Reverend Dr. Juliet Padgham Spencer served as Sr. Pastor of Trinity UMC in Ruston, LA for approximately 3.5 years, and is currently on Voluntary Leave of Absence. Prior to Trinity, she served as District Superintendent of the Monroe District. Her previous appointments include United Methodist churches across the state: St. Andrew’s in Baton Rouge, St. Charles in Destrehan, Lakeview in Shreveport, St. Mark’s in Monroe. As a young pastor, she served as Associate pastor at Asbury in Lafayette and First UMC in Alexandria.

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Juliet received her D.Min. Degree with concentrations in Leadership and Strategic Planning from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 2008. Previously, she earned her M.Div. degree from Perkins School of Theology in 1991, and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 1986.

While serving Trinity, Juliet oversaw sacramental duties, pastoral care, organizational leadership, and church administration for a congregation with 2,000 members, a $1.8 million Budget, and led them through $3.5 million in renovations. Juliet’s core theology states that everyone has a story to reveal, a role to play, gifts to contribute, and wisdom to share, or as she is fond of saying, “together we know what individually we cannot.”

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Juliet’s passion is also preaching, as well as the creative planning that goes along with leading worship. 

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Juliet married husband James (Jimmy) Spencer in 2003. Known as “the Preacher’s wife,” Jimmy is originally from Start, LA. Jimmy and Juliet have two daughters.

Veronica and her husband, Ian McGregor, are expecting their first child (JAMES) at the beginning of April. Unfortunately for Juliet and Jimmy, they live in East Hartford, Connecticut!

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Jennifer, known professionally as Rowan Rathbun Deschner lives in Broomfield, Colorado. Rowan is an artist and budding writer who recently graduated from Colorado University at Boulder.

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Jimmy and Juliet also have an “adopted” son, Holland Padgham who will graduate from LSU in Civil Engineering this May.

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In addition, Jimmy’s daughter Julie Putman and husband Mark live in the Sterlington area. Julie and Mark have two children and two grandchildren, making Jimmy (and Juliet) great-grandparents! She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Commission on General Conference which is the committee tasked with planning the details (but not the content) of the denomination’s General Conferences.

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The Spencers have moved to Sulphur with their dog, Duvall. She and Jimmy like to travel, read, and play cards with family and friends. Although they aren’t particularly good cooks, they do like to eat.