Podcasts about louisiana conference

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

We're live with Ben Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life with Pro-Life Persuasion segment, David Dawson Jr., Catholic husband and father talks about the realities of trying to make time to pray at home and Tom Costanza, Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, talks about death penalty executions in Louisiana in March and Louisiana Bishop's plea.

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. 

We're live with Tom Costanza, Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops talks about Catholics and voting, Fr. Michael Lang, priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in London and author of "A Short History of the Roman Mass" and Deacon Randall Waguespack, Director of Office of Life, Justice and Peace in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Edda Dupaquier and Jodie Devore with All Are Welcome talks about the upcoming Family Fun Day.

We're live with Tom Costanza, Executive Director of Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops talks about Catholics and voting, Dr. Paul Kengor, Catholic author, talks about his book The Stigmatists: Their Gifts, Their Revelations, Their Warnings and Fr. Ambrose Little, spokesperson for Aquinas 101, talks about the program.

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.

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. 

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.  

We're live with Tom Costanza, Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops talks about Faithful Citizenship Day, Michael Acaldo, Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge updates us and Connie Marshner, Catholic author, talks about Catholic Irish tradition with her new book Monastery and High Cross: The Forgotten Eastern Roots of Irish Christianity.

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.

In July 2023, a group of clergy and laity from the Great Plains Conference met up with fellow United Methodists from the Louisiana Conference for a civil rights immersion experience. Over the course of four days, the group lived the history of Alabama. Our group spent much of its time in Montgomery. We saw the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and walked in the parsonage where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King lived. We spent the better part of a day at the Legacy Museum, a mission of the Equal Justice Initiative (or EJI). It's an amazing museum that uses the latest in technology to help tell the story of racism — from kidnappings in the African continent to the often-deadly voyage to North America to the brutality of slavery. It also explains the injustice of Jim Crow laws and addresses the modern-day inequity of mass incarceration. Our group saw the bus station where Freedom Riders were beaten, walked a memorial dedicated to honoring the lives of the numerous people lynched over the years, including right here in Kansas and Nebraska. We traveled to Selma and walked the bridge where Dr. King, John Lewis and others were abused by white supremacists, including police officers. In Birmingham, we talked with people who are members of 16th Street Baptist Church, where four girls were killed by a bomb. And we toured the Civil Rights Institute, which tells the story, decade by decade, of the push for equity in this country. February is Black History Month, so I wanted to share some of the stories from our trip. I wanted to provide an opportunity for listeners to feel the emotions, embrace the potential for change in our country by hearing the stories of people — Black, brown and white. And, in this concluding episode of the three-part series, I wanted to convey the ways people believe they have changed — And their hopes and dreams for how our world can change … for the better.

Members of the Great Plains and Louisiana conferences of The United Methodist Church took part in a four-day civil rights immersion trip to the areas around Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama, in July 2023. It was the idea of former Great Plains Clergy Excellence Director Rev. Dr. Dee Williamston, now bishop of the Louisiana Conference. She and Bishop David Wilson of the Great Plains — the first Native American bishop in the denomination — teamed up to lead the group on an educational experience that expanded minds, filled hearts with love — and most importantly challenged the emotions of all who took part. This is the third of a three-episode series on the trip.

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.

We're live with Tom Costanza, Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops updates us on LACCB legislation, Emily Malloy, floral design editor of the new Theology of Home IV: Arranging the Seasons and Dr. Stanton McKneely, President of the University of Holy Cross talks about the Ditta Scholarship at UHC and updates.

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. 

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: 

We're live with Steve Ray, Catholic convert and author talks about the Immaculate Heart of Mary and his trip to Poland,  Bear Woznick, Catholic author, speaker and world-champion surfer updates us on the Maui fires and Tom Costanza, President of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops provides legislative update.

