Districting Proposal Information
March 2026
This video from the Districting Strategy Team outlines a redistricting proposal for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference.
Frequently asked questions with answers are posted below it on this page.
If you have further questions, please contact the team at redistricting.questions@twkumc.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the boxes below for frequently asked questions with answers!
General Questions
How does the creation of new districts affect me?
For most churches and members, day-to-day ministry will remain the same. The goal of the new structure is to better support local churches in making disciples of Jesus Christ while strengthening connectionalism and communication across the conference.
Which of the three districts will my church be in? How many churches and clergy are in each district?
The conference will consist of three districts: Northwestern District, Southwestern District, and Eastern District. It is the responsibility of the bishop and cabinet to draw final boundaries and assignments. A proposed map is available, with district lines following county lines. For charges that have churches in multiple counties that cross district lines, the charge will follow the lead church in determining district placement.
Based on the proposed map, three proposed regions reflect broadly equitable distribution while respecting natural geographic and community boundaries.
District | Churches | Multi-Church Charges | Single Charges | Counties | Clergy |
Southwestern District | 176 | 47 | 86 | 22 | 146 |
Northwestern District | 152 | 41 | 74 | 23 | 112 |
Eastern District | 170 | 25 | 125 | 29 | 169 |
TOTAL | 498 | 113 | 285 | 64 | 427 |
Will my pastor change?
The process of pastoral appointments remains the same. Pastoral appointments are made through the consultative process of the bishop and cabinet. Appointment projections for the 2026-2027 conference year will be shared after Easter and finalized at the Annual Conference.
When do the new district lines take effect?
The Annual Conference will vote in June on the number of districts. If approved, the structure would become official on July 1, 2026, with full district organization, including the makeup of district committees, occurring in the months following.
If I currently have a strong relationship with my district superintendent, will I lose that?
The new structure is designed to strengthen relationships by adding Associates to the District Superintendent (A2Ds) who provide relational presence and support to clergy and churches.
How will Charge Conferences work?
Charge Conferences will continue to occur annually, and, as now, the Charge Conference will be presided over by an elder, either the District Superintendent or another elder they appoint, which could include the Associate to the District Superintendent. The district staff team will communicate that plan to each congregation.
How does the creation of new districts affect me?
For most churches and members, day-to-day ministry will remain the same. The goal of the new structure is to better support local churches in making disciples of Jesus Christ while strengthening connectionalism and communication across the conference.
Which of the three districts will my church be in? How many churches and clergy are in each district?
The conference will consist of three districts: Northwestern District, Southwestern District, and Eastern District. It is the responsibility of the bishop and cabinet to draw final boundaries and assignments. A proposed map is available, with district lines following county lines. For charges that have churches in multiple counties that cross district lines, the charge will follow the lead church in determining district placement.
Based on the proposed map, three proposed regions reflect broadly equitable distribution while respecting natural geographic and community boundaries.
Southwestern District
Churches
176
Multi-Church Charges
47
Single Charges
86
Counties
22
Clergy
146
Northwestern District
Churches
152
Multi-Church Charges
41
Single Charges
74
Counties
23
Clergy
112
Eastern District
Churches
170
Multi-Church Charges
25
Single Charges
125
Counties
29
Clergy
169
Total
Churches
498
Multi-Church Charges
113
Single Charges
285
Counties
64
Clergy
427
Will my pastor change?
The process of pastoral appointments remains the same. Pastoral appointments are made through the consultative process of the bishop and cabinet. Appointment projections for the 2026-2027 conference year will be shared after Easter and finalized at the Annual Conference.
When do the new district lines take effect?
The Annual Conference will vote in June on the number of districts. If approved, the structure would become official on July 1, 2026, with full district organization, including the makeup of district committees, occurring in the months following.
If I currently have a strong relationship with my district superintendent, will I lose that?
The new structure is designed to strengthen relationships by adding Associates to the District Superintendent (A2Ds) who provide relational presence and support to clergy and churches.
How will Charge Conferences work?
Charge Conferences will continue to occur annually, and, as now, the Charge Conference will be presided over by an elder, either the District Superintendent or another elder they appoint, which could include the Associate to the District Superintendent. The district staff team will communicate that plan to each congregation.
