Centenary hosts 2016 Louisiana United Methodist Annual Conference
SHREVEPORT, LA — The 2016 Louisiana United Methodist Annual Conference returns to Centenary College in June with a new schedule. More than 1,000 United Methodist delegates from throughout the state will gather at Centenary from Wednesday, June 8 through Saturday, June 11. The Wednesday-Saturday shift is designed to make it easier for lay delegates to attend annual conference, which takes its "Rooted and Grounded" theme from Ephesians 3:14-21.
"We are thrilled as always to host the Louisiana Annual Conference," says Maegan Habich, Assistant Director of Centenary's Christian Leadership Center. "As a United Methodist-related institution, Centenary seeks to bridge and intersect the spaces between faith and academy. Hosting Annual Conference exemplifies this rich tradition and demonstrates our distinct connection to United Methodism."
Centenary alumni will make important contributions to annual conference this year, including Katie McKay Simpson '04 who will serve as one of two "hosts" for the conference, helping to introduce events and speakers throughout the proceedings. Simpson is pastor of University MC in Lake Charles, Louisiana and recently attended the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon as a delegate.
Alumna Elizabeth McCormick '05 and her husband David '01 were commissioned as missionaries on May 19 during General Conference and will be recognized by the Louisiana Annual Conference during a special prayer on Thursday, June 9. The McCormicks will move with their two young daughters to Mozambique to serve at the Chicuque Rural Hospital, where David will be the hospital's administrator and Elizabeth will serve as pharmacist.
Several Centenary alumni will also achieve milestones during the 2016 annual conference. Hannah Henderson '13 and Austin Rinehart '13 will be commissioned as Elders, and Warren Clifton '91 and Marissa Teauseau '10 will be ordained as Elders. Ordinations and commissionings will take place during the Celebration of Ministry service on Friday, June 10.
All worship services during AC2016 will be live-streamed this year. More details are available at laumc.org/ac2016rootedandgrounded.