This podcast will be released on August 7th, 2023. Our guest is Wybra Price.   Wybra has completed his first year as Pastor at Broadmoor UMC in Shreveport, Louisiana. Wybra is an Elder in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.  His Master of Divinity is from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and his Doctor of Ministry is from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC   Wybra LinkedIn page is HERE and is part of where I got my introduction. Our theme was talking about what was going on in other elements of our connection. Wybra had by virtue of his role on the Louisiana Conference Cabinet a particular perspective to disaffiliation in the UMC.  Paragraph 2553 of our UM Book of Discipline is HERE. This was passed in order in 2019 in order to provide an avenue for churches unhappy with the current wording in our polity the means to leave the UMC.  Ironically, the intended user in 2019 is not using the provision, rather, it is by and large the forces that developed the policy.   Disaffiliation statistics are HERE.   A book I mention by Richard Haass is HERE.  Right now this is Kindle version.  Will make it more expansive when I get a chance. Our guest for release on August 21st will be The Reverend Doctor Sarah Calvert, District Superintendent for Northern Virginia, Virginia Conference of the United Church.  Our topic will be anxiety and urgency:  defining, identifying, and dealing with.   I am consciously moving more to church leadership in a mindful manner on these excursions and use colleagues both in the Mountain Sky Conference and other conferences to talk an idea (or two or three or six) of leadership.   

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. 

Want to reach the show? Send us an email: shovingwilco@gmail.com In this episode, host Todd Rossnagel takes a break from the journey through the discography of Wilco to discuss the theology of Wilco. He is joined by Rev. Chad Brooks, a pastor in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church and based in Alexandria, Louisiana. Rossnagel and Brooks discuss the theology of Wilco's amazing song, "A Shot in the Arm," and specifically a moment in the song at one particular concert in Mississippi. The conversation explores the themes of faith, hope, and redemption in Wilco's music, and how these themes can be relevant to people of all faiths. As Brooks shares, every single time when we want things to change, we realize that the change is already inside of us. And as Rossnagel shares, the line, "What you once were isn't what you want to be any more," is our call to continually seek transformation. This is a fascinating and thought-provoking episode that will appeal to fans of Wilco, people of faith, and anyone interested in the intersection of music and spirituality. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shovingwilco/support

We're live with Fr. Braxton Necaise, Associate Director of Vocations of the Diocese of Biloxi talks about the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Steve Ray, Catholic convert and pilgrimage leader talks about St. Mark and Tom Constanza, Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops LACCB talks about Faithful Citizenship Day at the Capitol for Catholics.

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

Want to reach the show? Send us an email: shovingwilco@gmail.com Hi everyone, and welcome to Shoving Wilco - a podcast celebrating the music of Wilco. My name is Todd Rossnagel, and I live in Louisiana - just outside of Baton Rouge, LA, and — as you might have guessed, I am a big fan of Wilco. I've been a fan - since the very first album. And in this podcast - we will focus on the band that began in 1994 — based in Chicago, Illinois, and is regarded by many as today's greatest rock and roll band. But are they a rock and roll band? Are they better classified as alt-country? Could you call them a punk band? Some of the many topics we will explore here on Shoving Wilco. Now - you might be asking yourself — why is this podcast called SHOVING Wilco? Well, if you know me — and even if you've just met me — there's a good chance you will hear me talking about Wilco. If you come to my house, you'll listen to Wilco - if you come to my office, you'll see Wilco posters. Some say I SHOVE Wilco in their faces! (Hopefully, I will do that in a good way!) Plus, if you go to a concert with me, you'll likely receive a shove when we jam together at a Wilco show. Why the love for Wilco? Well, in many ways, they're one of the few bands that get BETTER with time…ALL of their albums are phenomenal. And more specifically — for me — Wilco is the soundtrack to my life. I first started listening to them in COLLEGE, so think about that - Wilco has been there for every significant LIFE event for me. There's an album for the year I got married — albums for each of our children's birth - albums for the toddler year, the pre-teen years, the teen years, and beyond…albums for career changes - albums and songs for the highs in life, the lows in life and everything in between… And I've lost count to how many Wilco shows I've been to — and I can't begin to describe some of those moments…sharing Wilco with friends and seeing their faces light up during Impossible Germany - or any of the countless live songs that — well — just need to be experienced live. I work in the church space. I am the Director of Communications for the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, and if you know me, I am deeply theological, and yes - Wilco is deeply theological. In fact, we will unpack some of the theology of Wilco, and I can't wait to do that with pastor colleagues of mine across the connection. I have a number of friends of mine who are Wilco fans — and I hope to be connecting with them and experts in the music space as we study just how Wilco has been able to sustain itself and how the band continues to resonate and — at the same time — re-invent itself while seemingly staying true to itself. One of my closest friends - Tim Arnold - will be featured in the first few episodes — in fact, I have Tim to thank for this podcast as he and I have been talking about Wilco for — well — thirty years, and you'll get to eavesdrop into some of those conversations. Our first four episodes will cover the entire discography of Wilco - we'll talk about our favorite songs, some songs that are underrated, and lest you think this is a podcast that cannot be critical of Wilco - we will dole out some criticism too. Have an idea for an episode? Or - just want to comment, email me. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shovingwilco/support

