Biography

New Orleans District of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South (MECS) formed in 1847. Prior to 1847, it had been the New Orleans District of the Mississippi Conference MECS.

At the time of its formation in 1847, the New Orleans District reported 2,778 members (1,470 colored and 1,308 white). The district primarily consisted of congregations in and around the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was initially composed of 14 pastoral charges; this included 5 charges consisting of predominately African American members, 1 German mission, and 1 French Mission.

In 1867, the New Orleans District began holding annual meetings (called a District Conference). These meetings were attended by the district’s clergy and lay delegates from each pastoral charge; it was presided over by the district superintendent.

Over the years, the Louisiana Conference MECS revised the boundaries that identified the New Orleans District’s geographic and administrative area. At times, the district included churches as far away as Baton Rouge, Covington, Grosse Tete, Houma, Morgan City, Plaquemine, Slidell, Thibodaux, and White Castle, La.

Through a multi-denominational Methodist merger in 1939, the New Orleans District of the Louisiana Conference MECS became the New Orleans District of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Church, South Central Jurisdiction. In 1939, the district reported 9,669 members, 29 pastoral charges, and 51 congregations.

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