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Coastal Crisis

Lake Providence / 4

Lakeview UMC / 4

Downsville UMC / 4

DULAC, La. (UMNS)—Modestwooden houses and mobile homes on pil-ings tower over bright green lawns onboth sides of Highway 57.

Pickup trucks sit in the shade underthe houses and shrimp boats gently rockon the bayou that snakes along one sideof the two-lane blacktop.

In this small fishing town, ClantonChapel United Methodist Church hasbeen an anchor through many storms.But the latest disaster—the Deep Horizonoil rig explosion—may be the greatest

threat to the faithful people who havelived in and loved this coastal region forhundreds of years.

Clanton Chapel, established in the1880s, is the only Native AmericanUnited Methodist congregation inLouisiana. Members of the UnitedHouma Nation have fought back fromcrippling hurricanes, racism and povertysince the explorer Robert La Salle dis-covered them in 1682.

Just down the road from the church,Destry Verdin, a life-long UnitedMethodist and a tribe member, is on hisfront porch swing with his wife and

brother. An electric fan stirs the hot airand a small television punctuates themorning with screaming contestants on“The Price is Right.”

The explosion and massive oil spillhappened just as the 2010 shrimp seasonwas getting started. Verdin and many ofhis neighbors depend on shrimping in thespring and summer for their annualincome.

For the last several years, Gulf Coastshrimpers have faced tough competitionfrom foreign imports, bringing the price

United Methodist church anchors Dulac community

See Dulac, page 5

Jodie Harper is nowserving as the newDirector of YouthMinistries for theLouisiana AnnualConference.

Harper replacesRev. Tom Dolph whoserved in the positionfor eight years.

Rev. Dolph is now serving as seniorpastor for Elizabeth Sullivan MemorialUnited Methodist Church in Bogalusa.

Harper has over 15 years of youth min-istry experience. She has served in a volun-teer capacity at numerous UnitedMethodist churches, and as YouthMinistries Assistant at Broadmoor UMC inBaton Rouge and St. Luke’s UMC inHouston, Texas. She is a retired emergency

room nurse. Jodie is married to Rev. JohnEdd Harper, and has two children,Jonathan, 19, and Jenee, 15.

“I am excited to be serving as theLouisiana Conference Director of YouthMinistries, and am looking forward toworking with all of the youth and adults inour conference as we grow in our relation-ship with Jesus Christ to be all we can befor Him,” said Harper.

Harper serving as new conference Director of Youth Ministries

BY KATHY L. GILBERT

Like many coastal towns, Dulac, La. is facing the economic and social impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico brought on bythe Deepwater Horizon accident in April. Cleanup workers are shown laying protective boom in an effort to keep oil from theaccident from entering Caminada Bay in Grand Isle, La. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.

For the latest

information regarding dis-

aster response efforts,

visit the La. Conference

web site at

www.la-umc.org or contact the UM

Disaster Response Center

at (225) 346-5193

Jodie Harper

The WesleyFoundation atGrambling StateUniversity received theCampus Ministry ofthe Year Award on June25 from the NationalCampus MinistryAssociation inWashington, D.C.

The GramblingWesley Foundation wasalso the recipient of the GramblingUniversity award for OutstandingCommunity Service, recognized as thecampus group which gave the most com-munity service hours for 2009-2010.

Rev. Connie F. Breaux, director forGrambling’s Wesley Foundation and exec-utive director of Grambling’s UnitedCampus Ministry, accepted the award onbehalf of the student leaders and communi-ty of Grambling State University.

The community hours served were acombined effort by the Wesley Foundation

and Grambling’s United Campus Ministry.An average of 56 hours per student partici-pant were completed during the fall andspring semesters. Outreach efforts includeda mentoring project at Swanson YouthCorrectional Center in Monroe; serving100 children of prisoners through AngelTree; providing Christmas gifts, toys andbooks for the Children of the Storm inNew Orleans, Amite, Hammond, BatonRouge and Grambling; leading a “Jeans forHaiti Project” and collecting over 300 pairsof blue jeans; and offering worship eachmonth with children residing at theMethodist Children’s Home in Ruston.

In accepting the award, Rev. Breauxthanked many groups for their support inthe campus ministry, including Trinity andGrace United Methodist Churches inRuston.

National Campus Ministry Associationis a professional organization for campusministers whose mission is to empowercollegiates.

Kay and I have just returned from the

North American Christian Ashram that was

held at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. I

was honored with an invitation to be one of

the evangelists for this spiritual retreat in

which I preached twice. Brother E. Stanley

Jones, one of the greatest preachers, teach-

ers and evangelists of the Wesleyan move-

ment, founded the Christian Ashram many

years ago as a way for Christians to draw

apart from the travail and testing of the

world and gain spiritual strength for their

daily living as disciples of Christ. At the

Ashram just completed there were some two

hundred plus persons who gathered on the

peace-filled grounds of “the Lake” for four

days of teaching, praying, quiet time,

preaching, and worship. It was a beautiful

experience and one I will always cherish.

