laura and are ready to respond when the time comes. Subscribe to the Louisiana NOW podcast as we will pass along ways we can best respond to the needs brought about after Hurricane Laura.
Joan Ryan is an award-winning journalist and the author of four books. Her latest book, Intangibles; Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry analyzes the concept behind “team chemistry”. In her interview with Todd Rossnagel, you’ll hear how “team chemistry” is applicable to the church world and, for that matter, anyone who manages a team.
You can find Joan’s book wherever you buy books, including here: https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/joan-ryan/intangibles/9780316434904/
The United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana exists to serve our churches where faith and money intersect. They manage money for the churches of the Louisiana Annual Conference—over $180 million – promote and manage endowments for churches, provide loans for churches and they double-tithe their operating income back to the United Methodist Church and its ministries through grants. Their mission to assist churches has shifted during COVID but their commitment to support hasn’t wavered. In this episode, Rob Fairly updates us on research the Foundation has conducted and webinars they are planning in the coming weeks. For more on the webinars, please visit their web site: www.umf.org
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we share the story of Rev. Ed Cooper and Frank Thompson, both of whom are collaborating at two different churches — Aurora United Methodist Church and Boynton United Methodist Church, just outside of New Orleans. For Cooper, it’s an opportunity to pastor a predominately African-American church for the first time in his ministry. For Thompson, it’s a chance to lead worship at a predominately white church. Their shared experience is a story of friendship and teamwork, propelled by the Holy Spirit.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we look back at the final anti-racism module presented to the Louisiana Conference from Project Curate — a non-profit that works with religious and community organizations to support collaborative responses to intersectional issues of inequality and injustice.
The Blackness 101 module helped us explore racial categorizing as a tool of power from the perspective of the black experience. We discussed essential conversation markers and how anti-blackness is a form atonement. We began to recognize the systems of oppression, our complicity in them, and ways of finding freedom. We are joined by Brandi Holmes who focuses her work on various black liberation struggles, but especially the struggles of black girls and women. She is a noted social activist, community organizer, and strategist, dedicated to policy and criminal justice reform. Also joining us is Dr. Biko Mandela Gray, a professor of Religion at Syracuse University, and a community advocate. Dr. Gray’s research interests operate at the intersection of religion, embodiment, and subjectivity—all of which cohere around a central question: if we took our bodies seriously, how might we think about our relationship to ourselves, others, and the world? And our third guest is Rev. Dr. Cleve Tinsley, co-managing director of Project Curate. Dr. Tinsley is a scholar of religion and Black Studies. He earned his MA and PhD in religion from Rice University. Dr. Tinsley is a Baptist minister who holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has extensive experience as an organizer, institution-builder, manager, and consultant for churches and community organizations. These webinars were aimed at imagining, striving for, and living in a better world wherein justice, mercy, humility, and love are not just aspirations, but assumptions within our community ethics. To view the webinars, please head here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBe0wzmsJw1wOIIbkZS4vMoQXSHlCJB8v
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we catch up with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey. We discuss the series of webinars we have been holding on ZOOM with Project Curate. We get her thoughts on why these webinars are so important, the hope she sees in the content, and the struggle that still exists with racial injustice in Louisiana. We also get Bishop Harvey’s thoughts on the rising cases of Coronavirus in Louisiana and what that means for the upcoming Annual Conference. All that and more in this episode of Louisiana NOW.
