The fracture in the United Methodist Church that manifested in a historic split in 2022 continued to widen into the new year, again making it among the top Baton Rouge-area religion stories for 2023.
Ninety-five United Methodist churches voted on May 27 to officially disaffiliate from the denomination during a special session of the Louisiana Annual Conference at First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge. At the time, the vote represented nearly 40% of Louisiana churches leaving the Methodist body over the past few years.
The separation came under the "Paragraph 2553" provision, which was added to the denomination's Book of Discipline in 2019 to allow local congregations to leave for "reasons of conscience." Among those chief reasons for the separation was the United Methodist Church's stance on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. The United Methodist Church forbids LGBTQ clergy and punishes ministers who officiate same-sex marriages. That stance has led to similar splits around the nation.
On June 14, in the first annual conference after the vote, United Methodist leader Delores Williamston in Baton Rouge delivered a message of hope, urging attendees to renew their passion for ministry and find new ways to share the gospel.
“It’s time for us to pick up our mats and walk in hope in the mission field of Louisiana,” said Williamston, who made history on March 4 when she was formally installed as the first Black female bishop in the United Methodist Church’s south central jurisdiction, which includes Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Williamston, a Kansas native and Army National Guard veteran, was elected to the position in November 2022.
Among the other top news and notes in the faith community in 2023:
Bishop Brooks dies
Bishop Edward L. Brooks Jr., the pastor and overseer of Breath of Life Christian Center in Clinton, died Jan. 7. Brooks, a Jackson native, served at Breath of Life for 22 years. Known as "Easy Rider" in the trucking industry, Brooks was the owner and operator of a transportation company. He was also vice president of the McManus Volunteer Fire Department, a Clinton police officer and a member of the East Feliciana Parish School Board for several years.
Women in Ministry
Founded by the Rev. Mary Moss, the Louisiana Area Women in Ministry had a 20-year celebration on Feb. 18 at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. The theme was "Resilient, Relevant, Responsive."
Moss, the executive director, said the group was birthed out of "personal concern about women in ministry not having a place where they could fellowship with each other and be nurtured by each other and be mentored by each other."
Pastor sentenced
The Rev. Charles Southall III, the pastor of First Emanuel Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, was sentenced by a federal judge in New Orleans on Feb. 28 to five years in prison and ordered to repay nearly $900,000 in restitution.
In October 2022, Southall, 65, pleaded guilty to a single count of money laundering, reaching the agreement as federal prosecutors prepared to present a case they say would have shown the minister solicited and stole tithes from his parishioners, sold church properties and pocketed the profits, and siphoned for himself funding that had been earmarked to build a charter school.
Tony Spell appeal
Tony Spell carried over his fight with the state into another year. Spell, the pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in Central, has been at odds with the state and Gov. John Bel Edwards since drawing national attention for flouting of restrictions early in the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He advocated for more religious freedom at Louisiana churches after many were forced to shut down in the early days of the pandemic.
On Feb. 17, a federal appeals court dismissed Spell’s lawsuit, in which Spell claimed Edwards had no jurisdiction to regulate church services. Spell’s lawsuit sought damages and a judgment declaring the governor's proclamations unconstitutional.
Priest, siblings shot
The Rev. Ryan Hallford, a staff member at St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge and former pastor at Holy Family Church in Port Allen, was one of three siblings injured in a shooting on May 23 in Ponchatoula.
According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Casey Hallford shot his three siblings, including the Rev. Hallford, before fleeing.
New LDS leadership
Michael Smuin took over in July as the new president of the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He serves with his wife, Holly. The couple succeeded Louisiana natives and Southern University graduates John Amos and Michelle Amos.
The Smuins relocated from Vernal, Utah, to assume the three-year commitment to lead the mission in Baton Rouge.
Divine appointment
The Rev. Dustin P. Dought, of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, began a three-year appointment on July 1 as executive director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.
Dought served as associate director in that office since 2021. A Lafayette native, he holds a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology and a licentiate in liturgical studies from the Catholic University of America. He earned a bachelor’s in theology and philosophy at St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington.
Priest attacked
A Melville priest was attacked in his St. Landry Parish home by a man with a machete on July 13.