Some call me Dr. Ashley Goad, but most simply know me as Ashley. Raised in High Point, North Carolina, I grew up attending Springfield Friends Meeting, the Quaker church my great-great-great-great grandparents planted in 1773. If you spend more than 5 minutes with me, I'll likely work three things into the conversation: Jesus, Mission, and Quakers!I graduated from Appalachian State University in 2001 with a BS in Political Science, and then went on to Liberty Theological Seminary to earn a Masters of Divinity. In 2016, with a dissertation entitled, “Mind the Gap: Navigating the Pitfalls of Cross-Cultural Partnership,” I completed a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Global Perspective at George Fox Evangelical Seminary. While I was recorded (“ordained”) as a Quaker pastor in North Carolina, I am now officially “on loan” to the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. In church lingo, this designation is “Other Fellowship. My theology is sometimes very confused, though, as I have served at Pine Hill Friends Meeting (NC), ChristChurch Presbyterian (TX), and Herndon UMC (VA)!Haiti is my second home, and mission is where my heart is. Since 2009, I have logged over 40 trips to Haiti, most in service with Living Waters for the World and Solar Under the Sun, partnering ministries who seek to bring solar-powered clean water systems to communities in need. While in the Port-Au-Prince, Haiti airport in 2013, I met the team from First United Methodist Church in Shreveport. The church had begun to vision what a global mission ministry would look like, and for me, this was a dream job. I joined the FUMC staff on August 1, 2013, and have not stopped traveling the world since. With guidance and prayer from the Global Mission ministry leadership team, First UMC has created partnerships in Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Romania, Czech Republic, Uganda, and Costa Rica, while continuing their work in my beloved Haiti.The biggest celebration in my life came on January 31, 2020, when I married Christopher Harbuck! We have a sweet black lab named Molly. I am also “mom” to Mackenson, who lives in Haiti, and Chris has two children, Palmer & Kit.Music by: Irene & the SleepersLogo by: Jill EllisWebsite: brokenbanquetpodcast.comContact Us: brokenbanquetpodcast@gmail.com

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! ______ 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.  ______ 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.     

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.

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.

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.   

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

We're live with Tom Costanza, Executive Director with the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops  gives us an update on Louisiana legislature, Alan Migliorato, co-author of Failing Forward: Leadership Lessons for Catholic Teens Today talks about saying sorry and Fr. Casey Cole talks about the Bleacher Brothers where they attend games at all thirty Major League Baseball stadiums to meet people where they are, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. He's also talking about his new book The Way of Beatitude Living Radical Hope in a World of Division and Despair.

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 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. 

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, Dan talks to Rev Todd Rossnagel, the Director of Communication Strategies for the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Todd, a podcaster himself, talks about how churches can and should start to consider starting a podcast themselves. For more information on Todd, you can take … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 067: Podcasting as Church Marketing"

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

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. 