To register for our series of webinars focused on Dismantling Racism, please visit: www.la-umc.org/endracism
In Episode 2 of a special series of episodes regarding racial injustice, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Matt Russell, Dr. Rachel Schneider, both from Project Curate and Rev. Ronald Southall and Rev. Clifton Conrad. In this episode, we discuss white privilege and what it means to be white in the world. We also discuss some ways, knowingly or unknowingly, some white people complicate racial matters. This episode is a preview to a series of webinars where Project Curate will introduce us to an important beginning point to the antiracist conversation: what whiteness means in our society, how whiteness has been constructed and why, and how whiteness continues to perpetuate racist policy that leads to continued racial disparities and prejudices. These webinars are open to the public and you can register by heading to our website: www.la-umc.org/endracism Resources: * WEB: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail * BOOKS: + Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving + Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji * TED TALK: The Path to Ending Systemic Racism in the US by Dr. Philip Atiba Goff, Rashad Robinson, Dr. Bernice King, and Anthony D. Romero * PODCAST: The Relay Podcast – That Sounds About White (Part 1 & 2)
This is a special edition of the Louisiana NOW podcast. Over the next few episodes, we will tackle the same issue - institutional racism and how we are called to respond as Christians. We will do so with four guests who, over the next few episodes, hope to shed light on these issues and draw us into what we hope is time well spent. Two of those guests are from Project Curate – a non-profit and consultancy that works with religious, academic, and community organizations to support collaborative responses to intersectional issues of inequality and injustice. Rev. Dr. Matt Russell is a pastor at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston. Dr. Rachel Schneider is a scholar of religion, race, and culture, as well as a community social justice advocate based in Houston, Texas. And from the Louisiana Conference, Rev. Clifton Conrad and Ronald Southall, who bring a fresh perspective from their lives as Methodist pastors in Louisiana. Our starting point will be to frame this issue and approach the subject with the lens of Jesus. As United Methodist Christians, we have an obligation to bear a faithful witness to the reality, and harm racism has brought to our communities. To do this and to do this well, we must address racism with great intentionality, and through the lens of the Christian Faith. Through the lens of the Gospel, our Wesleyan theological tradition, and the larger witness of the Church universal, we can be people of transformation. For more on Project Curate, please visit: https://www.projectcurate.org/
Dr. W. Craig Gilliam joins us to discuss how we can listen more effectively, and embrace the difficult moments that come our way. Craig works with the Office of Clergy Excellence and Board of Ordained Ministry in the areas of clergy care and clergy effectiveness for the Louisiana Conference. He is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, consultant, facilitator, and educator – focusing on areas of organizational development, leadership coaching, and assisting churches and others to create strengths-based, engaged workplace cultures for higher-performance, success, and productivity. Craig’s list of reading resources are below: Sources referenced in podcast:
Rath, T. (2008). Strengths-Based Leadership. Strengths Based Leadership from Gallup: Contains the study of good leaders and what followers want.
Heath, C. & Heath, D (2011). Switch: How to change things when change is hard Reference to elephant and rider.
The reference to “the poet said, ‘When your eyes are tired/the world is tired also,” was David Whyte in his poem “Sweet Darkness.”
Other resources:
https://gilliamandassociates.com/reading
https://gilliamandassociates.com/articles
- Clifton, D. & Nelson, P. Soar with your Strengths: A simple yet revolutionary philosophy of Business and Management.
- Grant, A. Give and Take: Why helping others drives our success.
- Sandberg. S. & Grant, A. Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy.
Imagine moving over 1,000 miles to a new appointment. Rev. Gregg Taylor moved from Houston to Minneapolis and, within days of his arrival, George Floyd was killed four blocks away from his new church. Taylor joins us on the Louisiana NOW podcast to reflect on the days immediately after George Floyd’s killing and how it’s affected Minneapolis and his ministry. Taylor is the senior pastor of Park Avenue United Methodist Church, located just four blocks away from the corner of 38th and Chicago. For more on Park Avenue United Methodist Church and how you can help, please visit their web site: http://parkavechurch.org/ Gregg has written a book, Here Now with You. You can find more about it here: https://gregglouistaylor.com/here-now-with-you/
The 2020 Annual Conference in June would have featured Rev. Junius B. Dotson, the General Secretary (chief executive officer) of Discipleship Ministries, an international agency of The United Methodist Church. We catch up with Dotson to discuss the current state of affairs for the denomination, racial injustice in America and more. If you would like to know more about Discipleship Ministries, please visit their web site: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org If you would like to know more about the Protocol Legislation, please visit: https://www.gracethroughseparation.com/
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we visit with Rev. Clifton Conrad and Rev. Ronald Southall. We discuss the Louisiana BMCR Revival, which will be held Thursday, June 11th at 7:00 pm online via ZOOM. Black Methodists for Church Renewal is the organized Black caucus of the United Methodist Church. They are one of the United Methodist denomination’s five U.S.-based ethnic caucuses. BMCR represents and is dedicated to more than 2,400 Black United Methodist congregations and approximately 500,000 African American members across the denomination. We also hear from both of them about the racial tensions in America and discuss how of each us can respond as Christians. If you would like to register for the Louisiana BMCR Revival, please head here: https://www.la-umc.org/newsdetail/louisiana-bmcr-revival-14011236 If you would like to learn more about Black Methodists for Church Renewal, please visit their web site: https://bmcrumc.org/
