Louisiana Interchurch Conference

E-Newsletter March 24, 2016

“To live the faith we hold in common”

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Something New Under The Sun (article from our Director) Prayer Requests Bethel AME Church receives award Reformation seminars continue – April 3rd, New Orleans 26th Annual Sounds of CommUNITY Concert – April 10th 50th Anniversary of Earth Day – April 22nd Getting Ecumenical with Kiwanis in Baton Rouge Annual Assembly­a need seen for a new Task Force Offering thanks to our recent contributors Additional dates to calendar ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something New Under The Sun Article from our Director

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:17­18a)

Easter is such a wonderful season with the themes of rebirth and renewal symbolized for many with the Easter Bunny and the Easter Egg. Of course, there is the changing landscape in this part of the world. This is azalea season in much of Louisiana and the South, and other flowers are blooming while farmers are preparing the land for new crops. As good as these wonderful signs of nature are, we also know that Easter is also about not just the rebirth but the transformation of life. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian Faith, and for us every Sunday is about celebrating the Resurrection. All the different symbols of renewal and transformation—of which there are many—cannot encompass the fullness of the mysterious truth of the Resurrection.

From the depths of the misery experienced in the passion and death of Jesus of Nazareth, God surprises his followers, the world and all creation by raising Jesus to New Life AND all creation as well. Now, when we leap forward in history, we know that there have been many, many events that would cause us to have doubt about this critical tenet of the Christian Faith. There are always opportunities to doubt, and certainly many people are very much in sympathy with the words in Ecclesiastes penned millennia ago: “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Whether it’s from work or other life experiences, one of the conundrums we likely will encounter is that problems arise for which we don’t have answers. It seems too that people and nations continue to make war, evoke mayhem and violence, and create such chaos that the prospect of reconciliation and peace seem fleeting visions at best. For some time now I’ve found myself immersed in a history of the beginnings of World War II, focusing on Winston Churchill. The author of this biography of Churchill draws a portrait of a man who was practically the last man standing in the way of Adolph Hitler’s aspirations to conquer Europe and much. Churchill was undaunted when almost all around him were naysayers and refused to believe what he was saying about Hitler. Churchill was the man of the hour and the man of his time. It may be a bit strong, but one has the feeling that, as in other times, God provides the leaders needed to overcome the forces of darkness. And maybe all those instances simply find their source in the One whom God raised up from darkness and death and arose to greet the Sun on that first Easter, the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, there is and always will be something new under the sun!

Rev. Dan Krutz

Prayer Requests

In sympathy to the family of REV. JOHN R. BADE. Rev. Bade passed away on March 2nd after a battle with a chronic illness. His wife, Rev. Robin McCullough- Bade has been active with the LIC for many years and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.

ALANA, infant granddaughter of the Rt. Rev. Thomas Brown, Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 4th Episcopal District. Alana was born on Feb. 6th in Stone Mountain, Georgia. There were difficulties, but Alana is making progress. Please keep Alana and her family in prayer.

REV. WAYNE CARTER, Board Designate to the LIC from the Episcopal Church – Diocese of Western Louisiana. We would like to keep Dr. Carter in prayer over some recent health issues and associate medical tests. We also appreciate his willingness to serve on the LIC Executive Committee as Coordinator for Region One. Dr. Carter was elected by the Board at the March Annual Assembly to fill this additional position after Rev. Gyce stepped down.

BISHOP ROY L. H. WINBUSH, prelate of the Louisiana First Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ. Please keep Bishop Winbush in prayer as he recovers from a recent fall.

Bethel AME Church receives award

News from Baton Rouge Metro Council Meeting of February 24, 2016:

As part of Black Heritage month, Rev. Kelly, on behalf of Bethel AME Church, received an award of recognition for hosting a community wide ceremony to mark the issuing of a Forever Stamp, honoring the Rev. Richard Allen. Rev. Allen was the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Rev. Herman Kelly and Rev. Dan Krutz are gathered here with members of Bethel AME Church in the Metro Council Chambers of East Baton Rouge Parish.