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 of "At the Table," Bishop Sue is joined by her friend and colleague Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey. Bishop Harvey serves the Louisiana Conference and is President of the United Methodist Council of Bishops. They discuss the next lines of the Covenant Prayer: Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

We’re live with West Giffin, Associate Director Youth & Young Adult Ministry updates us on what 2021 looks like for Red Stick Catholics, Dina Dow Director Office of Evangelization & Catechesis with the Diocese of Baton Rouge invites us to faith formation, Dan Cellucci, CEO of Catholic Leadership Institute, focuses on a talk series that confronts the realities of declining Mass attendance during pandemic and beyond and Rob Tasman, Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops (LACCB) monthly update

This week we continue our discussion with Sam Hubbard as we discuss our shared broken heartedness and love for the church, new forms of evangelism, how our theology and anthropology inform each other and of course, Fresh Expressions. Sam is an elder in the UMC that serves as the Associate Director of Congregational Development and Transformation in the Louisiana Conference of the UMC and as the Wesley Organizational Pastor at Southeastern Louisiana University.   Contact; sjhubbard@gmail.com Sam Hubbard on Facebook and Sjhubbard2 on Instagram   Reading-Universal Christ by Richard Rohr (or anything else by Rohr), Alan Hirsch, Crucifixion of the Warrior God; Crucifixion of the Warrior God, all things Michael Beck Listening to Podcasts-The Bible for Normal People, Church Pulse Weekly, NT Wright, Freakonomics, “Stuff They Don't Want You to Know”   

This week Sam Hubbard and I discuss our shared broken heartedness and love for the church, new forms of evangelism, how our theology and anthropology inform each other and of course, Fresh Expressions. Sam is an elder in the UMC that serves as the Associate Director of Congregational Development and Transformation in the Louisiana Conference of the UMC and as the Wesley Organizational Pastor at Southeastern Louisiana University.   Contact; sjhubbard@gmail.com Sam Hubbard on Facebook and Sjhubbard2 on Instagram   Reading-Universal Christ by Richard Rohr (or anything else by Rohr), Alan Hirsch, Crucifixion of the Warrior God; Crucifixion of the Warrior God, all things Michael Beck Listening to Podcasts-The Bible for Normal People, Church Pulse Weekly, NT Wright, Freakonomics, “Stuff They Don't Want You to Know”   

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 

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

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.

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

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.   

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

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/

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

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.   

We're live with Mark Brumley, CEO and president of Ignatius Press, with the book "From the Depths of Our Hearts", Rob Tasman, Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, with his monthly update and Karlo Broussard continues his discussion on his book Meeting the Protestant Challenge

This week's Beardcast we have part one of our two part conversation with Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Most of us will eventually reach a point where medical intervention is outmatched by advanced age, illness, or both. It is at this point where meaningful conversations between physicians, patients and their families are crucial. Why then do medical schools and residencies offer their trainees little to no formal guidance on how to facilitate end of life conversations What steps should we all consider taking now to make our end of life wishes clear to our family and loved ones What legislative changes are taking place to ensure that our wishes are carried through Board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics, and hospice and palliative care, Dr. Susan Nelson is making real change in helping patients and their families at end of life. Join Arian as she and Dr. Nelson explore the collaborative challenges physicians, patients, and their loved ones face when death is imminent. Helpful links LaPOST website http www.La POST.org or http www.LHCQF.org LaPOST http www.palliativedoctors.org Hospice and Palliative Medicine professional organization http www.AAHPM.org Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops https www.lhcqf.org page flip The Final Journey Deborah Grassman s book Peace at Last http www.opuspeace.org Atul Gawande s book Being Mortal http www.atulgawande.com book being mortal

This month on UMC.org Profiles, Anita Crump, former lay leader for the Louisiana Conference, Hurricane Katrina survivor, and dedicated United Methodist shares her faith story.