While at the Ashram I had an email from

a fellow pastor wondering if I was going to

comment on the new “Guns in Church” law

that was passed recently by the Louisiana

State Legislature. I hadn’t thought about

commenting on this interesting mixing of

church and state, believing that the church-

goers of Louisiana (especially United

Methodists schooled in the Wesleyan theol-

ogy of grace and freedom from fear!) surely

do not feel it necessary to take guns to

church in order to be safe. But then perhaps

I am wrong in my belief. Maybe some are

afraid enough that they would feel better if

a gun was tucked in the back of the pulpit

along with old bulletins, lost sunglasses,

matches for the acolytes, etc. Or maybe

some of the ladies could get a leg holster

that would secure a nice dainty pearl-han-

dled pistol underneath their clothing, just

for a feeling of acquaintance with the old

West. I assume the men would want to use

the pegs in the narthex to hang up their guns

as they did in the old westerns I watched as

a kid, because any true believing gentleman

would know to disarm himself of guns and

put on the full armor of God when he went

into the house of the Lord. But then those

are old images in my mind and we are in

modern-day America where we are expected

and prodded to live in fear and not in trust.

Franklin D. Roosevelt might be forced

today to modify his now famous statement,

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself

– nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror

which paralyzes needed efforts to convert

retreat into advance.” Do you think the citi-

zenry of 2010 prefers the philosophy of

“The only thing we have to fear is trust”?

I must admit that I have not studied this

legislation. It has seemed so unnecessary

and reactionary to me that I have just dis-

missed it as irrational monkeyshines that

wants to say to the public, “we are trying to

insure and assure your safety.” Frankly, I

would be more afraid of a gun-wielding

preacher, or pistol-packing-pew-perching-

mama, or an untrained and jumpy church

lay leader, than I would be of a terrorist

who has come to the church with the intent

of harming someone. Stray bullets are just

as lethal for the untargeted as they are for

the targeted!

Besides the atmos-

phere of a citadel for

worship, the other

objections I have are

purely theological.

Haven’t we been

taught to believe that

“perfect love casts out

fear”? Hasn’t the one

who told Peter in the

garden to put up his

sword because those

who live by the sword will also die by the

sword saved us? Hasn’t the One who creat-

ed us, and told us that we can live life and

live it abundantly given us life and liberty

and the pursuit of happiness? (That didn’t

come from a paper written by humans! Not

really!) And don’t we believe that abun-

dance of life in Christ is not dependent on

our security from those who threaten to kill

us? Isn’t that the message Jesus gave when

he willingly gave himself to crucifixion

rather than call down the legions of angels

to protect and secure his life?

I understand the guns are to be allowed

in the houses of worship ONLY when the

pastor has given permission for it to happen.

I can assure you I would never give such

permission as a pastor, as a bishop, or as a

simple child of God. Just as I refuse to hide

the sterling silver every time I leave home

for fear a thief might break in and steal it,

so I refuse to go to the church of my choice

with a gun strapped to my hip, or in my

coat pocket, or brandished in the form of a

deer rifle! If I’m gunned down in church,

then maybe that’s the most blessed place I

could be when I go to meet my maker. Oh,

I won’t like it! I wouldn’t want to exit life

that way! But, I’m not going to go to wor-

ship with all my false protection out of fear

of some imagined enemy that never shows

up!

As I said originally, I hadn’t thought I

would comment on this whole subject

because I didn’t think it would be worth the

paper it is printed on. It seems such a waste

of your time as disciples and believers to

write these elementary thoughts to you. I

simply refuse to live in fear! If I am afraid,

the church is the place where I will go to

gain strength, assurance, peace, comfort of

spirit, and freedom from fear. And I don’t

need anyone’s guns to make that worshipful

space “secure” for me. I’ll trust in God to

do that. As another pastor friend reminded

me, “Some trust in chariots and some trust

in horses, but we trust in the name of the

Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

In Christ’s love,

Bill Hutchinson

xxxxx

2 JULY 23, 2010Louisiana Conference Now!

Louisiana Conference Now!

Louisiana Conference NOW! is the newspaper of the Louisiana Annual Conferenceof The United Methodist Church and is published twice a month.

Subscriptions are $20 for one year, $30 for two years.(Please make checks payable to Louisiana Annual Conference.)

Send subscriptions, news and information to: Editor

527 North BoulevardBaton Rouge, LA 70802

E-mail: bettybackstrom@la-umc.org(888) 239-5286 ext. 227

(225) 346-1646, (225) 383-2652 fax

You can find the Louisiana Annual Conference on the Internet athttp://www.la-umc.org

William W. Hutchinson

Don Cottrill

Betty Backstrom

Resident Bishop

Provost

Editor

ON THE JOURNEY

Guns in Church

Bishop WilliamW. Hutchinson

Wesley Foundation receives national award

In Memoriam Rev. Clyde W. Averett

3/9/10Evelyn W. August

3/23/10Teresa A. B. Calvin

5/4/10Rev. Minns S. Robertson

5/12/10Helen C. Koelemay

6/17/10Rev.Wilson Brent

6/8/10Janell McCammon

6/3/10Rev. Daniel W. Tohline

6/13/10

Rev. ConnieBreaux

Reverend WarrenClifton has joinedCentenary College asDirector of ChurchRelations June 1, suc-ceeding his friend andmentor, John “Benny”Vaughan.

Reverend Cliftonpreviously served asthe Director of YouthMinistries at St. Luke’sUnited MethodistChurch and Associate Pastor of NoelMemorial United Methodist Church, bothin Shreveport. He is also a licensed local

pastor.He graduated from Centenary College

with a degree in business in 1991 and fromThe University of Texas at Arlington withan MBA in 1994. He is currently pursuinghis M.Div. through Iliff School ofTheology.

Reverend Clifton is excited aboutreturning to his alma mater as the newestmember of the Advancement team. “Thoseof us who love Centenary College share185 years of history and an eternity of pos-sibilities.”