Rev. Kelly serves as Board Designate to the LIC from the AME Church ­ 8th Episcopal District. Rev. Dan Krutz, Executive Director of the LIC, was privileged to attend the above mentioned unveiling ceremony, with Rev. Kelly and many others, on Feb. 20, 2016 in Baton Rouge.

Reformation seminars continue – April 3rd, New Orleans

“The Road to the Wittenberg Door” Cultural and Religious Influences on Martin Luther at the Dawn of the Reformation. Presented by Dr. Mark Gstohl, Head of the Department of Theology at Xavier University.

Sponsored by: Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs

Second Annual Rev. Donald Hawkins, S.J. Memorial Lecture

Sunday, April 3, 2016, 7:30 PM St. Katharine Drexel Chapel Xavier University, New Orleans

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Seminar held in memory of Rev. Donald Hawkins, S.J., a priest for 37 years, who served as Ecumenical and

Interreligious Officer of the Archdiocese of New Orleans before his death in December of 2013.

26th Annual Sounds of CommUNITY Concert – April 10th

26th Annual Sounds of CommUNITY Concert

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 4:00 pm, Greater New Guide Baptist Church, 3445 Fairfields Ave. Baton Rouge, LA

No Cost -- Freewill Donation -- Reception follows In memory of Rev. John Bade. In tribute to Howard Thurman; featuring Heritage.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call the Federation office (267-5600) or go online at www.ifedgbr.com

50th Anniversary of Earth Day – April 22nd

The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day will be Friday, April 22, 2016. Care of our Earth begins with YOU, right here at home.

We encourage churches to celebrate Earth Day Sunday on April 17th and/or April 24th.

The Louisiana Interchurch Conference, in collaboration with Restore the Mississippi River Delta has developed a “Sharing the Earth Day” Sunday bulletin insert that we

invite you to download by clicking on this picture link: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpts from the “Sharing the Earth Day” church bulletin:

Coastal Creation Care God made the heavens, the earth, and the seas—and our beautiful Louisiana wetlands. He calls us to care for creation.

We must respond to Louisiana’s coastal crisis. If we act now, we can save the wetlands and wildlife that are central to

our culture and vital to our economy.

Hymn of Saint Francis of Asissi Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom you give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor; and bears a likeness of you, Most High. Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful. Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather through whom you give sustenance to your creatures. Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste. Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Getting Ecumenical with Kiwanis in Baton Rouge

Photo Source: CORKI ­ Weekly Newsletter of Cortana Kiwanis of Baton Rouge, March 22, 2016 Volume 15/16 Issue 21

On March 17, 2016, Fr. Dan Krutz was invited to address the Kiwanis Club in Baton Rouge. Fr. Dan was able to introduce them to the Bread or Stones anti­poverty initiative for children, as well as briefly outline some of the other programs of the L.I.C. As an Episcopalian, he then went on to give them a basic history of his own religion, stemming from the Church of England, and leading all the way up to the current practices of the Lenten season. He reminded the group that at one time churches couldn't worship in public. It was in 312 that Constantine made it legal to worship in public. How precious is that freedom to worship! Kiwanis President Sean McDonald,

Fr. Dan Krutz, and Rev. Darryl Tate

Annual Assembly­a need seen for a new Task Force

46 th

Around 50 persons gathered for the 46th Annual Assembly of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference Board of Directors, held March 7th & 8th, at Peaceful Rest Missionary

Baptist Church in Shreveport. The theme was: “The Church, Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation”

Dr. Melva Turner­Williams, Executive Associate to the Chancellor, Southern University of Shreveport, gave the introductory address, providing an in­depth power point presentation covering aspects of the related social issues. The Tuesday address was provided by Dr. David Otto, a Professor of Religious Studies, and the Arthur & Emily Webb Chair of International Studies, Centenary College of Louisiana. Dr. Otto brought it down to a practical level – this is what YOU can do. With much interaction between all present, participants perceived the need for the LIC to possibly develop a new Task Force on Racial Reconciliation. The LIC will be reviewing this.

