Louisiana UMC Unveils $15 Million Plan to Reduce Church Debt and Fuel Ministry
For centuries, the term jubilee has meant a season of restoration, freedom from burdens and new beginnings. For the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, it has now become a bold move to help debt-burdened congregations move and enter fully into the ministries that God is calling them.
According to the Louisiana Conference United Methodist Church, this goal, which is described as a two-year initiative, is one of the “most significant strategic initiatives in history that will invest up to $15 million in churches and ministries across Louisiana through debt reduction and new investments in mission and ministry.”
At the heart of the project is one simple question: If financial barriers weren’t a burden for churches, what could we accomplish for the Kingdom at hand?
Bishop Delores J. Williamston explained Jubilee this way: “It’s creating room for ministry. It is about helping our churches focus even more deeply on the work God has called us to do — reaching people, serving communities, developing leaders and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Dr. Van Stinson, Executive Director of Mission and Ministry, added to the definition that the biblical idea of jubilee is a transformative and life-changing rest. “It is about restoration. It is about removing burdens. It is about recognizing that sometimes something needs to change so that life and ministry can move forward again.”
Within the 15 million investment, $5 million will be designated for debt reduction and $10 million for the Missional Momentum Fund. The initiative is made possible through a partnership between The Louisiana Conference and the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana. But beyond money, their mission is spirit-led: “As a Conference, our role is to resource, equip and support local congregations as they carry out that mission in their communities,” Stinson told the Christian Post. “That is ultimately what the Jubilee Initiative is about.”
“We believe this is a biblically grounded, discipleship-focused and institutionally innovative way to invest in the mission of our churches and in the people and communities they serve.”
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Originally published October 09, 2026.