The Rev. Stephen C. Ugwu, of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Melville, was released from the hospital about a week later. The suspect was charged with second-degree attempted murder, home invasion and a bench warrant. The suspect, who is White, was also accused of a hate crime against Ugwu, a Black man and native of Nigeria. Ugwu emigrated to the United States more than 30 years ago and was ordained to the priesthood in 2002.
Pastor Van Smith dies
The Rev. Van Smith Jr., the longtime pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and St. Peter Baptist Church in Plaquemine, died July 25 at age 84.
Smith, who graduated from Iberville High School in 1956, went on to Southern University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with a major in vocal music. He completed postgraduate studies at Southern University, LSU and Nicholls State University. Smith taught vocal music for 34 years and retired as the choral director of Plaquemine High School.
Smith was called to preach in 1983. In 1985, he took over as pastor of Zion Traveler Baptist Church in New Roads, where he served as the pastor for more than 30 years. He started serving as the pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and St. Peter Baptist Church in 1986.
Tragic loss
The Rev. Mark Beard, of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, died in a single-car accident Aug. 2 in southern Mississippi. Beard, 62, served 12 years as pastor of St. Helena Catholic Church in Amite, where he first befriended Gov. John Bel Edwards. Beard was a graduate of Catholic High of Baton Rouge, LSU and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
CommUNITY Breakfast
Faith groups from across the city joined together for the CommUNITY Prayer Breakfast Sept. 14 at The Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The annual event is hosted by the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge, with the theme "Love Thy Neighbor: The Path to a Brighter Future."
Eucharistic Rally
More than 2,000 people gathered Oct. 5 in the Cajundome Convention Center in Lafayette for a rally to rekindle Catholics’ passion for the Holy Eucharist. The event featured Mass, dinner and a nationally recognized speaker.
Diocesan officials said the Eucharistic Rally was part of a three-year effort — the National Eucharistic Revival — to restore passion for the Holy Eucharist in the minds of Catholics in Louisiana and across the nation.
The keynote speaker was Ralph Martin, president of Renewal Ministries and host of the weekly Catholic TV program "The Choices We Face." Martin is also a professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, a visiting professor at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and a prolific author.
75 years of Lighthouse
The Legendary Lighthouse Gospel Singers celebrated 75 years during an anniversary concert on Oct. 29 at Promised Land.
The group — led by current members Perry (80) and Sterling (77) Wright — got its start at Travelers Rest Baptist Church in Wilson under the direction of their Sunday school teacher. The Wrights were joined by their cousin Helen Dantzler and their late brother Levie Wright Sr. The singers continue to perform with a group of primarily family members.
Progressive move
One of Lafayette's most prominent churches saw a change in leadership. The Rev. Lloyd Joiner Jr. retired in November after more than 44 years as pastor of Progressive Baptist Church. The Rev. Chad Nora is the pastor-elect.
Joiner accepted the call to the ministry in 1975. He pursued theological studies at Monroe Theological Seminary and numerous ministerial institutes at Bishop College and was installed as Progressive's pastor in 1979.
Westside shepherds
- The Rev. Dana Trahan, of Denham Springs, was installed Sept. 10 as the new pastor of Westside Community Church in Plaquemine.
- The Rev. Daniel Johnson took over as pastor of Israelite Missionary Baptist Church in Brusly on Oct. 8, replacing the Rev. George C. Pierce. The church honored Pierce for his 48 years of service and his 86th birthday during a celebration event in March. Johnson is also the pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.
Notable anniversaries
- Mount Zion First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge's oldest Black church, celebrated its 165th anniversary on Jan. 29.
- University Baptist Church celebrated its 75th anniversary on Feb. 5.
- Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Donaldsonville celebrated its 250th anniversary on April 15.
- The Little Rock Baptist Church in Slaughter celebrated its 160th anniversary on Aug. 27.
- Venable Chapel AME Church in Greensburg celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sept.10.
- Sweet Home Baptist Church, 343 W. Buchanan St. in Baton Rouge, celebrated its 100th anniversary Oct. 13-15.
- Mount Gillion Baptist Church, 346 E. Buchanan St. in Baton Rouge, celebrated its 150th anniversary on Oct. 29.
- Bethany Church celebrated 60 years with special events throughout October.