Biography

The Ruston District of the Louisiana Conference A of the United Methodist Church originated through the 1968 merger of two denominations – the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Prior to 1968, the district was the Ruston District of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Church (South Central Jurisdiction). From 1968 to 1971, Louisiana’s Conference A (for white churches) and Conference B (for black churches) existed as a temporary measure to work towards racial integration of the Louisiana Conference following the denomination’s 1968 dissolution of the Central Jurisdiction (a racially segregated unit for black Methodists).

In 1969, the district reported 11,428 members. The district consisted of congregations in north- central Louisiana stretching from Springhill (north) to Dodson (south) and Doyline (west) to Calhoun (east).

Through the 1971 merger of Louisiana’s two Conferences – A and B – this district became the Ruston District of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 1971, the district reported 11,042 members.

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