Canadian ViewersMethodist leaders dine on U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish at annual meeting
January 9, 2009 (Jackson, Miss) –– Members of the United Methodist Church’s Southeastern Jurisdiction Council of Bishops were formally introduced to U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish during their annual meeting here on Friday night.
Sunflower native Turner Arant, a member of the board of directors for The Catfish Institute and a lay leader within the United Methodist Church, along with being a longtime catfish farmer, coordinated the meal for the church leadership. “These people have been listening to me talk about how much I love U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish for a long time,” said Arant. “I’m happy we were able to provide them with this experience, so now they understand why I have such strong feelings about my catfish.”
Approximately 100 people were in attendance, including 11 bishops from the United Methodist Southeastern Jurisdiction, the lay leaders of each of the 15 annual conferences, and the Committee on the Episcopacy, of which Arant is a member. “Turner Arant’s affiliation with the leadership of the United Methodist Church has truly opened up the door for us to do what we do best here tonight – and that’s win over new fans for our product,” said Roger Barlow, president of The Catfish Institute. “The versatility and mild flavor of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish offers something for everybody.”
The Council of Bishops includes the bishops who lead the various annual conferences in the 13-state Southeast region. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward leads the Mississippi Conference, which served as the host for this year’s meeting. “The catfish dinner was a delight – with great food, and much fun,” said Bishop Ward. “Our group from across the southeastern United States loved the catfish and took away a lasting memory.”
For more information contact Jeremy S. Robbins at 601.898.8957 or jrobbins@tra.net.
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