Speakers

            William Eugene (Bill) La Barr was born in Clovis, New Mexico.  He graduated from Bentonville (AR) High School in 1968.  A second career minister, Bill followed the call to ministry after an almost 20-year career in retail.  He worked for C. R. Anthony Co., Montgomery Ward, and Payless Cashways Lumber Company.

 

            Dr. La Barr graduated with a B.A., College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Texas, in May 1991.  He received his Master of Divinity degree, Brite Divinity School, TCU, May 1995.  He completed work on the Doctor of Ministry degree in homiletics in December 2000, also at Brite Divinity School. 

 

             Dr. La Barr was ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church in1997.

 

            Dr. La Barr has served as a student pastor of Callisburg and Mission UMCs, a two-point charge in Cooke County.  He also served Bellevue UMC, and the Holliday/Dundee charge for six years. He served Lake Cities United Methodist Church from1997 to June of 2005.  During his tenure, Lake Cities UMC grew from 469 members to just over 800, and completed several building projects, including a 9000 sq. ft. Family Life Center which was brought in on plan and under budget.  

 

            Dr. La Barr was appointed Senior Pastor of Plymouth Park United Methodist Church in June of 2005.  Plymouth Park UMC is a 1250+ member congregation in Irving, Texas, one of the older Dallas suburbs. Dr. La Barr served Plymouth Park UMC for 14 years until his retirement on July 1, 2019.

 

            Dr. La Barr served six years as a Director of the Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce.  He served Brite Divinity School for four years as an Adjunct Professor of Supervised Ministry.  He is a regular contributor to Biblical Preaching Journal, and recently had a series of funeral sermons published in Life Everlasting, a funeral resource for preachers.   Dr. La Barr has been recognized by Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, for his commitment to theological education. 

 

            Dr. La Barr served six years on the Baylor Scottt&White Hospital (Irving) Foundation Board of Directors, two years as chair. He is a member of the Irving Las Colinas Rotary and has been active in various functions around the city.

 

            In service to the United Methodist church, Bill served ten years on the Town and Country Task Force, one year on the Conference Leadership Team, and was on the Board of Directors of the Denton Wesley Foundation, UNT, for four years.  He served as chair of the Dallas/Denton District Committee on Ministry for 10 years.  After that, Dr. La Barr served on the North Texas Conference Board of Ministry for five years, serving as chair of the Theology group for four years.