Contents: Welcome the Stranger (Article from our Director) Save the dates for the Fall Board Meeting! Rob Gorman retiring from Catholic Charities Poverty rate worsens for Louisiana children Meet Mr. Harold Petteway - recently elected to the LIC Board Louisiana Baptist Convention elects new Executive Director Offering thanks to our recent contributors Dates to Calendar

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome the Stranger   The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.  Deuteronomy 10:17‐19      In just days we’ll be commemorating the 243rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence.  For much of my life people have talked about the American Dream.  Some have thought of it as owning your own home, having a car, maybe a two‐car garage, and children.  Surely, those who came to these shores over the centuries had their own special dreams.  There were waves of people from many countries who came searching for a better life.  We have been describing those for the most part of European descent.  Then there were those who were brought to America, not of their own free will.        The reading from Deuteronomy describes the aims and purposes of God for the land Israel inherited.  We in America have often thought these words were meant for us.  We’re the new and prosperous Israel.  At times in 

history my sense is that America has welcomed the Stranger and has provided a home for the stranger.  Once again, we recognize that not all have been welcomed with open arms.  As those with different languages and cultures came, some were not treated well and often ostracized.      Have we glossed over our history ignoring the parts where we have fallen short so that the 4th of July might shine that much more brightly?  Perhaps, we should approach this special day with more humility and with the ability to confess the wrongs that have been committed along the way.  More to the point, this particular 4th of July observance bids us ask ourselves how the stranger is being treated today.  It seems to be an instance of Faith over and against Culture when we look at our current situation along our Southern borders but elsewhere as well.  Our Faith teaches us to welcome the stranger while our Culture (and government) is building walls of resistance.  This period in our history calls upon followers of Jesus to stand your ground.  This does not mean to take up our guns but to embrace the baptismal call as Christians to reach out to the sojourner and to the vulnerable and share God’s love and care.      Another major area of mission that is still to be done is the ministry of reconciliation.  Many would argue that, though slavery ended in America in 1865, there is still much to be done in the process of racial reconciliation.  Some would disagree, but it is hard not to see that racial injustice is at work in most every sector of our society and culture.  My hope and prayer is that the Louisiana Interchurch Conference can be an instrument to further this process of reconciliation.   Yes, we have much to celebrate as a nation approaching the Independence Day anniversary, but we are called to continue to work together so that indeed all may fully experience life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

Save the dates for the Fall Board Meeting!

Working Theme is:  “The Black Church, Prophetic Ministry and Social Justice” 

 

As always, guests are welcome at all speaker sessions.  

  All business meetings and speaker sessions will be held at the Hampton Inn, 601 Mane Street (yes, “Mane” Street), West Monroe, LA  71292.  The first Business Session begins at 2:00 pm that Monday; with all events concluding by noon on Tuesday.  

  The evening ecumenical worship service of 9/23/19 will be held in Monroe, LA, at Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, 500 Swayze Street, (318) 322‐8587.  Hosting pastor and evening preacher is the Rev. Oliver W. Billups, Jr.   (The church celebrated their 70th Church Anniversary on February 24, 2019 – congrats to them all!)       

More details coming soon!

Rob Gorman retiring from Catholic Charities 

LIC Executive Committee Member, Mr. Rob Gorman, is retiring on June 30th, from his position as Executive Director for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He has served the Diocese for 37 years. For his retirement party there will be a "drop-in reception" at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, 1220 Aycock Street, Houma, LA, on Wednesday, June 26th beginning at 2:30pm. Mr. Gorman will continue to work with LIC’s Bread or Stones anti-poverty initiative for children. He will also continue to serve on the LIC Board of Directors as an Executive Committee Member. We congratulate him on his retirement, but are most happy that he is not retiring from the LIC!

Poverty rate worsens for Louisiana children

The Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book released on June 17, 2019, shows that Louisiana had a one percent increase of children living in poverty. That is 307,000 children living in poverty in our state. Upon learning of these worsening conditions, Bread or Stones Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Rottman, exclaimed, “That is shameful!” On the National level, the overall children’s poverty rate in the U.S. decreased by four percent. More than ever, we need programs like LIC’s Bread or Stones campaign, which helps children at the grass-roots level, in practical coordinated efforts. Louisiana is still ranked 49th in the overall well-being of children -- where we have averaged for the last 28 years. If your congregation is not a covenant member of Bread or Stones, we encourage you to sign up! There are many levels/types of involvement available. Find out more at: http://breadorstones.com/home.