Rev. Sam Hubbard has been appointed as the next Associate Director of Congregational Development and Transformation for the Louisiana Conference. Hubbard currently serves as the campus minister of the Wesley Foundation at Southeastern Louisiana University. We’ve heard from Hubbard before on the Louisiana NOW podcast when we focused on serving meals in the midst of a pandemic. In this episiode, we dig a little deeper with Hubbard himself - hoping you can get to know one of the people who will help transform ministry inside Louisiana. Hubbard knows a lot about transformation - his story is one of transformation itself - as he was once an atheist - how did he become who he is today? How can his past help all of us inside the Conference move forward? Rev. Hubbard described himself as an avid reader and here’s a list of what he’s currently reading: * Oikonomics by Mike Breen * Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum * The New Testament in It’s World by N.T. Wright / Michael Bird * The Brain-Based Enneagram by Dr. Jerome D. Lubbe * What Do We Do With Evil? by Fr. Richard Rohr * Know What You're For by Jeff Henderson * The Crucifixion of the Warrior God by Greg Boyd
Can you imagine launching a church? It doesn’t happen every day and it’s often an intimidating endeavor. Now imagine launching in the midst of a pandemic. Two Louisiana pastors find themselves in that very situation. Rev. Fernie Rivera and Rev. Klay Harrison have been busy launching Mid City Church (Baton Rouge) and Embrace Church (Haughton). They’ve had to adjust, yet all the while, they’ve kept their eyes on the mission. Their stories will inspire you.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel catches up with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey to discuss many things. We get an update on the re-entry guidelines, more on what to expect for Annual Conference, more on her recent installation as President of the Council of Bishops and more. To watch Bishop Harvey’s address to the Council of Bishops, please visit: https://youtu.be/O36Pul3Dd04
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, we visit with past LSU professor and current Ole Miss professor, Dr. Graham Bodie. Bodie is with the Listen First Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which encourages conversations that prioritize understanding to bridge divides and mend our frayed social fabric, addressing the universally felt crisis of division and dehumanization across differences. Increasingly in America today, we don't just disagree. We dislike, distrust, even despise those who see the world differently. We’re withdrawing from conversations—eroding relationships and understanding. 75% of Americans say this problem has reached a crisis level. Experts say the solution is to cultivate more positive social connections. We dive into how we can listen more effectively and why it’s so important. If you would like more information, please visit: www.listenfirstproject.org
Rev. Karli Pidgeon is a pastor in the Louisiana Conference who will soon serve as a District Superintendent. She is currently working in the Office of Congregational Transformation and Development. Pidgeon will be the first African-American female District Superintendent - we get her thoughts on that and much more in this episode of Louisiana NOW.
Christine Parton Burkett has worked with preachers at Duke Divinity School since 1991. She holds degrees in theater and speech-language pathology and describes herself as a “professional pew-sitter”. Experienced preaching coach, she is skilled at assessing the sermon and the preacher to encourage strengths and identify potential growth. Burkett was recently a guest on a webinar from the North Carolina conference: Livestreaming Jesus: Adapting to Preaching Online: https://nccumc.org/leadership/webinars/online-presence/
Burkett was kind enough to join us on the Louisiana NOW podcast to share her thoughts on how preachers can best use the tools they’ve been given and how these unique times are creating unique ministry moments. Also in this podcast - we share a story from Newman United Methodist Church - both in Louisiana and in Oregon. To see the story, head here: https://youtu.be/FxWvCFG_0XU
It was April 1st, early in the morning, right in the midst of the pandemic and the quarantine, when fire broke out at Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It would be the first of two fires in one week, destroying a scout hut and the office behind the sanctuary. Todd Rossnagel visits with Senior Pastor Rev. Donnie Wilkinson to see how the church is doing, how he is doing and where he sees Christ most at work in the midst of everything that has happened this month. If you would like to help Broadmoor, please visit this link: https://broadmoormethodist.org/giving/
It was Thursday, March 12th - right in the heart of Lent, with four weeks until Easter when Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey released a statement asking for churches, out of an abundance of caution, to cancel or postpone church events, including worship. Suddenly, without warning - pastors all across Louisiana - and for that matter- America - were scrambling to find ways to not only share a message on Sunday mornings but ways to continue to pastor and teach. In this episode of Louisiana NOW - we visit with three pastors of churches who have embraced technology. And while they say they’ve done it, "kicking and screaming”, these pastors have done an amazing job with limited staff, small congregations and even smaller budgets. They are all learning something new yet pushing past their fears, giving life to the phrase “where there is a will, there is a way…”
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Rev. Tiffanie Lyon, associate pastor at First UMC in Slidell and chaplain at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and with Dr. Chip Riggins, member of Houma United Methodist Church and Regional Medical Director for the Bayou Region of the South Central Louisiana Office of Public Health.
Rev. Lyon is busy comforting patients and family members and while Dr. Riggins is busy monitoring the health system of Louisiana - from hospice facilities to EMS response to hospitals and social services.