About the Districting Strategy Team
How was the Districting Strategy Team selected, and who are its members?
The Cabinet is tasked with the responsibility to create districts, once a number of districts is approved by the annual conference. To invest in deep discernment, the cabinet asked the TWK Connectional Table for input on how best to discern. The CT and Cabinet agreed to enlist a Strategy team to do a deep dive. The team was selected and affirmed by the Bishop, Connectional Table, and the cabinet. The members are Carlisle Jones, Janice McCallen, Jefferson Furtado, Chris Grosson, Mark Hagewood, Diantha McLeod, Nancy Johnston Varden, Rickey Wade, and Vona Wilson.
Connection to United Methodist Polity
What does the Book of Discipline require regarding redistricting, and how does this plan comply?
The proposal complies with the Book of Discipline. District Superintendents hold responsibilities that cannot be delegated, including supervision and discipline of clergy and service on committees such as the district Committee on Ministry and District Board of Church Location and Building. The plan also reflects a Judicial Council ruling that there can only be one District Superintendent per district.
Acronym Breakdown
DS: District Superintendent
The clergy leader is responsible for supervising clergy, handling crises that require DS authority, and serving on key district committees.
DA: District Administrator
Administrative staff who help manage communication, coordination, and operational needs for the district.
A2D: Associate to the District Superintendent
A clergy leader who works quarter-time alongside the DS to support churches and clergy through relational connection and leadership, and sits on the appointive cabinet.
Associate to the District Superintendent Role (A2D)
How are A2Ds selected or appointed?
Elders are appointed to these positions by the bishop and the cabinet
What does ‘quarter-time’ look like in practice?
Quarter-time A2Ds serve in a local church, extension ministry or in retirement while also assisting the District Superintendent in district leadership.
How are A2Ds compensated?
The conference budget will provide funds for the A2D’s work. In most cases, these funds will be sent to the local church where the A2D is serving to be added to their regular payroll.
Financial Questions
Where does the figure $450,000 in savings come from?
The bulk of the savings comes from salaries and benefits. The proposed model reduces the cabinet human resources costs (including full and part-time elders and full-time administrators) from 15.25 full-time equivalents to 11.5 full-time equivalents. There will be additional savings from having fewer district budgets.
Will the savings be redirected to local church support or absorbed into the conference budget?
Expenses for current conference ministries and operations exceed connectional commitment income; therefore, savings realized through this plan will reduce the conference’s need to rely on reserve earnings and will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the conference.
Annual Conference Vote
What happens if the Annual Conference votes for a different number than the three proposed by the Districting Strategy Team?
If the conference votes differently regarding the number of districts, the bishop and cabinet will adapt appointments and budget plans accordingly.
What’s the voting threshold?
The resolution to change the number of districts must pass by a simple majority, i.e. 50% plus one vote.
What role does the laity have in drawing or reviewing boundary lines?
The Annual Conference body, which includes clergy and lay delegates, votes on the number of districts. According to the Book of Discipline, the bishop and cabinet draw the district boundaries. The Districting Strategy Team (which includes cabinet members) also worked to propose boundary lines as part of their discernment. The laity are not only on that team but were also part of the listening conversations/research.
Staffing and Transition Concerns
What happens to current district superintendents who won’t continue in that role?
Elders who serve as District Superintendents are part of the annual appointive process.
What’s the staffing transition timeline — phased or immediate?
The structure will move through the normal appointment process, with projections shared after Easter and finalized at Annual Conference.
Who will manage all the details of setting up new districts?
The Bishop has asked a team of staff to manage the implementation of the new district setup: Melinda Britt, Brandy Galbraith, Chris Grosson, Alice Grunau, Mark Hagewood, Amy Hurd, Courtney Lawson, Rickey Wade, and Vona Wilson. They will work with staff and ministry teams through 2026 so that the districts are fully set up by January 2027.
District Identity
How will clergy peer groups or clusters be organized?
These relational groups will be organized by the district leadership teams after the districts are established during the remainder of 2026.
What is changing with the current cohort system?
The proposal is not a continuation of the current cohort system; instead, it introduces a new team approach to district leadership that includes a DS, 2 DAs, 3 or 4 A2Ds, and a Lay Leader.