Business Session Highlights: During introductions we were excited to greet twelve delegates who said they were new to the LIC and were attending their first Annual Assembly! The Rev. Jan Curwick of the United Methodist Church attended her first Assembly as the LIC Treasurer. Delegates approved Rev. Curwick's motion for guidelines providing flexible giving by Judicatories for the 2017 budget. Mrs. Catherine Townsend reported that she and others on the Ecumenical Formation Task Force have been invited to take part in a class on Ecumenism at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. The Rev. Jean Marie Peacock reported Christian Renewal New Orleans is planning a summer program for seminarians in New Orleans and also is hoping to provide clergy support groups through Cornerstone Ministries. New judicatory leaders offered remarks including the Rev. Dr. Nadine Burton who is serving as Interim Regional Minister for the Red River Region of the Disciples of Christ. She will be concluding her work with the Region later this year ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A group picture of some of the participants at the Louisiana Interchurch Conference 46th Annual Assembly Worship Service, held March 7, 2016, at Peaceful Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA

Photo courtesy of Jacoby White

On Monday, March 7th, there was a great time of fellowship during the evening Ecumenical Worship Service, held in the sanctuary of Peaceful Rest Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. Dr. C. S. Gordon, Jr., President of the Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention, preached the sermon and was installed as the new LIC President.

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Our Sincere thanks to: The Rev. Dr. R. Timothy Jones, Sr., as hosting pastor, and to all of the congregation and staff at Peaceful Rest for their care with all the details of the gathering and for making everyone feel so welcome!

Offering thanks to our recent contributors Approximately 90% of our operating income comes from Judicatories. Their faithfulness in prayer and financial support is always appreciated. Additionally, we offer our sincere thanks to our ministry partners who have contributed as listed below.

Contributions received from February 20, 2016 through March 24, 2016:

Endowment Fund Contributors: Sara L. Simmonds; Rev. Jeff Day; Bishop James Brown; and one anonymous contributor. Bread or Stones communications grant: Presbytery of South LA Sabbatical Fund Contributors: Terry Jeanfreau Friends of the LIC Contributors: Dora E. Delancey Donation to help with Annual Assembly Speaker Costs: Kenny and Shirley Crump Special thanks to all who gave at the March 7th Annual Assembly Worship Service. The offering was just over a Thousand Dollars! This will go towards helping the the daily operational costs of LIC.

Thank you all! Please pray for this ecumenical ministry. If you would like to help financially, please mail contributions to: Louisiana Interchurch Conference, 527 N. Blvd., 4th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, or contribute online via PayPal at

http://www.lainterchurch.org/contribute/index.htm.

Additional dates to calendar

Louisiana Youth Justice Day: April 6, 2016, 9am – 2pm, Louisiana State Capitol

Next Commission on Criminal Justice Meeting: April 7, 2016, Baton Rouge, LA

Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2016: Friday, April 15 – Monday, April 18, 2016, Washington, D.C.

National Workshop on Christian Unity: Louisville, KY, April 18­21, 2016.

50th Annual Earth Day: April 22, 2016, around the world – beginning with you!

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USAChristian Unity Gathering: Double Tree Hotel ­ Baltimore­BWI Airport, May 4­7, 2016.

Upcoming Board Meeting Dates Annual Assembly meeting dates:

2017 March 6­7, Monroe 2018 March 5­6, Baton Rouge

Fall Board meeting dates: 2016 Sept. 26­27, New Orleans 2017 Sept. 25­26, Alexandria 2018 Sept. 24­25, Lake Charles

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“To live the faith we hold in common” Louisiana Interchurch Conference

527 North Blvd., 4th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 344­0134 www.lainterchurch.org

President: The Rev. Dr. C. S. Gordon, Jr.; President Elect: The Most Rev. Michael G. Duca; Executive Director: Fr. Dan Krutz

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