History

Lea Joyner Church was started from a dream and a calling from God to the Rev. Lea Joyner.

Lea Joyner was ordained in the Methodist Protestant Church in 1939, shortly before the merger of the Methodist Protestant Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Because of her ordination in the Methodist Protestant Church, her ministerial credentials were accepted by the new Methodist Church, even though the Methodist Church did not begin ordaining women until the mid 1950's. In this way, Rev. Joyner was a pioneer for female clergy in our Conference and our nation.

Rev. Lea Joyner had a call from God to start a church on the Southside of Monroe on three lots at Temple Drive and South 4th and South 5th Streets. These three lots, - - this soil, this land - - somehow reached out to Lea. They seemed to grip her as if destiny were to be found among the tall weeds.

At the age of thirty-four, she had to make a decision which would effect the rest of her life. At this time Lea was at First Methodist Church in Monroe. The senior Minister was leaving First Church for a new church in New Orleans and planning to take Lea as an Assistant to the Minister. These plans fell through and the new Minister at First Church Monroe did not want a woman as his assistant; so she could not remain at First Methodist.
Lea's choice then was to accept the appointment to begin a mission church in the south side of Monroe or leave the ministry altogether and return to teaching. She did not want to teach; she wanted to preach.

This was her only choice, this vacant lot and no people, no building and most of all no money. Lea was told that if she wanted to try, the Bishop was willing to give half of the $10,000 start up money; armed with $5,000, and no one in the conference believing she could do this Lea started out with God leading her. This was in 1952. From there a tiny acorn was planted. Lea was at Southside United Methodist Church until her death in 1985.

After losing Lea, some people (even members) said the church would fall apart; it would gradually die.
We are now in the year 2006 and look where Lea Joyner Memorial United Methodist Church is today. After Lea's death the Conference appointed Rev. Joe Solomon as Pastor

Joe, a long time member of Southside Methodist Church, was called into the Ministry in !972. He served as pastor for Killbourne/Lucas Grove, Ringgold/Castor/Grand Bayou and Amite/Independence until his call to serve at Southside. Under Joe's leadership the name was changed to Lea Joyner Memorial United Methodist Church and moved to its present location on Old Sterlington Road. Rev. Solomon served as pastor from 1985 to 1992.

In 1992 Rev. Dave Fortuna became the third pastor. Dave has served numerous churches in our Conference. He served as pastor at Lea Joyner for 7 1/2 years. Under Dave's leadership the church began a contemporary worship service and the CLC was built. A strong emphasis was placed upon missions during Brother Dave's tenure.