User:Luonne Rouse

LUONNE ABRAM ROUSE is an ordained minister with the United Methodist Church and a licensed marriage and family therapist in New York."My greatest contribution in life is seen in Lanecia Anee, Ciona Denee, and Patrick Abram, who are children of my loins. Far above all ever to be said of work, studies, ministries, teachings, etc, are the lives of our children. The world is a better place because they are in the world. Great appreciation has to be extended for the birth of the greatest of people." (Luonne A Rouse, 2005, MCUMC - Harlem, NY)

Luonne Abram Rouse has been described by his peers in the field of pastoral counseling as having the ability to speak readily of the theological implications of individual cases, while paralleling processes within the clinical arena. He is both willing and able to service the unique needs of clients from a variety of backgrounds (religious, racial, economic and cultural), with responsive, compassionate care. He manifests a genuine ability to incarnate a spiritual dynamic helpful to his clients and peers alike. With over 24 years experience as a pastoral counselor, Rouse has been most effective in crisis intervention. His assistance yielded the start-up and development of two therapeutic treatment centers in Greenville, South Carolina. In addition, he opened the Metro Counseling Service at Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church in Harlem, New York (2004-2010). Currently, he is practicing marriage and family through refocusing. While counseling substance abusers and others in Harlem, New York in 2006, Rouse developed refocusing as part of a "Level Head Method" he coined for applying an intentional calm mentality during invention. In 2011, Dr. Rouse opened A-Rouse Refocusing Counseling Service in Manhattan and Huntington, New York.

Rouse utilizes a therapeutic approach, combining pastoral care and social action through the refocusing model that captures the rational emotives of individuals and assist families in making “intelligent adaptations” (Piaget). He places particular emphasis on directing individuals toward making changes in unhealthy relationships; making vocational decisions; coping with illness; and dealing with grief and separation. In addition, he aims to influence legislation, change hiring practices, and assist the indigent or recipients of benefits by serving on the boards of social service agencies. He has done extensive work toward the elimination of racist attitudes and moving toward racial reconciliation.

During 20 years of ministry in inner city churches, he came to understand that the goals of psychotherapy are foreign to the culture of persons from lower socio-educational groups. Many persons served by urban ministries have needs that are urgent, concrete, and threatening. Working with people, Rouse desires to see quick and obvious improvement among persons having limited resources. His aim is to provide the disadvantaged essentially with supportive and action-oriented care.

The first African American, since Reconstruction appointed to a predominately White congregation in South Carolina United Methodism, Luonne served as an associate minister at Buncombe Street United Methodist Church in downtown Greenville. There from February 1, 1986 until June of 1991, he developed pastoral care ministry to substance abusers and their families. Under leadership of Dr. Rouse, who as chief executive officer of The Sisk Foundation (with assets of 2.7 million dollars), the local church added twenty-five ministries ranging from such a basic service as the operation of a soup kitchen to an intensive community development organization named "Neighborhoods In Action. These ministries worked to meet the basic needs of the local transient, unemployed, elderly, de-institutionalized, homeless - who often included substance abusers, HIV/AIDS patients, and others marginalized individuals.

Joseph B. Bethea United Methodist Church in Horry County, SC was founded in 1991 by Luonne Rouse, while he was appointed to develop racially inclusive ministries in the Conway/Mytle Beach new parish development. Before moving to its current location surrounded by golf courses, the local church was housed on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Along with being a regular on radio broadcast, Rouse hosted two local television shows until Bishop Joseph B. Bethea requested he move back to Greenville, SC as the senior minister of a predominately White congregation in Greenville, SC - Disciples United Methodist Church.

In addition to serving the cross-racial appointment until December 1, 2003, Rouse organized United Methodist Studies within the Ministry Department at Erskine Theological Seminary (Associate Reformed) located in Due West, SC. Rouse went from being an Adjunct Professor in 1997 to a full-time Associate Professor of United Methodist Studies from 1998-2004. Increasingly interested in social justice and human rights, Rouse taught courses in Black studies, Women studies, Sociology of Religion, Biblical Social Ethics, United Methodist history, doctrine, and polity.

On December 1, 2003, moved to Harlem, New York, for a reengineering mission service in an urban context at Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church. In this capacity, Dr. Rouse developed Metro Health Ministries, a counseling and consultation service in the targeted area of East Harlem, which offered “Brief Substance Abuse Intervention and Family Therapy,” with primary care to those persons faced with HIV/AIDS. Currently in the Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor (the location of the nation’s DNA laboratory), Dr. Rouse is fostering partnership with medical professional to address racial medical treatment disparities, including mental, physical, and spiritual as a civil rights matter. In the social context, the premise is that drug companies have failed the African American population. In the psycho-social context, the emphasis is on creating healthier families through strengthening relationships within families.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Bachelor of Science in Psychology South Carolina State College (now University) Orangeburg, South Carolina

Masters of Divinity Interdenominational Theological Center and The Candler School of Theology at Emory University Atlanta, Georgia

Clinical Pastoral Education Georgia Baptist Medical Center Atlanta, Georgia

Doctor of Ministry Lutheran Theological Seminary Columbia, South Carolina

Professional-level training in In-patient Treatment of Addiction Greenville Hospital System Greenville, South Carolina The United States Navy

Clinical Pastoral Counselor and Consultant Training West Gate Training and Consultation Service Spartanburg, South Carolina

