(May 30, 2013)

College to host Louisiana United Methodist Annual Conference

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College will welcome Methodist delegates from across Louisiana June 2-5 in the Gold Dome for the 2013 Louisiana United Methodist Annual Conference. The four-day event will be led by Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey in her inaugural year as the episcopal leader of the conference. Harvey will present her episcopal address to the Louisiana United Methodist Conference Monday, June 3, at 11:15 a.m.

example image alternative text

"We are always excited to welcome the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to our campus. Centenary is home for our Louisiana United Methodists and the annual conference is like a family reunion," said Reverend Betsy Eaves, Director of UMC Relations and Chaplain at Centenary. "With the roots of our denomination in the academy, there is no better place to gather for Christian conferencing than in the halls of a United Methodist-related institution of higher education. Welcome home, Louisiana Methodists!"

Inspired by Exodus 34:10, the theme of this year's Conference session is "Blessings in the Wilderness." In light of this emphasis, Bishop Gregory Palmer, resident Bishop of the West Ohio Conference and former President of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church, will preach on Monday evening at 7:30 and lead learning sessions on Tuesday morning at 8:15.

A number of special services will be featured during the conference. Reverend Dr. Larry Stafford, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Monroe, will preach the Memorial and Communion service on Monday night. The Service of Ordination and Commissioning will be held Tuesday evening with Bishop Harvey serving as guest speaker. Dr. Marcia McFee, a graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology, will serve as the Conference's consultant and worship leader.

During the Conference, members will also reflect upon and celebrate Louisiana Skeeter Run: Change the World, a conference-wide event held March 2 focused on the elimination of malaria worldwide. The Skeeter Run raised funds and awareness for Imagine No Malaria, an initiative of the United Methodist Church.

For more information, visit the 2013 Louisiana Annual Conference page.