We wanted to get a sense of not only what they are seeing but where they might be witnessing God in the midst of everything.
This is a special edition of the Louisiana Now podcast, a reading of the Easter Story by host Todd Rossnagel. We will be worshipping this Easter season in many different ways - online, sheltered in place, without our worshipping communities - none of which we are really used to. However, as much as our worship is different, the Easter Story is the same. So sit back and listen to the story that changed the world. This reading comes from all four gospels and various translations. * To find a United Methodist church in the Louisiana Conference, please visit our directory: https://www.la-umc.org/churches * To find a listing of online church services in the Louisiana Conference, please visit here. * To find a United Methodist church near you, please visit: https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-church
Recently Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey carved out some time on Zoom and we discussed a wide variety of topics as we prepare for Holy Week. Bishop Harvey opens up about her morning routine, long walks, and life at home during these days of self-isolation. She alsosays this year’s Holy Week is an opportunity to get creative and shares some ideas. However, asdifferent as this year’s Holy Week will be, she reminds us to do something very simple - read the Easter story. For more on the Easter resources we’ve pulled together for Easter 2020, please head here: https://www.la-umc.org/easter2020
The inability for churches to gather, due to sheltering-in-place orders has prompted some bishops in the United Methodist Church to allow for online communion. Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, resident bishop in Louisiana, has allowed for online communion, "For such a time as this, we will allow virtual Holy Communion under the church’s theological understanding of “In Extremis” which means that, we will allow an irregular practice, like in other unprecedented times in the life of the church.” To do this, she asked Reverends Lane Cotton Winn and Juan Huertas help create options for pastors in the Louisiana Conference to celebrate the sacraments using technology. Online communion is not mandatory and it has also not come without its fair share of debate. We visited with Rev. Juan Huertas who helped write the online material and answers questions about the debate. Also in today’s episode - a poem about the online communion debate from Rev. Matt Rawle of Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier.
Rev. Johnathan Richardson is the pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in New Orleans. He has served in ministry for 16 years but is new to the Louisiana Conference. His church has been hit hard by the coronavirus with over a dozen cases and two deaths. We catch up with Rev. Richardson for more on how he is responding to the current situation. https://www.cornerstone-nola.org/
In this episode of Louisiana Now, we focus on the growing need of feeding those who are hungry. Food pantries in Louisiana have experienced a tripling of the number of clients. Supplies were at a critical level to begin with and as the pandemic continues, numbers continue to decline. Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey has approved a Louisiana Conference grant from the Office of Missional Engagement and Outreach in the amount of $50,000 to Feeding Louisiana, to be distributed by them to their food bank members around the state. In this episode, we hear from Rev. Sam Hubbard at SLU Wesley and Rev. Kennon Pickett from Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge - both doing all they can to serve meals in this time of need.
To support the Wesly Foundation of SLU, consider ordering some of their coffee: https://www.kairoskoffeehouse.com/
Food Banks Across Louisiana:
Food Bank of Central Louisiana: https://www.fbcenla.org/
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank: https://brfoodbank.org/
Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana: https://www.foodbanknela.org/
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana: https://no-hunger.org/
Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana: https://www.foodbanknla.org/
How do you lead an organization stuck between an ending and a new beginning—when the old way of doing things no longer works but a way forward is not yet clear? That is the question Susan Beaumont’s book attempts to answer. Beaumont is a a consultant, author, and coach. She has worked with hundreds of congregations, including several in Louisiana. For more on Susan, please visit her web site. Her book can be found here. The article Todd references regarding anxiety can be found here.
Rev. Brian Mercer, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Monroe. Brian is just seven months into his new appointment. Moving your family, and getting settled in to a new appointment is tough enough in the first year, but it’s even tougher when you suddenly can’t gather due to a pandemic. Brian is doing something that seems extremely low-tech but is proving to be extremely valuable. It’s the power of a good old fashioned phone call. We catch up with Brian and get an update from the Monroe area.