In his new position as Director ofChurch Relations, Rev. Clifton will beresponsible for nurturing the relationships

between the College and the LouisianaConference of United Methodists, andbetween the College and individual church-es. He also works closely with the Officeof Admissions to encourage Methodist stu-dents to attend Centenary as well as help-ing the Director of Financial Aid to trackchurch-related scholarships.

Centenary College makes its Director ofChurch Relations available to churches as aworship leader, Sunday school teacher, andretreat facilitator, as well as a businessprocess and human resources consultant.The Director can also coordinate teamsconsisting of students and staff from theCollege community to provide leadership

for local church events ranging fromretreats and mission projects to fundraisingevents.

Warren is married to AnneliseChristensen Clifton, a 1992 graduate ofCentenary College and a 1995 graduate ofSouthern Methodist University DedmanSchool of Law. Her father is Dr. Harold R.Christensen, professor of Economics atCentenary. Annelise works for the Councilon Alcoholism/Drug Abuse of NorthwestLouisiana as a teacher at The CavanaughCenter, a structured, supervised, adolescentinpatient treatment facility.

The Clifton’s have three school-agechildren: Sawyer, Ransom, and Harper.

3JULY 23, 2010 Louisiana Conference Now!

Rev. WarrenClifton

The McMains Center, the first SpiritualFormation Center in the LouisianaConference associated with a local congre-gation, is operating on the campus of FirstUnited Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.

One of three Spiritual FormationCenters within The United MethodistChurch in America, the ministry offers avariety of opportunities for spiritual growthand development to conference churchesand members.

Though the center has been offeringprograms, classes, retreats and small groupwork since September of 2009, it was for-mally dedicated on May 16, 2010.

The center is housed in an historicbuilding built in the mid-1800’s. A dona-tion by the McMains family enabled FirstUMC to acquire the property on which it

stands. The facility was renovated, andholds rooms for classes, a chapel and alibrary filled with a variety of books andcurricula.

“What began as a dilapidated buildinghas now been transformed into a real gem!In a way, this parallels what the Ministry ofSpiritual Formation is all about— forma-tion and transformation of our lives andbeing,” said Cherri Johnson, director forthe center.

Information on a variety of spiritualdevelopment areas include men’s andwomen’s retreats, pilgrimages, small groupand individual spiritual direction, interces-sory prayer ministry, contemplative prayer,spiritual discernment classes, and spiritualpractice in the Wesleyan tradition.

The ministry also offers Blueprints from

God, a course used to strengthen Christianfamilies, and The Balanced Christian Man,a course designed especially for men. Italso offers a men’s speaker series, Sundaymorning classes, and spiritual formation inthe arts, including pottery, painting, stainedglass, Ikebana flower arranging and pho-tography.

The center has become a resource forother churches in the Louisiana Conferenceby offering Christian formation seminars,national speakers, leadership training andretreats. “We also offer a SpiritualDirection Supervision Peer Group for spiri-tual directors in the Baton Rouge area,”added Johnson, who also serves on theboard for The Fellowship of UnitedMethodist Spiritual Directors and RetreatLeaders.

Both Johnson and Linda Beasely, assis-tant director for the center, work with TheAcademy of Spiritual Formation connectedwith the Upper Room.

“We invite anyone to drop by and expe-rience the beauty and restful environmentof The McMains Center. Bring a book toread or browse through the library andcheck out a book to read at home. You maywant to linger a while in the beautifulchapel, or have a cup of coffee as you visitwith the staff,” said Johnson.

The McMains Center is open Sundaythrough Thursday and by appointment.Classes, speakers, retreats and other oppor-tunities are advertised through the FirstUMC newsletter and on the church websiteat www.firstmethodist.org (Scroll down toMcMains Center for Spiritual Formation).

Louisiana United Methodist Childrenand Family Services, Inc., also known asLouisiana Methodist Children’s Home, hashired Gary Strebeck to serve as ExecutiveDirector of Public Relations, Developmentand Marketing.

Gary brings with him nearly 16 years ofexperience in the field, having worked forLouisiana Tech University and CapitalArea United Way. He holds a B.S. inMarketing from Louisiana Tech University

and a law degree, Juris Doctor, fromLouisiana State University.

Prior to joining Louisiana MethodistChildren’s Home, Gary held a managementrole at Louisiana Tech in the Division ofUniversity Advancement. In this position,Gary played a key role in the areas ofplanned giving, scholarships and otherendowments, the Annual Fund, and alsoprovided legal counsel.

“I am excited to join the work and min-

istry of the children’s home and look for-ward to working with all of our partners toexpand the resources needed to improvethe lives of the children and families weserve,” said Strebeck.

Terrel, J. DeVille, president and CEO ofLouisiana Methodist Children’s Homes,stated, “Gary brings to us a level of expert-ise and experience that will allow us to pro-vide the highest possible service to ourdonors and partners in ministry. As a result

of all of our efforts, children, youth andfamilies will be provided the opportunitiesto experience our Mission, which is‘Guiding children and families home toexperience love by following the teachingsof Christ’.”

The staff of the children’s home invitesgroups to call its office at (318) 255-5575to arrange a tour of the campus and learnmore about the ministry of this award win-ning facility.

The McMains Center, the first Spiritual Formation Center in the Louisiana Conference associated with a local congregation, is operating on the campus of First United MethodistChurch in Baton Rouge. Cherri Johnson and Linda Beasely, top, serve as director and assistant director, respectively, for the center.

