Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church
The Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit that governs nearly 500 United Methodist churches across Louisiana, providing pastoral appointments, clergy development, and ministry coordination through a connectional church model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersBaton Rouge, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church does
The Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as the governing body for The United Methodist Church across the state of Louisiana. Formally organized in 1971 following the 1968 denominational merger, the Conference connects approximately 500 local United Methodist congregations organized into three geographic districts (North, Southeast, and Southwest). It is led by Bishop Delores J. Williamston (elected November 2022) and operates with a lean staff of 51 employees from its headquarters at 527 North Boulevard in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Conference belongs to the South Central Jurisdiction of the global UMC denomination.
The Conference delivers its mission through a connectional church model, providing pastoral appointments, clergy development, ordination oversight, theological education support, and ministry coordination across its member churches. Its core offerings include the Louisiana NOW newsletter (weekly email publication), the Louisiana NOW Podcast (awarded Best in Class by the United Methodist Association of Communicators for two consecutive years), the la-umc.org website, the Annual Conference event, Lay Servant Ministries training, and the Wesley Center retreat facility. Additional affiliated entities include Centenary College of Louisiana, Dillard University, Dulac Community Center, MacDonell Methodist Center, and the UMCOR Depot for disaster response. The Conference maintains strategic partnerships with Wespath for clergy pension and health benefits, and the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana for financial support.
The Conference's revenue model is funded exclusively through apportionments paid by member local churches, managed by the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA). An annual budget is approved at the Annual Conference, with apportionment rates maintained steadily. The organization does not sell products or services commercially. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, emphasizing connectional relationships, district gatherings, and digital communication channels (newsletter, podcast, social media) to engage its nearly 500 constituent churches, clergy, and laity across Louisiana.
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church
- Legal name
- Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church
- Website
- https://la-umc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit that governs nearly 500 United Methodist churches across Louisiana, providing pastoral appointments, clergy development, and ministry coordination through a connectional church model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Administrative Services
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Protestant Mainline Broadcasting (MPABALAD), Denominational & Community Periodicals (Church Magazines, Diocesan/Temple Newsletters) (MPAJAHAI)
Keywords
Where Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baton Rouge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Apportionments: Local churches contribute apportionments to fund the annual conference's ministry and operations. The Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) manages these funds.
- Conference Budget: The conference approves an annual budget at Annual Conference, funded through apportionments from local churches, with steady apportionment rates maintained.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Louisiana Conference provides regional administrative oversight, pastoral deployment (appointment-making), clergy credentialing and benefits support, mission coordination, faith formation programming, and communication services for the nearly 500 United Methodist churches and ordained ministers across Louisiana. Its offerings include the Louisiana NOW newsletter and podcast, the la-umc.org digital hub, Annual Conference gatherings, Lay Servant Ministries training, the Wesley Center retreat facility, Safe Gatherings abuse-prevention screening, and official Conference Journals.
Product overview
The Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church operates as a regional religious organization with a digital platform consisting primarily of informational and communication services. The core offering includes the Louisiana NOW newsletter (email-based communication), the Louisiana NOW Podcast (audio storytelling), and the conference website (la-umc.org) which serves as a hub for church directories, clergy information, event management, and administrative resources for nearly 500 United Methodist churches across Louisiana. Additional offerings include Lay Servant Ministries training courses and the Wesley Center retreat facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Louisiana NOW: The conference's main newsletter publication and email communication system that keeps pastors, lay leaders, and congregations informed about news, opportunities, and witness from across the Conference.
- Louisiana NOW Podcast
Products and services
- Louisiana NOW Newsletter The conference's primary email newsletter that informs pastors, lay leaders, and congregations about news, opportunities, and witness from across the Louisiana Conference.
- Louisiana NOW Podcast An audio podcast hosted by Director of Communications Todd Rossnagel featuring in-depth conversations with Conference leaders and stories of hope and inspiration; won the Best in Class award from the United Methodist Association of Communicators for two consecutive years.
- la-umc.org Website Platform The official conference website serving as a central hub for church directories, clergy directories, event listings, news, resources, district information, and administrative content for conference operations.
- Annual Conference Event Annual gathering of laity and clergy from across the conference for business and worship, including worship services, business sessions, ordination ceremonies, and teaching.
- Lay Servant Ministries Training Training courses offered by the Louisiana Conference Lay Servant Ministries and the Board of Laity for United Methodists to become certified lay servants.
- Wesley Center Retreat Facility A Center for Spiritual Development and gathering spot for Conference training and leadership located in Woodworth; hosts events including the Common Ground Youth Retreat.
- Conference Journals Official records of all business of the Louisiana Annual Conference, including minutes of daily proceedings, committee reports, memoirs, standing rules, clergy records, and statistics.