CREDENTIALS · South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church ~ Ordained Elder ~ Dean of the Local Pastors Licensing School · Associate Professor, Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina (1998-2004) · Adjunct Professor New York Theological Seminary, New York, NY (2006-2008) · Adjunct Professor Unification Theological Seminary (UTS), New York, NY (2008- Current) · Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors · Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve Chaplains Corps (1986-2008) · Certified Pastoral Counselor · Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist · Chairman Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Tri-state (NY, NJ, CT) 2004- Current · Vice-president Clergy & Providers for Racial Healthcare Equality 2009- Current · Co-founder of Building Bridges, Building Knowledge, Building Health (BBKH) Coalition (2004 – Current) Partnership of New York Presbyterian Hospital, Community Based Agencies, and Harlem/Bronx United Methodist Churches · New York Presbyterian Hospital Community Advisory Committee Member · Certified Stephen Leader in the Stephen Ministries Series · Board of Ordained Ministry (BOOM), South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church: (1990-2002):Chairperson of the Psychological Testing Committee & Chairperson of the Division of Elders · Member of the Wofford College Board of Trustees (1991-2004) · East Africa Conference of the United Methodist Church (1999-2006) ~ Instructor and Consultant, the Leadership and Training Institute · Certified Youth Leader and Consultant · Church Growth Consultant · General Board of Global Ministries, Office of New Church Development ~ New Church Developer and Mission Partner · Race Relations Consultant · Prison Fellowship, USA, Prison Seminar Instructor (1986-1996) · Chairperson of the Sun News Diversity Committee, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (1992-1994) · Recurring Host of Coastline Niteline, Channel 43, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (1991-1994) · Television Ministry, Channel 43, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (1993-94) · Various board service in the Conway/Myrtle Beach and Greenville, South Carolina areas including: Community Planning Council, the YMCA Board, and the Greater Greenville Forum (1986-2003) · Equal Partner in Trials By Faith, a Human Rights Consultant Business (2009-Current) · A-Rouse Refocusing Counseling Service, Sole Proprietor (2010-Current)

PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS Orangeburg Parish United Methodist (3 churches) Orangeburg, South Carolina 1 1976-1980 Sincerity of Heart in Genuine Ministry Dillon Parish United Methodist (3 churches) Dillon, South Carolina 1980-1985 Little Churches, Big Hearts Middleton-Rosemond United Methodist Church Columbia, South Carolina 1985-1986 A newly formed, inter-racial congregation

Buncombe Street United Methodist Church Greenville, South Carolina 1986-1991 2500 member predominantly White congregation; marked first cross-racial appointment in South Carolina Methodism since Reconstruction

Joseph B. Bethea United Methodist Church Conway/Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 1991-1994 Founder and Organizing Pastor

Disciples United Methodist Church Greenville, South Carolina 1994-2003 Unity in the Midst of Diversity Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church New York City, New York 2003-2010 Body-building for Christ

United Methodist Church Huntington – Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington, New York 2010-Current Spiritual Champions in a Spiritual Fitness Center

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HONORS · National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals (2001-2002) · Olympic Games Torch Bearer (2001) · Who's Who Among Executives and Professionals Award (1996) · South Carolina Jaycees' Outstanding Young American Religious Service Award (1994) · Myrtle Beach Jaycees' Distinguished Achievement Award (1993) · National Denman Evangelism Award (1992) · Barbara Boultinghouse Bridge-building Award (1991 · Guest Chaplain, the United States Senate, Washington, DC · Regional Finalist, White House Fellows · National Council of Negro Women's Man of the Year · Outstanding Young Man of America · Who's Who in American Christian Leadership, The American Christian Leadership Council · Visionary and Co-organizer of Greenville Neighborhoods in Action

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS “Building the inclusive Community of God... Cross-Racial Appointments: Enabling Inclusiveness in the Local Church" (1999) The ethics of inclusiveness restores the essentiality of the church when the local church permits Christian factors, and not racial factors, to determine their pastoral leadership. Rooted in the image of God, Christians can transcend racial lines. Anti-Racism Study Action Guide on Cross Racial Appointments, The United Methodist Church, General Commission on Religion and Race, Washington, DC

"Crossing the Line" (1998) The consequences of clergy sexual misconduct have damaging effects on clergy colleagues and other covenant relationships. 1998-99 United Methodist Study on Sexual Ethics The United Methodist Church, General Board on Higher Education and Ministry, Nashville, Tennessee

“A Loving Agenda” Love is the key to intentional racial reconciliation. The Upper Room, May/June 1997 United Methodist Church Publications, Upper Room Ministries, Nashville, Tennessee

“Developing a Christian Discipleship Training Program for Clergy and Laity in Pastoral Counseling with Indigent Alcoholics and Their Families” (April 1995) A disciplined training presented to laity and clergy in brief intervention and treatment strategies for indigent alcoholics and their families. Lutheran Southern Theological Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina

"Where We're Going... Mending the Crack in the Rock" Moving toward a church that is racially inclusive ought to be our (United Methodist) priority and mandate for the 21st century. Circuit Rider, March 1993 United Methodist Church Publications

“Searching for Peace” Peace abides within the core of every individual, who connects with the Source of creation. The Upper Room Disciplines 2012, June 2011 Upper Room Books, Nashville, TN

Born – June 22, 1955 in Greenville, South Carolina 3rd of three sons, his father was an ordained United Methodist Minister and his mother was a consecrated Diaconal Minister in the United Methodist Church. Luonne credits his brothers, Bishop Claude Rouse, Jr., businessman in Danbury, CT with having major influence in his development; and Bernard Jerome Rouse, Sr. for his appreciation of social fellowship. Luonne Rouse was married to the the former Connie Denise Davis, a writer, in Camden, South Carolina on July 16, 1977 at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Camden, South Carolina. They had two daughters, Lanecia A. Rouse, a pastor, writer and photographer and Ciona D. Rouse, a writer and businesswoman. They were divorced in 2008. He is presently married to Marie Copeland Vaughn Rouse and they were wedded in 2010. They presently reside in Long Island.