McMains Center offers spiritual formation services to conference churches

Children’s Home hires Director of PR, Development and Marketing

Centenary welcomes new Director of Church Relations

4 JULY 23, 2010Louisiana Conference Now!

Members of First United MethodistChurch in Lake Providence held a “Faith inAction” service on June 13.

Sponsored by the church’s NOWCommittee (Nurture, Outreach andWitness), members went out to serve thecommunity after early morning worship.Tasks included power washing a house,cleaning out gutters, mowing grass, weed-ing flower beds, piling up trash and debris,weed eating, and writing letters to shut-insand to military patients at LandstuhlMilitary Hospital in Germany.

Members also made special flowerarrangements that they delivered to thelocal nursing home. Pillow sets, purchased

with monies raised during the church’sVacation Bible School, were decorated aspart of a mission project. Casseroles wereassembled and frozen so that food wouldbe ready for delivery when the need arises.

During the “Faith in Action” morningworship service, prayer quilts for individu-als undergoing chemotherapy were blessed.

Following the vigorous outside activi-ties, members returned to the church for alunch of sandwiches, dessert, lemonadeand tea. They all agreed that in spite of theheat and humidity, the service of helpingothers was truly putting their faith into“action.”

Lakeview United Methodist Church inShreveport held a special service onMemorial Day Sunday remembering localveterans who have given their lives in serv-ice. The Caddo Magnet High School ColorGuard presented the colors under the lead-ership of CSM Davis Robertson. Patriotichymns, special music and prayers, reflec-tions on peace with justice, and an act ofremembrance were included. At the closeof the service, Rev. M. TheresaMcConnell, pastor, read a list of those fam-ily and friends of the congregation that

were memorialized. At the conclusion ofthe service, church members planted smallAmerican flags along the church rose gar-den in front of the church. Photos andmemorabilia provided by veterans and theirfamilies were on display in the churchnarthex.

The church’s youth group traveled toDallas, Tex. this spring to attend a faith-based game day at The Ballpark atArlington. They attended a Third Day con-cert and watched the Rangers take on theTigers.

The masses turned out to tingle theirtastes buds with homemade chili whenUnited Methodist Men held their FirstAnnual Chili Cook-Off at First UnitedMethodist Church in Leesville. This year’sentries boasted colorful names such asRazzle Dazzle Chili, Spring Chili, TexasChili, White Chicken Chili, Warning ShotChili, Howlin’ Chili and Triple “B” Chili.

“If it opens your sinuses without mak-ing your eyes water, it’s just right. If itstarts off sweet and comes back with aspicy surprise, it’s a top runner. But if it hastoo many beans and is on the runny side —next,” said Wendell Wilkes.

It took the judges at the chili “throw-

down” just under an hour to narrow downthe top two winners of the highly contestedevent. Clay Williams’ “Welcome to theDeer Camp” chili received top honors fromguest judges Honorable Vernon Clark, USArmy Captain Tim Bryant, local business-woman Jaymie Wright and WendellWilkes, church member. Stephen Pittswon the Congregation’s Choice Awardwith his “Chili El Cajun”.

Proceeds from the event will be used topurchase video equipment for the churchsanctuary. Visit the church’s Facebookpage at www.fumcleesville.com or followTwitter www.twitter.com/fumcleesville formore information on future events.

Lakeview UMC in Shreveport cele-brated Memorial Day with a specialSunday service that included a colorguard from Caddo Magnet HighSchool. On the cover of this issue,members are shown planting smallAmerican flags along the churchrose garden. The church’s youthgroup, left, traveled to Dallas, Tex.this spring to attend a faith basedgame day at the Ballpark atArlington and to attend a Third Dayconcert.

Lakeview UMC - Shreveport

Downsville United Methodist Church in the Monroe District recently celebrated their par-ticipation in the Town and Country Academy by signing The Mutual Ministry Covenant.The church’s two year involvement in the covenant will kick off its evangelistic ministrythis fall with a dinner honoring the Downsville School employees. The church will imple-ment various ministries throughout the year to assist the students of the school.Pictured at the signing were Johnny McFarland, lay leader; Ann Ballard; Rev. GloriaYoungblood, pastor; Rev. Steve Stephens, Conference Director of Church Extensionand Transformation; Rev. Bob Burgess, Monroe District Superintendent; MarvinMcFarland; Carolyn Sistrunk; and John Wallace. The two McFarlands, Ballard, Sistrunkand Wallace are church committee members. Unable to attend the service, but instru-mental in guiding the committee with its work, was Renee Evans, Monroe DistrictMissioner.

Downsville UMC

First UMC - Leesville

First UMC - Lake Providence

of domestic shrimp below $2 a pound.However, this year, the price is up to $4 apound.

“We haven’t seen prices this good for along while,” Verdin says. “Right now, wewould be making a lot more money thanwe made last year. We have to make all themoney we can between the seasons to payour bills in the winter.”

Verdin worries about the spill reachingthe estuaries near Dulac. He also fears theoil spill will create a dead zone in the Gulfthat will destroy shrimp, crabs, oysters andfish for years to come. But despite thedamage, he doesn’t blame the oil industry.

“They are trying (to clean up the spill),”he says. “We can’t get mad at them, acci-dents happen.”

The Rev. Kirby Verett, pastor of ClantonChapel, understands that sentiment. It is notas easy as deciding between protectingGod’s creation and big business, he rea-sons.

“As one person told me, as bad as thisBP spill is, shrimping cannot support thiscommunity and without oil industry jobsthis area would not survive,” Verett says.

