Our Pastor

Reverend Conway Laucha Knighton is the third son born to the union of the late Lenard Knighten Sr. and Eunice Mae Wright Knighten. Reverend Knighton was born August 11, 1955 in Clinton Louisiana. Reverend Knighton was born a life long native and resident of East Baton Rouge Parish Reverend Knighton is the grandson of the late Oliver “Bsster” and Oleavia Spurlock Knighten, and John Henry Wright and Cora Lee Riley Williams. Reverend Knighton has three brothers Lenard (Bettie) Knighton Jr., the late Marvin Lee Knighton and Rodney Lidell Knighten; two sisters, Bonnie (James) Butler and Tinita (Kevin) Leblanc.

Reverend Knighton attended school in East Baton Rouge Parish graduating from Scotlandville Senior High School in May 1973. Reverend Knighton graduated in the top 10% of his class and received a small scholarship from the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association. After high school Reverend Knighton attended Southern University Baton Rouge Campus, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in August 1976. Reverend Knighton graduated with the highest grade point average in the College of Science (Magna Cum Laude) and in the top 5% of his class. After graduating from Southern University Reverend Knighton attended graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating with a Master of Arts in Psychology. After graduation Reverend Knighton returned to Baton Rouge completing a special training program in substance abuse counseling at Southern University. Reverend Knighton then went to work for the State of Louisiana as a Psychological Assistance, being the first black hired in this position in Louisiana. In August of 1981 Reverend Knighton went to work at East Louisiana State Hospital as a staff psychologist. This is where he met his wife Edith Moses Erwin. Edith was an L.P.N. and staff nurse. She later earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a master of Science in Nursing from Southern University. To their union two children were born Cora Oleavia Knighton and Desmond Conway Knighton.

Reverend Knighton later attended Inter-Baptist Theological Center – Baton Rouge extension earning a Bachelor of Theology and later a Doctor of Theology. In September of 1988 he went to work for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections at Louisiana Training Institute in Baker, LA, later renamed Jetson Correctional Center for Youth. Reverend Knighton retired from Jetson Correctional Center for Youth on October 1, 2001 after twenty years of state service. 

Reverend Knighton was licensed to preach in May 1982 by the late Rev. Dr. K. E. Popleon at Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church of Scotlandville. He was baptized at Greater Mount Carmel in the summer of 1971 by the late Reverend Lawyer Fields. Dr. Popleon appointed Reverend Knighton as a Deacon in 1973 being the youngest Deacon in the history of the church at age 17. Pastor Knighton was ordained in September 1986 at Greater Mount Carmel by the East Baton Rouge Minister Conference and the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association. He later served the late Reverend Dr. Lionel Lee, Senior as an assistant to the pastor at Shady Grove 1st Missionary Baptist Church and St. Joseph Baptist Church. He also taught Bible College at Inter-Baptist Theological Center and the Fourth District Religious Institute. He was called to his first pastorate in May of 1990 at the historical Plymouth Rock Baptist Church of Plaquemine, LA known as “Freedom Rock”. Reverend Knighton served as pastor of the Plymouth Rock family for ten years. 

February 26, 2000, Reverend Knighton was elected to the pastorate at Saint Mary Baptist Church of Eden Park. He was installed the first Saturday in April 2000 as the fourth Pastor in the history of Saint Mary. He was installed by the East Baton Rouge Ministers Conference and the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association. He was installed by Reverend Edward Howard, the late Reverend Dr. Lionel Lee, Senior and Reverend Leo D. Cyrus. Reverend Knighton followed the late Rev. Dr. Lee as General Secretary of the Fourth District in January, 2000. He was mentored in his religious career by the late Reverend Dr. K. E. Popleon, Brother Charles A. West, Deacon Tommie Roberson, Rev. Emmit Spurlock, Reverend Dr. Lionel Lee, Senior, Reverend Dr. H. B. Williams and Reverend Dr. L. L. Haynes.

Pastor Knighton is a licensed Professional Counselor, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a certified clinical chaplain He is general coordinator for Mid City Baptist Community Fellowship. He is the past General Secretary for the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association and former Financial Director for the Greater Louisiana Baptist Convection.  He is a member of the Louisiana Baptist State Convention, the East Baton Rouge Ministers Conference, and a founding member of Together Baton Rouge. Pastor Knighton is the former Senior Warden and wishful Master for James A. Taylor Lodge #78 AF & AM and former Grand Chaplain for U. M. W. St. John Grand Lodge AF & AM of Louisiana. He is also a 33rd degree mason.