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…

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 commun…

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 cove…

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 o…

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 …

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…

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…

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 di…

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…

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…

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…

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 …

FUMC - RMN Convocation - Oct. 15, 2023 by First United Methodist Church, CharlotteBy First United Methodist Church, Charlotte

FUMC - "Standing in the Gap" - Oct. 8, 2023 by First United Methodist Church, CharlotteBy First United Methodist Church, Charlotte

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 wo…

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…

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 …

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. Char…

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 seek…

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 ch…

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.By Todd Rossnagel

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 pra…

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…

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…

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…

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.By Todd Rossnagel

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 wi…

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 …

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…

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…

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 watch…

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 seas…

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.l…

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 leav…

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 ar…

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 ta…

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 tal…

"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 l…

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 …

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 …

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 C…