Shreveport, Louisiana Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Religion === [[Christianity]] is the city and metropolitan area's dominant religion, being part of the [[Bible Belt]]. Its residents were predominantly [[Protestantism|Protestant]] through the nineteenth century, and today, [[Baptists in the United States|Baptists]] form the majority of Christians in Shreveport, followed by [[Methodism|Methodists]] and [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Shreveport, Louisiana Religion |url=https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/louisiana/shreveport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072718/https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/louisiana/shreveport |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |access-date=2018-08-29 |website=Bestplaces.net}}</ref> Many Baptist and Methodist churches are affiliated with [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Protestant]] denominations, though several are also affiliated with [[mainline Protestant]]ism; among Baptists, the [[Southern Baptist Convention]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Agency|first=Mere|title=SBC Churches Directory|url=https://churches.sbc.net/|access-date=2020-08-29|website=Southern Baptist Convention|language=en-US}}</ref> [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention (USA)]], [[National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc.|National Baptist Convention of America]], and [[Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship]] are the largest Baptist denominations in the city. The [[Progressive National Baptist Convention]] is the largest [[Progressive Baptists|Progressive Baptist]] group in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=United States Religion Census}}</ref> Methodists are mainly affiliates of the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] or [[Christian Methodist Episcopal Church]], though some also claimed affiliation to the mainline [[United Methodist Church]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search - Find A Church|url=https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-church/search|access-date=2020-08-29|website=The United Methodist Church|language=en}}</ref> The Roman Catholic community is primarily served by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official Website for the Catholic Diocese of Shreveport -|url=http://www.dioshpt.org/|access-date=2020-08-29|language=en-US}}</ref> [[File:Antioch Baptist Church Shreveport.JPG|thumb|[[Antioch Baptist Church (Shreveport, Louisiana)|Antioch Baptist Church]]]] Of note among its predominantly Baptist population, the First Baptist Church of Shreveport was once pastored by Monroe E. Dodd, founder of the former [[Dodd College|Dodd College for Girls]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999β2000 |title=Monroe Elmon Dodd, Brazil, TN., then Caddo Parish, Louisiana |url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/caddo/bios/medodd.txt}}</ref> Former [[Governor of Louisiana|Governor]] [[Jimmie Davis]], also a Shreveport city commissioner, taught history for a year under Dodd. Other historic large Baptist churches include [[Antioch Baptist Church (Shreveport, Louisiana)|Antioch Baptist]], Galilee Missionary Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Broadmoor Baptist, Summer Grove Baptist, and Mount Canaan Missionary Baptist Church. Summer Grove Baptist Church was previously pastored by Wayne L. DuBose, a Baptist denominational officer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-28 |title=Northwest Baptist Association calls Wayne DuBose as DOM |url=https://baptistmessage.com/northwest-baptist-association-calls-wayne-dubose-as-dom/ |access-date=2020-08-29 |website=Baptist Message |language=en-US}}</ref> Mount Canaan was previously pastored by civil rights era icon Dr. Harry Blake,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civil rights champion and Pastor Harry Blake retires after 52 years in the pulpit |url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/arklatex-indepth/civil-rights-champion-and-pastor-harry-blake-retires-after-52-years-in-the-pulpit/article_3ce02236-afd7-11e8-bc43-77d6b6135265.html |access-date=2020-08-29 |website=KTBS |date=September 3, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=Tyler |title=Rev. Harry Blake, Louisiana civil rights icon from Shreveport, dies at 85: 'He was a giant' |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/coronavirus/article_a327feb6-7b6d-11ea-8111-4f441e4407e0.html |access-date=2020-08-29 |website=The Advocate |date=April 10, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and Galilee was likewise pastored by Dr. E. Edward Jones, another civil rights icon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Welborn |first=Vickie |title=Civil rights icon Rev. E. Edward Jones dies |url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/civil-rights-icon-rev-e-edward-jones-dies/article_d8fea9c0-008e-5a7a-b738-500491a9ce02.html |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=KTBS |date=June 9, 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Among its Methodist churches has been the large [[First United Methodist Church (Shreveport, Louisiana)|First United Methodist Church]], established in 1884. The current edifice dates to 1913. Among its former pastors were D. L. Dykes Jr. and John E. Fellers. During a severe thunderstorm in 2009, the fiberglass steeple of the church toppled and fell onto a passing car.<ref>{{cite web |title="Steeple Man" on "Miracle After the Miracle" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/steeple-man-on-miracle-after-the-miracle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423103604/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/steeple-man-on-miracle-after-the-miracle/ |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2018 |website=cbsnews.com |date=October 29, 2010 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=First United Methodist Church Steeple |url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/first-united-methodist-church-steeple/article_a08f2bb4-60e6-5691-81e3-a88d29b5312c.html |website=ktbs.com |date=April 11, 2012 |publisher=KTBS}}</ref> It has since been replaced. A second prominent Methodist congregation is named for J. S. Noel Jr.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Noel Memorial UMC |url=https://www.la-umc.org/churchhistorydetail/849685 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Louisiana UMC |language=en}}</ref> The church was begun as a mission in 1906. In 2023, First United Methodist voted to leave the United Methodist Church.