There are so many needs in this country as a result of the coronavirus. One of them is face masks. We are literally running out of them and medical professionals have started asking for and giving permission for homemade facemarks. A group of volunteers inside Henning Memorial United Methodist Church in Sulphur have started sewing homemade masks and the group is growing by the hundreds. We caught up with Terry to learn more about how it all started, how she, along with so many of us, is learning new digital technology like Facebook and teleconferencing. And, most importantly, how the Holy Spirit is guiding her every step and every sew. To learn more about the SWLA Project Mask - visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/651027385734937/ We also catch up with Rev. Elaine Burleigh on how churches can get financial support for ministries like this, plus and idea for all churches related to their UMCOR cleaning kits. If you would like to get in touch with Elaine Burleigh inside the Conference Office, please email her: eburleigh@la-umc.org
Our guest today is Rev. Dr. Alyce M. McKenzie, Professor of Preaching and Worship at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Dr. McKenzie is a Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor by SMU, SMU’s highest teaching honor and the author of ten books, including a recent blog article that has garnered a lot of social media attention: “Preaching to an Empty Room”. Todd Rossnagel and Dr. McKenzie cover a lot of ground - discussing our current state regarding social distancing, the role pastors can play, and how Jesus might have reacted to 'social distancing’. The blog article referenced in today’s show can be found here: https://blog.smu.edu/perkins/preaching-to-empty-room/
During these days, we are all finding new ways to worship, some of us online. Todd Rossnagel, host of the Louisiana Now podcast and Director of Communications for the Louisiana Conference, offers tips on tackling technology. He discusses everything from how to prepare, audio and lighting tips, and how to talk to a camera lens. Some of the equipment mentioned in today’s show: A decent on camera light that won’t break the bank Better lights Clean HDMI camera that won’t break the bank A kit for lights and audio for a phone A good mic for smartphones Zoom Videoconferencing
Matters in the world are changing on an almost hourly basis. As we reached out to Bishop Harvey in hopes of recording this particular episode, we scheduled the recording Wednesday afternoon. As our recording time got close, it looked as if news from the larger denomination regarding General Conference and its potential postponement would come down at any moment. In fact, the news broke in the middle of our recording – you’ll hear that and you’ll hear her response to that news. Bishop Harvey speaks from the heart in this podcast – lifting up the many ways pastors all across the Conference are embracing new ways to worship – her fears for what may be ahead – her hopes for what might be ahead — and what’s giving her joy in these days.
Rev. Lane Cotton Winn is the lead pastor of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, a church that has an amazing ministry known as the Shepherd's Market, a client-choice food pantry that has been serving the hungry and needy in south Baton Rouge for the past seven years. On any given day, St. John’s gives away over 3,000 pounds of food as they are an outpost for the Baton Rouge Food Bank. Over the past two days, they’ve distributed over 10,000 pounds of food.
In this special edition of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we visit with Rev. Elaine Burleigh, Director of the Conference Office of Missional Outreach and Engagement. Elaine and host Todd Rossnagel discuss ways churches should be preparing for the Coronavirus. There are plenty of challenges for our local churches in this new context some of us in ministry are facing. Rev. Burleigh is not a doctor but in many ways - this is a disaster and disasters are her business. She shares some great information regarding how we can still do ministry in the midst of whats happening - and things to keep in mind.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Rev. Matt Rawle, lead pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, LA. Matt is a prolific author of Christian books and studies, with many of his books offered through Abingdon Press. His latest offering is a study of the famed Les Miserables. In this episode, Todd and Matt discuss Matt’s latest book, his thoughts on worship in today’s modern context and much more. Resources: For more on Matt Rawle - head here. For more on the Les Miserables study - head here.
On this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Rob Fairly, president of the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana. Rob has a passion for giving. His message will inspire all of us to re-examine how we look at money. The Foundation offers many resources for Louisiana churches; Rob and Todd will discuss that and much more in this episode of Louisiana NOW. Resources: For more on the United Methodist Foundation, please visit their website
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Rev. Elaine Burleigh, from the Office of Missional Outreach and Engagement. Burleigh is new to the position but not new to the world of missions. In this episode, you will hear more about Burleigh’s passion for mission, the theology of mission and how you can learn more about mission opportunities in the Louisiana Conference. Resources: For more on Volunteers in Mission, please go here.
In this episode of Louisiana NOW, Todd Rossnagel visits with Rev. Katie McKay Simpson. We discuss the Pathways event, an event centered on helping people determine next steps for a life in ministry. As you will hear, there are many pathways for the many different gifts each of us have. Not every pathway to ministry is that of elder and seminary. In fact, you’ll hear more about Todd’s own path to ministry. What does it mean to discern a call from God? We will discuss that and more in this episode. For more on Pathways, please visit: www.la-umc.org/pathway
Todd Rossnagel sits down with Bishop Harvey to discuss everything from the Mediation Protocol to Heisman trophy winner Joe Burrow. Listen to the debut of the Louisiana NOW podcast.
To read more about Bishop Harvey, please head here: https://www.la-umc.org/ourbishop To read more about the Protocol Legislation and Agreement, please visit: https://www.gracethroughseparation.com/ To read more about Annual Conference 2020, which is scheduled for June 10-13 in Shreveport, LA, please visit here.