Sacred Worth Event
The Louisiana Conference's LGBTQ Ministry Team held Sacred Worth, an event spotlighting the churches that have created a welcoming environment for LGBTQ persons. (Louisiana Conference Photo).
Louisiana Annual Conference | March 24, 2025
On Sunday afternoon, the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church's LGBTQIA+ Ministry Team hosted Sacred Worth, an event celebrating and affirming the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies.
The event was held across multiple locations, including University United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, First United Methodist Church in Covington, Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette with the Asbury Allies group, University United Methodist Church in Lake Charles hosted by the United Rainbow Sunday School Class, First Grace United Methodist Church in New Orleans, and Grace Community United Methodist Church in Shreveport.
Each location was vital in fostering a welcoming environment for engaging conversations, community-building, and spiritual encouragement.
Adam Philley, chair of the LGBTQIA+ Ministry Team, acknowledged the event's impact and emphasized the importance of the Church's role in extending a genuine welcome to those hurt by past exclusions.
"There are still many people in our communities who have been hurt by the church and need to know that God loves them and they are welcome in the United Methodist Church," Philley noted, stressing the ongoing efforts to define the church's inclusive stance.
Let us be the faces, the hands, and the feet of that love and acceptance that people so desperately need. May people look at us, Your Church and say, 'See how they love one another'
John Fletcher
Gary Lytle from Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette shared a personal reflection on the healing he experienced through the church's support.
Having grown up in the church and faced significant challenges regarding his sexual orientation, Lytle highlighted the transformative power of acceptance and the critical need for ongoing support groups.
Inspired by the event, Lytle announced plans by Asbury Allies at Asbury United Methodist Church to form a support group aimed at healing religious trauma, leveraging the expertise of mental health professionals.
"This has been a dream of mine since joining Asbury Allies, and I am excited to see where we can take it," he shared, expressing his commitment to helping others find healing and acceptance within the church.
"As someone who grew up in the United Methodist Church my entire life, I can tell you that the love and excitement I felt yesterday healed a part of me that has been hurting for far too long," he said. "Today, I am proud to be a member of the United Methodist Church."
The "Sacred Worth" event not only provided a platform for celebration and affirmation but also sparked initiatives like Asbury Allies, aimed at extending support and fostering a future where everyone feels truly welcome in the United Methodist Church.
John Fletcher's opening prayer grounded the event.
Fletcher, a member of University United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, is the first openly gay certified candidate for ministry in the Louisiana Conference.
He highlighted the sacredness of both the physical and online spaces where attendees were gathered, urging everyone to carry the experience of divine love and acceptance into the broader world.
"Lord, please let us take from this, that sense, that memory of what it is to hold your love and unconditional regard for us," Fletcher prayed. "Lord, help us to take that with us out of these spaces and into Your world. Let us be the faces, the hands, and the feet of that love and acceptance that people so desperately need. May people look at us, Your Church and say, 'See how they love one another'."
The next Sacred Worth event is scheduled for June 8 across the Conference. Stay tuned for more details.