“Jesus said the poor will always be withus. But did Jesus believe some people aremeant to be poor all their lives? Jesusmeant for us to help people out of povertyby education, spiritual uplifting and what-ever we can do to help someone help them-selves.”Tied to the water

According to the earliest history, theUnited Houma Nation has always lived onthe east bank of the Mississippi River.They are recognized by the state ofLouisiana as a tribe; however, they havewaited more than 30 years to be recognized

as a federal tribe by the Bureau of IndianAffairs. More than 17,000 live in sixparishes in south Louisiana.

The tribe’s history, culture and liveli-hoods are deeply tied to the water.

Verett points to the rolling fields of tallslender marsh grass. “It’s beautiful, isn’tit?”

Among the soft reeds, tiny shrimp, oys-ters, crabs, fish and more than 700 speciesof birds, reptiles and mammals are cradledsafely in the protective arms of nature’sincubator.

Salt water from the Gulf of Mexico andfresh water from the Mississippi River mixbeneath miles-long fingers of dark greengrass to provide a safe haven for sea crea-tures to grow up in before facing theirwilder, tougher parent in the open gulf.

The estuaries winding along the coast ofLouisiana have faced many enemies overthe years. Hurricanes have battered anddestroyed the delicate shores while man-made barriers and structures have alteredthe natural flow of the Mississippi River.

No one wants the oil to make it into theestuaries. But a moratorium on the oilindustry will also be a killing blow to theeconomy, they say.Weathering strong winds

Located near the coastline of Louisiana,Dulac regularly gets pummeled by hurri-canes.

Most of the homes are in some stage ofrecovering from past storms. UnitedMethodist youth and other volunteer teamscome often to work on homes. Verdin’sfamily is just moving back into their homeafter living in a FEMA trailer for threeyears.

Today, a team of young people fromGrace Community United MethodistChurch in Shreveport, La., is sitting on top

of the house, in the blazing sun, replacingthe tin roof.

Verdin points to several water stainedspots on the ceiling in his living room.When asked what happened, he smiles andsays, “hurricanes.” Even with this constantthreat, he says there is no place he wouldrather be. His wife, Rebecca, and brother,Gabe, agree.

“Anywhere you go there could be aflood or a tornado or an earthquake,”Verdin adds. “I have lived here all my life.Dulac is an outdoor thing – if you wantfish or shrimp for dinner you just go outand catch them.”

Oddly enough, Hurricane Katrina in2005 didn’t really impact Dulac as much asother parts of the state. But a month later,her twisted sister Rita left behind a lot ofthe damage that people are still recoveringfrom. Gustav and Ike in 2008 added to thedestruction.

Ask people which hurricanes wereworst, and they all have a different answer.In 2002, Hurricane Lila took out the pre-school run by the church. People rememberhow bad it was in 1984 when Juandestroyed the Dulac Community Center. In1992, Hurricane Andrew came along anddid the same thing.

The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season isforecast to be an active year with some 16to 18 storms predicted. The first hurricaneof 2010, Alex, missed the Louisiana coast,but everyone in Dulac knows that eventual-ly another hurricane will tear their commu-nity apart.

People cope. They know how to cleanout the mud, lay their family photos in thesun to dry and replace roofs.No place like home

It will take a mighty big storm to makeMarie Dean, 94, leave again.

Her little blue house has been floodedthree times. The water stayed a long timethe last time. “I raised my family in thishouse,” she says, speaking in French.

She acknowledges one of her daughtershas nice, elevated house outside of Dulacthat would probably weather the stormsbetter.

“It’s nice but it’s not home,” Dean says.Looking around, she adds, “It takes a lot toleave everything you got.”

Family photos are hung high on the bluepaneling of her front room, among them isa framed certificate from the SmithsonianInstitution Office of Folklife Programs.Dean is a master palmetto-leaf weaver wholearned the art at the knees of her mother.She also makes dolls from the Spanishmoss that drapes most of the trees liningthe bayou.

She received the certificate in 1989 inrecognition of her “exceptional contribu-tions to the increase and diffusion ofknowledge about the cultural traditionswhich comprise the heritage of our nationand of the world.”

Most days, Dean sits just inside herfront door weaving. She can look out thedoor and see everything happening on theroad. She can glance to her right and watchthe boats go by on the bayou.

Verett says Dean is tough and he tells astory to back up his claim.

A few years ago, when she was 88, shewanted a fresh orange from the tree in herbackyard. She climbed up on a ladder, felland broke her knee. Instead of calling forhelp, she crawled back into her home.When the pain was too much, she did haveto go to the hospital and have surgery.

She points to the long scar, “I didn’t

5JULY 23, 2010 Louisiana Conference Now!

Dulac, from page 1

See Dulac, page 8

The Rev. Kirby Verett leads children's worship at Clanton Chapel United Methodist Church in Dulac, La. Rev. Verett serves as pastor for the UM church located in this small fish-ing community. A shrimper sets out his nets along the bayou in Dulac, La. All photos on the page are UMNS photos by Mike DuBose.

The Rev. Kirby Verett says the Houma people are deeply tied to the unique ecosystem found in Lousiana¹s coastal estuaries. Marie Dean, who is nationally recognized for her skillin weaving palmetto fronds into baskets and hats, says she is reluctant to leave her Dulac, La., home during the area's frequent bouts with hurricanes.

Liz Murray—a oncehomeless teen whoultimately graduatedfrom HarvardUniversity— will serveas featured speaker for“The Power of HOPE”Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. atthe Baton RougeMarriott. Ticket salesfor this event will ben-efit HOPE Ministries, anonprofit agency asso-ciated with the Louisiana Conference.

