1. In This Issue
2007 Retreat Info p. 2
OOE Leadership Team p. 3
Resources p. 4
The 1996 session of the General Conference established
parameters for the development of the Order of
Deacons and the Order of Elders in the
United Methodist Church. (Guidelines
for these Orders are found on page 198 of
the 2004 Book of Discipline in ¶306 and
following.)
“An order is a covenant community
within the church to mutually support, care
for, and hold accountable its members for the
sake of the life and mission of the church.”
(2004 BOD ¶306) Briefly stated, the intent
of an Order is to reclaim a sense of covenant
community among the clergy.
In order to better understand and
meet the needs of the elders in the Louisiana
Conference, the Order of Elders leadership
team has planned a retreat on October
23-25, 2007 at the Wesley Center. (This
retreat was originally planned for October
2006, but was postponed due to Katrina and Rita.) The
purpose of the retreat is to explore what you, the elders of
the Louisiana Conference, want and need from the Order
(from each other). The theme of the retreat is “How do we
live in covenant?” The direction we take as an Order will
come from this time of intentional talking and listening,
so please come and join in the conversation. You will find
more information about the retreat, including registration
instructions, in this newsletter and at www.la-elders.org.
If you are an ordained elder in the Louisana
Conference then you are a member of the Louisiana
Conference Order of Elders. The Order is, and will be, what
you make it.
How Do We Live in
Covenant?
by Greg Davis
Throughout my
ministry, I’ve
been blessed to have
the wisdom, encouragement, and support
of elders. W.D. Boddie was the first elder
to help me. He was retired and working
part-time at my first appointment. W.D.
shared the joys and nuances of ministry,
including things he wished he’d done better.
During this appointment I was privileged
to learn much about evangelism, church
administration, preaching, communication,
church dynamics, Christian education and
teaching, and pastoral care from other elders: John Fellers,
D.L. Dykes, Carl Rhoads, Rob Weber, Jayne Trammell-
Kelly, Steve Kelly, Arnold Brown, Kathy Clark-Dickens
and Lee McKinzie. Although each of these persons had
different gifts, the point of commonality all shared was their
love for engaging in pastoral ministry. And learning of their
different gifts and approaches to ministry enriched my own
ministry.
During my second appointment, I met weekly
with Jerry Hilbun, another pastor who shared many of the
same issues in the pastoral ministry that I was wrestling
with surrounding the starting of a new church. It was also
during this time that Rob Weber and I set aside Tuesdays for
sermon writing and worship planning. We continued that
What is the
Order
of Elders?
by Brady Whitton
The intent of
an Order is to
reclaim a sense
of covenant
community
among
the clergy.
Connections
The Newsletter of the Louisiana Conference Order of Elders
Volume 1, Issue 1 July 2007
Covenant . . . continued on page 3

2. Mail registration and FULL payment to:
Wesley Center
att: Cathy Wimberley
2350 Methodist Parkway
Woodworth, LA 71485
[or email registration to: cathywimberley@suddenlink.net]
Registration
O r d e r o f
E l d e r s R e t r e a t
O c t o b e r 2 3 - 2 5 , 2 0 0 7
Name ______________________________________
Address ____________________________________
___________________________________________
Phone ______________________
Email ______________________
*Make checks payable to the LA Conference
*If you are NOT staying at the Conference Center you need to
make your own housing arrangements
The 2007 Order of Elders retreat will be an Open
Space conference. This means there are no
keynote speakers, no pre-announced schedules of
workshops, no panel discussions, no organizational
booths. Instead, participants are a part of creating their
own conference. “Open Space is based on the belief
that we humans are intelligent, creative, adaptive,
meaning- and fun-seeking. It sets the context for such
creatures to come together knowing they are going to
treat each other well. When this happens there is no
limit to what can unfold.” (Alan Stewart)
Open Space is not just a process or technique; it
is a different way of thinking, seeing, and being
together. Join us for this time of intentional talking
and listening.
PLEASESENDFULLPAYMENTWITHREGISTRATION
select one Rate Due
2 Nights @ Conf. Cntr. (Sing. Rm.) Meals $158
2 Nights @ Conf. Cntr. (Dbl. Rm. ) Meals
$126
roomate pref:
Meals Only (I’m staying off campus) $35
Subtotal
Registration Fee (All Participants) $25 +$25
Total
X
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 21
You are to be a part of a unique experience as together we
reflect on the question,
INVITED
“How do we live in covenant?”
Tue., Oct. 23
1-2 Arrive Registra-
tion
2 Worship
3 Opening the Space
5:30-8 Meal
Evening News
Open Space
Thu., Oct. 25
7:30-8:15 Breakfast
9:30
Closing the Space
11:30 Adios!
Open Space
Wed., Oct. 24
7:30-8:15 Breakfast
9:30
11:30-12-30 Lunch
2
5:30-8 Evening News
Meal
Open Space
Open Space
Schedule