- Safe Gatherings System A comprehensive online system for abuse prevention training, volunteer screening, background checks, paperless reference checks, online applications, and centralized record keeping.
- Dulac Community Center A denominational community center supported by the Louisiana Conference within its bounds, providing community services.
- MacDonell Methodist Center A Methodist-affiliated center supported by the conference, serving children and families.
- UMCOR Depot United Methodist Committee on Relief depot supported by the conference for disaster response and humanitarian aid distribution.
- HealthFlex Health Coverage Health coverage for active clergy of the Louisiana Conference administered via the Board of Pensions.
- Compass Retirement Plan Retirement savings plan for clergy and lay employees offered through Wespath.
- Congregational Growth Grant A grant program supported by the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana providing financial support for church growth and ministry initiatives.
Companies that use Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Dulac Community CentersupportingA denominational institution supported by the Louisiana Conference within its bounds, providing community services.
- MacDonell Methodist CentersupportingA Methodist-affiliated center supported by the conference, serving children and families.
- UMCOR DepotsupportingUnited Methodist Committee on Relief depot supported by the conference for disaster response and humanitarian aid distribution.
- Centenary College of LouisianacoreCollege owned by the Louisiana Conference, providing higher education with United Methodist affiliation and connection.
- Dillard UniversitycoreHistorically Black university part of the greater United Methodist Church connection, supported by the conference.
- Wesley CentercoreCenter for Spiritual Development and gathering spot for conference training and leadership, located in Woodworth.
- The United Methodist Church (Denominational)coreGlobal denomination providing theological framework, resources, General Conference leadership, and connectional support. The Louisiana Conference is part of the South Central Jurisdiction.
- Lydia Patterson InstitutesupportingMethodist-affiliated institution receiving crucial financial support from Louisiana Methodists for ministry and education.
- Wespath (General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits)coreProvides pension, retirement savings plans, and health benefits for clergy and lay employees of the United Methodist Church.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church: Regional annual conference of the UMC operating in Texas with similar governance, apportionment revenue model, and ministry structure; comparable scale and member church base as a sister South Central Jurisdiction conference.
- South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church: Larger Southeastern Jurisdiction UMC annual conference with comparable episcopal leadership, district structures, and ministry programs; useful benchmark for scale and operational sophistication.
- Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church: Neighboring UMC annual conference in Mississippi within the same South Central Jurisdiction; operates an identical connectional structure, apportionment funding, and district-based governance model.
- Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church: Northeastern UMC annual conference with similar district structure, apportionment model, and conference-wide programmatic offerings; comparable governance and member-service framework.
- North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church: Another Southeastern UMC annual conference of comparable size and structure; shares the same denominational polity, district system, and member-funded budget model.
- Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church: UMC annual conference operating in Arkansas with the same South Central Jurisdiction affiliation; comparable in scale, governance, and ministry portfolio.
- Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church: UMC annual conference in Oklahoma within the South Central Jurisdiction; operates a connectional structure with apportionment-funded budgets and district-based clergy oversight similar to Louisiana.
Regional players
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — Presbytery of Louisiana: Regional governing body of PCUSA operating in Louisiana with comparable presbytery structure, per-capita funding model, and member-church support activities.
Broad incumbents
- Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana: Regional Anglican/Episcopal governing body operating in the same Louisiana geography with analogous diocesan structure, diocesan apportionments, and member-church support; comparable ecclesiastical-governance scope and scale.
Others
- United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana: Financial partner foundation that provides growth grants and generational-impact initiatives to Louisiana Conference churches; a tightly coupled ecosystem entity rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church social profiles
Digital presenceLouisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church
What does Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church do?
The Louisiana Conference provides regional administrative oversight, pastoral deployment (appointment-making), clergy credentialing and benefits support, mission coordination, faith formation programming, and communication services for the nearly 500 United Methodist churches and ordained ministers across Louisiana. Its offerings include the Louisiana NOW newsletter and podcast, the la-umc.org digital hub, Annual Conference gatherings, Lay Servant Ministries training, the Wesley Center retreat facility, Safe Gatherings abuse-prevention screening, and official Conference Journals.
Is Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church a public or private company?
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church founded?
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church was founded in 1971. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church based?
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church is headquartered in Baton Rouge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Apportionments are the primary driver. The others are conference Budget.
Who are Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church, Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church, North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church and Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — Presbytery of Louisiana is listed as a regional player. Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is listed as a broad incumbent. United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana is listed as an others.
Does Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church have an API?
No public API is recorded for Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.
What industry is Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church in?
Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church's product category is Religious Administrative Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAB, Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences), with a secondary code of MPABALAD, Protestant Mainline Broadcasting. Its NAICS code is 8131 and its SIC code is 8600.