Murray’s inspirational story was madeinto a Hollywood movie entitled FromHomeless to Harvard. She grew up withtwo drug-addicted parents who she begansupporting at age 10. Homeless at age 15,the death of her mother was the wake-upcall that made her break away from her cir-

cumstances and pursue a different path forher life. While living on the streets of NewYork, she finished high school in just twoyears. Overcoming horrible odds, she wona full scholarship and was accepted toHarvard University where she received herB.S. in Psychology in June 2009. LifetimeTelevision produced a movie aboutMurray’s life story which premiered inApril of 2003. Murray’s memoirs will bereleased by Hyperion on Sept. 7.

Tickets for The Power of HOPE are $50each or $500 to reserve a table for ten. Thisevent includes light hors d’oeuvres and acash bar. HOPE Ministries is a nonprofitagency that serves impoverished familiesat-risk for homelessness in the BatonRouge community through several innova-tive programs. Ticket information can befound at www.hopebr.org.

6 JULY 23, 2010Louisiana Conference Now!

The AmericanCancer Society in NewOrleans recentlynamed Rev. BarbaraDuke as the 2009Louisiana PatientSupport Volunteer ofthe Year for her workas an OncologyChaplain at McFarlandInstitute with WestJefferson Medical

Center. Duke was recognized at the organi-zation’s Evening of Recognition on March10 at the New Orleans Fair Grounds andpresented with a Life Saver Award for hercontributions.

Rev. Duke has served five years in thisposition and is appointed through theConference as part of SpecialAppointments with Extension Ministries.She is married to Rev. Jeff Duke who pas-tors Bayou Blue UMC in Houma andMemorial UMC in Matthews.

The best years of the church are aheadof us, and in anticipation, the Church of theResurrection in Leawood, Kansas hosts itsannual Leadership Institute, focusing thisyear on “Preparing for a Future withHope.” Join Adam Hamilton, the staff ofthe Church of the Resurrection, and thou-sands of United Methodists from around

the country as they gather to learn andshare at the Leadership Institute 2010 slat-ed for Oct. 7-8 in Leawood Kansas. Visitwww.cor.org/institute10 for registrationinformation. Special discounts are availablefor young adults and leaders of newchurches.

The Commission on the GeneralConference has selected “Make Disciplesof Jesus Christ to Transform the World” asthe theme for The United MethodistChurch’s 2012 General Conference, sched-uled for April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla.

The theme echoes the mission of TheUnited Methodist Church to make disciplesof Jesus Christ for the transformation of theworld as a way of aligning the GeneralConference with the denomination’s centralmission—so that theconferenceis not aone-timeevent, but apart of theongoingministry ofthe church.

A com-mittee of representatives from theCommission on the General Conferenceand the Council of Bishops was chargedwith making recommendations for a themeand logo to the full commission forapproval. Once a theme was selected, theUnited Methodist Publishing House’sdesign team developed logo proposals forconsideration.

“We sensed that people across thechurch are longing for clarity about ourmission, and we believed that the theme ofthe General Conference should reinforceand celebrate that mission,” said JimHarnish, a member of the commission andchair of the committee. “We hope that theSpirit of God will use this theme to unite

and energize our people to fulfill this mis-sion and enable us to set clear priorities forthe use of our resources.”

The logo which complements the themedepicts a graphic image of the cross (repre-senting the presence of Jesus Christ at thecenter of our mission) with circles extend-ing from the cross (expressing energy andmovement into ministry in the world)imposed against a bright sun and bluewater (representing Tampa, Fla. as the con-

ference site).The impera-tive verbs“make” and“transform”underscore theurgency of themission andcall for activeresponse.

TheCommission also announced that the offi-cial General Conference 2012 website willbe gc2012.umc.org. The site is expected tobe available by early fall.

About General Conference 2012

General Conference is the top policy-mak-ing body of The United Methodist Church.The 1000-member assembly meets onceevery four years to consider revisions tochurch law, as well as adopt resolutions oncurrent moral, social, public policy andeconomic issues. It also approves plans andbudgets for churchwide programs for thenext four years. The 2012 meeting willtake place April 24-May 4 at the TampaConvention Center.

Liz Murray

HOPE Ministries hosts formerhomeless woman, now Harvard graduate

Chase MichaelRials, a member ofAsbury UnitedMethodist Church inBossier City, received a$1,000 Gift of HopeScholarship awardedby the General Boardof Higher Educationand Ministry.

Chase Rials, the sonof Robin RialsWilliams, plans toattend Centenary College this fall to majorin History with hopes of pursuing a careerin Education.

The Rev. Dr. Karen Layman Gift ofHope Scholarship is awarded to about 500undergraduate students who have beenactive and full members of The UnitedMethodist Church for at least three years,have a 3.0 grade point average, and havedemonstrated strong leadership in The

United Methodist Church, said AllysonCollinsworth, scholarships administrator ofthe Office of Loans and Scholarships at theGeneral Board of Higher Education andMinistry.

The United Methodist Church, throughthe General Board of Higher Education andMinistry’s Office of Loans andScholarships, awards more than $3 millionin scholarships each year to undergraduate,graduate, and seminary students through 60scholarship programs. Nearly $2 million ayear is distributed in loans to college stu-dents who are members of The UnitedMethodist Church.

To learn more about United

Methodist loans and scholarships, visit

www.gbhem.org/loansandscholarships.To donate online to United MethodistStudent Day, which supports the scholar-ship and loan programs, visit www.umc-giving.org/studentday.