3. For
SCHOLARSHIP
info contact
Danny Gleason at
dannygleason@bellsouth.net
or 225.635.3763
Covenant . . . continued
association for 13 years. We prayed together, collaborated on sermons, bared our souls, and encouraged one another
across those years.
The benefits of meeting regularly with others who shared the same singular burdens and joys associated with
being a pastor was an important part of my support system – and I really didn’t consider it a support system until I
moved and immediately realized how important it was to my spiritual well-being. This was after 17 years in the same
district!
Since meeting on a regular basis with other elders was extremely helpful and meaningful, moving to a new
district meant finding some elders with whom to continue meeting on a regular basis. Thankfully, an invitation was
extended to join a covenant group in Baton Rouge.
The elders in this covenant group had not been in ministry as long as I have, and their enthusiasm and
insights have kept me from falling into the Stone Age. Shawn Anglim, Van Stinson, and Gene Rives helped me
find my way in the new (to me) district. Shawn and Van have since moved on to other districts, but they will always
remain in my heart because of the hours we spent regularly meeting on a weekly basis.
For that matter, all the elders who have touched me across my 20 years in the conference are carried in my heart.
With all my heart, I believe every pastor definitely needs all the support she or he can get, and the logical
starting point is with someone who shares the unique perspective of pastoral ministry. I urge you to find another
pastor you feel comfortable with in discussing the vagaries of ministry – and covenant to meet regularly! Or start an
informal meeting on whatever basis you think will work: lectionary, book, or study group; a regular soul “check up”
meeting; or just to sample what café or parsonage or church office has the best cup of coffee. The Spirit will lead you
where you are to go with it.
2004-2008
Order of Elder’s
Leadership Team
The Louisiana Conference Order of Elders is online at
www.la-elders.org
Bishop William W.
Hutchinson
Members of the
leadership team
were selected
in 2004 by then
chair, Doug Cain
in consulation
with the bishop
Brady Whitton, Chair Ellen Alston Doug Cain Greg Davis
Danny Gleason James Haynes Dale Hensarling Jerry Hilbun
Erica Jenkins Tim Neustifter William Peeples

4. Resources for the Journey
LouisianaAnnualConference
527NorthBlvd.
BatonRouge,LA70802
• Marriage Retreat - The Soderquist Center offers marriage renewal retreats
for clergy and their spouses. These retreats are by invitation only. Contact your
District Superintendent if you’re interested. www.soderquist.org/services/not-for-
profit/marriageretreat
• Conflict Intervention Workshops - Louisiana’s own Center for Pastoral Effectiveness offers a variety
of resources, retreats, and learning opportunities for pastors. Upcoming workshops include The Art of
Dancing with Conflict, and The Art of Intervention in Congregations. www.la-umc.org/ssl/center.php
• Covenant Group Resources - The General Board of Discipleship has good resources to assist you in
enriching or begining a covenant group. www.gbod.org/smallgroup/cd/default.asp
• Clergy Renewal Leave - The Clergy Renewal Plan of the Louisiana Conference is offered to deepen the
spiritual lives of pastors and to build up strong spiritual leaders to serve the Church. www.la-umc.org/ssl/
clergyrenewal.php
October 23 - October 25, 2007 • Order of Elders Retreat • Wesley Center