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First United Methodist Church votes to leave denomination |url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/first-united-methodist-church-votes-to-leave-denomination/article_e7e742ae-dcaf-11ed-b244-ef27a12389c8.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=KTBS |date=April 17, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> [[File:St._Mark's_Cathedral,_Shreveport,_LA_IMG_2361.JPG|thumb|[[St. Mark's Cathedral (Shreveport, Louisiana)|St. Mark's Cathedral]], an Episcopal church]] The large [[Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Shreveport, Louisiana)|Holy Trinity Catholic Church]], located downtown, was founded in 1858; it served [[Irish Americans|Irish]] and [[German Americans|German]] immigrants as well as native-born residents. Five priests died of [[yellow fever]] in the 1873 epidemic. The current sanctuary in [[Romanesque Revival architecture|Romanesque revival]] style architecture dates to 1896.<ref>Historical marker, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Shreveport</ref> Particularly striking in size and architecture is [[St. Mark's Cathedral (Shreveport, Louisiana)|St. Mark's Cathedral]], an [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] congregation dating its establishment to the first religious service held in Shreveport in 1839.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brock |first=Eric J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-30dU8_8Rc8C&q=St.+Mark%27s+Cathedral+%28Shreveport%2C+Louisiana%29+history&pg=PA81 |title=Shreveport in Vintage Postcards |date=2005 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-1746-9 |language=en}}</ref> It became the see of the [[Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana]] in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Louisiana Diocese |url=http://library.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/western-louisiana-diocese |website=Library of the Episcopal Church USA}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> In Shreveport's interdenominational and Pentecostal population, Shreveport Community Church (an [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] church affiliated with [[Assemblies of God USA]])<ref>AG Church Directory {{cite web |title=Assemblies of God Church Directory |url=http://ag.org/top/church_directory/index.cfm?Display%3DYes%26churchdetail%3D23d6916b-757b-46cd-bde1-cc6024c26bea |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711031105/http://ag.org/top/church_directory/index.cfm?Display=Yes&churchdetail=23d6916b-757b-46cd-bde1-cc6024c26bea |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=2015-07-10 |df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a Louisiana AG Network Church |url=https://www.laaog.org/churches |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705174842/https://www.laaog.org/churches |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2019 |website=LA Ministry Network}}</ref> owns and operates [[Evangel Christian Academy]], a preβK through 12th grade private school. The church has produced a biblical musical, ''Songs of the Season'', during the Christmas holidays for over 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-02 |title=Songs of the Season, Christmas Musical Extravaganza |url=http://www.arklatexweekend.com/be-enlightend-by-songs-of-the-season/ |access-date=2020-02-12 |website=Ark-La-Tex Weekend |language=en-US |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212185814/http://www.arklatexweekend.com/be-enlightend-by-songs-of-the-season/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Robert J. |title=SCC's 'Songs of the Season' Expecting Record Crowds |url=https://710keel.com/sccs-songs-of-the-season-expecting-record-crowds-video/ |access-date=2020-02-12 |website=News Radio 710 KEEL |date=December 11, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] has maintained a presence in Shreveport since the early 1900s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. George Greek Orthodox Church |url=http://www.gosaintgeorge.org/about/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130053505/http://www.gosaintgeorge.org/about/ |archive-date=January 30, 2019 |access-date=2019-01-29 |website=Gosaintgeorge.org |language=en}}</ref> The oldest Orthodox church in the city is St. George Greek Orthodox Church of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], followed by St. Nicholas Orthodox Church ([[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Our Parish |url=https://www.stnicholasorthodox.org/history.html |access-date=2021-08-19 |website=www.stnicholasorthodox.org}}</ref> and the Holy Nativity of the Lord Church of the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. [[File:Shreveport_September_2015_085_(B'Nai_Zion_Temple).jpg|thumb|Original B'nai Zion Temple, designated a [[National Register of Historic Places|National Historic Place]]]] The [[Judaism|Jewish]] community of Shreveport dates to the organization of Congregation Har El in 1859, made up primarily of [[German Jewish]] immigrants in its early years. It developed as [[B'Nai Zion Temple|B'nai Zion Temple]], today the city's [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] congregation, which built the city's largest synagogue. Agudath Achim, founded in 1905 as an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] congregation of immigrants from Eastern Europe, is today a traditional Jewish synagogue. Shreveport, historically, has had a large and civic-minded Jewish community and has elected three Jewish mayors.<ref>Brock, Eric J.: ''The Jewish Community of Shreveport''. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing Co., 2002</ref> The [[Islam]]ic community in Shreveport-Bossier constituted approximately 14% of Louisiana's total Muslim population in 2018.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |date=2014-06-08 |title=A Look at Religion in Shreveport-Bossier City - Shreveport News |language=en-US |work=Shreveport News |url=https://www.shreveportnews.com/shreveport_news/look-religion-shreveport-bossier-city/ |url-status=live |access-date=2018-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072346/https://www.shreveportnews.com/shreveport_news/look-religion-shreveport-bossier-city/ |archive-date=August 29, 2018}}</ref> The majority of Shreveporter Muslims are [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]], followed by the [[Nation of Islam]] and [[Non-denominational Muslim|non-denominational Islam]]. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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