Chase Rials

Barbara Duke

Rials Receives Gift of Hope Scholarship

Director of Christian Education

St. Andrew’s UMC in Baton Rouge seeks a Director of Christian Education tocreate and coordinate Christian education programs and activities for children,youth, and adults. The successful candidate will have experience in children oryouth ministry in the United Methodist tradition, and experience in volunteerrecruitment and training. This is a part-time position, approximately 25-30hours per week. Salary is $26K per year. Please send your resume with refer-ences to info@standrewsumc.net. Contact Linda Harper at (225) 752-2903 formore information.

Deadline to apply is July 31, 2010.

Annual Leadership Insitute slated

Henning Memorial United Methodist Church in Lake Charles, La. seeks a full-time Director of Music Ministries. Job responsibilities include leading choirs andcongregation during worship and expanding opportunities for traditional andcontemporary music by promoting development of music for all ages and skilllevels. Bachelor’s degree in music, or its equivalent, is required. Please sendresume to asaph.hmumc@gmail.com

Director of Music Ministries

General Conference logo and theme set

Duke receives award for oncology chaplaincy

A new guidebook that provides awealth of information about the 121United Methodist-related schools, col-leges, universities, and theologicalschools should help high school stu-dents easily compare tuition, degreesawarded, and possible financial aid.

The Guidebook of United Methodist-Related Schools, Colleges, Universities,and Theological Schools will be usefulfor students, pastors, youth leaders, andparents who want to learn more aboutUnited Methodist-related educationalinstitutions.

“We hope local churches and youthleaders will make this book available tohigh school students to help with theircollege selection process,” said WandaBigham, assistant general secretary forSchools, Colleges, and Universities of

the General Board of HigherEducation’s Division of HigherEducation. “The snapshot of informa-tion about each institution will help stu-dents find one of our colleges or univer-sities that is the best fit for their jour-ney.”

In addition to information about the98 United Methodist-related colleges,the guidebook contains a sketch of the13 United Methodist theologicalschools, and the 10 college preparatoryschools. Each institution’s Web site, aswell as contact information for theadmission office, a list of degreesoffered, and information about religiouslife on campus, dorms, and sports are allincluded.

Order online for $5 at www.cokes-bury.com

7JULY 23, 2010 Louisiana Conference Now!

Mission volunteers will be able tosharpen their cultural sensitivity duringCultivating Cultural Intelligence, a seminarsponsored by Louisiana Volunteers inMission slated for Nov. 13 at First UMC inPineville.

Team leaders and all volunteers whohave served and plan to serve on an inter-national mission will benefit from four dif-ferent workshops led by Dr. Robert Hunt,director of Global Theological Educationfor Perkins School of Theology.

Participants will learn more about threekey aspects of “cultural intelligence”—knowledge of one’s own culture, mindful-ness of the other cultures, and behavioral

skills appropriate to engaging new cultures.“UMVIM, along with Louisiana

Volunteers in Mission, has become one ofthe greatest resources for Christian out-reach in our world today. In becoming so,we place ourselves in settings that arephysically, socially, spiritually, and cultur-ally challenging. These four workshopswill help volunteers to do their job withindifferent cultural contexts,” said Rev. LarryNorman, LAVIM director.

The event fee is $15 and includes thecost of lunch. To register, please contactAmanda Short in the LAVIM office at(225) 346-1646. The deadline for registra-tion is Nov. 1.

Looking for new ideas that will growyour church’s effectiveness in ministry?Take a minute to access two free resourcesthat can help church leaders throughout theLouisiana Annual Conference.

The United Methodist Foundation ofLouisiana produces a free monthly elec-tronic newsletter entitled PastorBlast! fea-turing articles that address topics bythoughtful, cutting-edge leaders on subjectsyou care about — navigating change,financing your ministry, communicatingeffectively — and help you be the leaderGod is calling you to be.

PastorBlast! is automatically sent toyour email address on a monthly basis. Ifyou’re not receiving PastorBlast!, contactthe Foundation at 225.346.1535 or visit thewebsite at www.umf.org (click on “Contactus!”).

Leading Ideas is a free biweekly e-newsletter issued by the Lewis Center for

Church Leadership of Wesley TheologicalSeminary in Washington, DC. The LewisCenter is committed to helping congrega-tions and denominations thrive and growby providing ideas, research, resources, andtraining for vital and fruitful leadership.

Leading Ideas includes vignettes ofleaders and congregations, book reviews,leadership quotes, and helpful “right ques-tions” built around the premise that leadersdon’t need answers — they need to knowthe right questions.

Also, every four weeks subscribersreceive the Lewis Center Update with newsof church leadership research, programs,events, and resources at the Lewis Centerand elsewhere.

To subscribe, go to www.churchleader-ship.com You will find instructions onhow to receive Leading Ideas on the homepage of the website.

Rev. Jon Lord, pastor of Metairie and Carrollton United Methodist Churches, recentlycompleted a five-week pulpit exchange with Rev. Bill Meaker of Emseni MethodistChurch in Johannesburg, South Africa. Rev. Lord initiated the exchange with Meaker,who is a native of South Africa and Lord’s former bishop. Lord is a native of West Monroe and has served as a pastor and missionary in SouthAfrica. He returned to serve the Louisiana Conference four years ago. Lord, Meakerand a local pastor in Orange Farm, South Africa, are pictured during a LAVIM missionto South Africa in 2001.