Meet Mr. Harold Petteway - recently elected to the LIC Board  

  

We invite you to learn a little about Mr. Petteway, who was elected as an LIC Board Member at Large at the March 2019 Annual Assembly. We welcome him on board! Mr. Petteway was kind of enough to supply us with the above picture and the below bio:

 Harold E. Petteway, Jr. is a servant.  He was born to the union of Dr. Harold and Dr. Alma Brown Petteway in Shreveport, Louisiana.  He moved with his parents to the family ranch in the Spring Ridge community of southwest Caddo parish and joined the New Hill Christian Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of the Reverend B.D. Kidd, Sr.  His love for the LORD grew with local and district church activities and the loving leadership of Bishop Joseph Johnson, his pastor Rev. Anderson Ross, Lay Leader Bunyon Jacobs and his New Hill family.  He has maintained C.M.E. membership throughout his professional travels.  His C.M.E. service includes President, Jennette Kelly Usher Board, Trinity C.M.E. of Augusta, Georgia as well as Lay Council, Usher ministry, Young Adult mentor and Board of Stewards at New Hill and leadership roles in Bible Study Fellowship International.  

Mr. Petteway's professional career began with United Technologies as a Quality Assurance Manager in the Mostek division located in Carrollton, Texas.  He joined Procter and Gamble as a member of the Product Supply organization's Laundry and Cleaning Products sector and received assignments of increasing breadth and responsibility in several U.S. locations.  He has accumulated numerous professional awards and accolades.  His work as Regional Manager of Supplier Diversity Development placed him at the forefront of P&G's minority, women and small business development efforts nationally and internationally.  His current service is assisting those seeking to make their real estate dreams reality as a Realtor with the Durden Property Group of Keller Williams Realty Northwest Louisiana.  

Mr. Petteway is a graduate of Huntington High School in Shreveport and Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He has received graduate training at Schoolcraft College of Michigan and the University of Tennessee. He has advised State Legislators, two United States Senators and was honored by the United States Navy with an Honorary Commission of Captain.  His community service endeavors are extensive and have included Boards of Directors of United Way, NAACP, Golden Harvest Food Bank and the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council as well as Chairman of the Paine College Corporate Campaign. 

Louisiana Baptist Convention elects new Executive Director  

In other news, we would like to report that the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board voted unanimously to elect Rev. Steve Horn as the 19th executive director of the organization during the Convention’s spring meeting on May 7th in Woodworth, LA. Rev. Horn will succeed David Hankins, who retires as executive director June 30. Rev. Horn has served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Lafayette since 2005 where the congregation has baptized 775 new believers since then. First Lafayette averages about 1,100 in worship and 1,000 in Sunday School. Rev. Horn has also served as pastor at three other Louisiana churches and in various leadership roles as a Louisiana Baptist and Southern Baptist. He and his wife Linett have been married nearly 27 years and have two sons, Josh (21) and Dru (8).

We wish Rev. Horn congratulations on his election and prayers for furtherance of the gospel.

Offering thanks to our recent contributors – we couldn't make it without you all!

The majority of the LIC operating income is contributed through the leadership of our member Judicatories, whom we deeply appreciate and depend upon. Contributions received from May 23, 2019 through June 20, 2019:

Bread or Stones anti-poverty initiative for children: Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Friends of the LIC: Mr. Louis McHardy; and Dr. Kenny Crump

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.

Dates to Calendar Annual Assembly meeting dates:

2020 March 2-3, Baton Rouge – 50th Annual Assembly – don’t miss it!! Fall Board meeting dates: 2019 Sept. 23-24, Monroe 2020 Sept. 21-22, Shreveport 

 The LIC offices will be closed on July 4th & 5th in observance of the Independence Day holiday. 

 

  

“To live the faith we hold in common” President: The Rev. Dr. Timothy Jones; President Elect: The Most Rev. Douglas Deshotel;

Executive Director: Fr. Dan Krutz