Free e-letters provide valuableresources for local churches

The Louisiana United Methodist Disaster Response ministry has been assisting with long term recovery from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike since 2005. Funding forthe response is winding down, but much has been accomplished through the ministry’s efforts. Here is a recap of what has been accomplished by Louisiana United MethodistDisaster Response at each response station throughout the state from Sept. 2005-June 2010. The column marked “In-kind Value” shows the monetary value associated with thevolunteers hours donated. This figure is used by the State of Louisiana to retire its debt to the federal government for hurricane response.

Station Clients Served Volunteers Volunteers Hours In-kind ValueUpper River Parishes - Plaquemine, LA 173 84 1,100 $21,866Lower River Parishes - Houma, LA 16,449 8,682 320,779 $911,489New Iberia - New Iberia, LA 678Southwest Louisiana - Lake Charles, LA 12,465 14,952 656,230 $12,776,477Southeast Louisiana - New Orleans, LA 38,387 68,339 2,908,211 $62,141,184

Grand Total 68,152 92,057 3,886,320 $75,851,016

Louisiana UM Disaster Response Ministry provides 3,886,320 volunteer hours to date

Guidebook available of UM-related schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools

‘Cultural Intelligence’ seminar slated

225.346.1535 800.256.9317

If you don’t create a will, the state has made one for you. That means the state determines who gets your assets—your property, your money and your minor children—not you.

Not convinced you need a will?

Think about the future:

• Are your loved ones provided for?

• Does everyone get the same?

• Are you accidentally disinheriting anyone?

• Will your church pledge be fulfi lled?

Find out all you need to know about wills at

www.umfgiving.org

What will happen if I die without a will?

8 JULY 23, 2010Louisiana Conference Now!

A DYNAMIC GATHERING TO ENERGIZE AND EQUIP YOU FOR EFFECTIVE MISSION

You may register online: www.rethinkworship.org

REGISTRATION: Lunch is included in registration feeBefore September 15: $20.00 – After September 15: $30.00

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.SATURDAY – DECEMBER 4, 2010

The Alexandria Riverfront Center

To engage the new, postmodern world with the Good News of the Kingdom of God is to deal with many obstacles. We must navigate pluralism, distrust, superficiality, and negative labels. We must also operate in a world where people are becoming more and more disconnected and alienated from one another.In the face of these obstacles, many followers of Christ either quit or continue living with a dated and ineffective approach. The way we currently practice church simply does not work. The good news is that the Kingdom of God is near. For many of us, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore new wineskins.

Preaching-- JJiimm WWaallkkeerr is co-pastor of Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community – a United Methodist congregation in Pittsburgh.

Media–– LLeenn WWiillssoonn aanndd JJaassoonn MMoooorree of Midnight Oil Productions utilize culture art and technology to connect people with God.

Music-- MMaarrkk SSoorreennsseenn aanndd DDeerreekk JJooyyccee, Faithlink worship leaders at First UMC Shreveport

Liturgical Arts and Drama-- RReevv.. BBeevveerrllyy CCoonnnneellllyy, St. Paul UMC Shreveport – pastor dancer, drama facilitator.

want anyone to know I fell,” she explains,shrugging her shoulder.‘Don’t look back’

Growing up in nearby DuLarge, Verrettlearned about racism early in life.

“We (Indians) knew our bounds. Thatwas the way life was,” Verett says of atti-tudes when he was growing up. “If youwent into Houma you couldn’t walk on themain street or sit in movie houses, youcouldn’t vote. I mean people would flat outtell you, you can’t come in here.”

He remembers once as a young boy hisfamily was targeted by an angry crowd ashis parents drove past a white high schoolwhen a football game was just letting out.

“People recognized my parents to beIndian and they started throwing beer bot-tles at the car,” he says.

“God calls me to action,” said the 5-foot-five, 62-year-old, gray-haired manwho speaks with a distinct Cajun Frenchaccent. Like the storms that frequently rollacross his homeland, he is always movingand almost never stops talking.

“Seems to me that my revelations in lifeall have to do with disaster and good com-ing out of it,” he says, laughing.

Verett knows his community is hurting.Most folks are shrimpers and fishers, workin a seafood-related business or work forthe oil industry.

Many of the shrimpers like Verdin arebeing paid by British Petroleum to usetheir boats to help in the cleanup efforts.The bright blue and green “skimming” netsare being replaced temporarily by orangeand yellow booms that surround and soakup the oil.The stress is taking its toll

Verett was in the hospital for three daysrecently with chest pains. A follow-upangiogram showed five blockages thatwon’t require surgery or stints at this timebut will mean he will be on medicationand needs to curtail his activities.

But a few days later, Verett is happilygreeting the congregation as they comeinto church.

This Sunday, the message is from Luke9:62. He reads, “Jesus said to him, ‘No onewho puts his hand to the plow and looksback is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

“Jesus says, ‘Don’t look back!’” hedeclares to the few scattered around thesanctuary.

At the end of the service he greets eachperson. People linger to share their liveswith each other.

“We do not have millionaires who aremembers here; we have good loving, hos-pitable people that are faithful to thechurch,” he says. “And out of that, goodthings keep coming.”

Verett believes in good things

“I am living down the street here and itain’t just a life, it’s an adventure.

“God has a better plan for all of us, ifyou are willing to give into what God hasplanned for your life then you can behappy and fulfilled and in easy and hardtimes he is going to lead you through.”

* Gilbert is a multimedia reporter forUnited Methodist Communications inNashville, Tenn.

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