William T. (Bill) McAlilly is the bishop of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference (previously the Nashville Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, including the Tennessee & Memphis Conferences)

He was elected to the episcopacy at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2012 and was assigned as the resident bishop of the Memphis and Tennessee Annual Conferences beginning September 1, 2012. He was given the task of merging these two conferences to form the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church which was overwhelmingly adopted December 4, 2021.

A native of Mississippi, Bishop McAlilly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS (1978) and a Masters of Divinity, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (1981).

He was ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1979 and ordained elder in 1982. In the spring of 2017, Bishop McAlilly received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS.

McAlilly has served in a wide variety of ministry settings in Georgia and Mississippi–a small membership church, a new congregation, a county seat church, a newly organized congregation, and a large membership congregation. Likewise, he has served in a variety of roles including youth minister, associate minister, and lead pastor.

In 2006, he was appointed to serve as the District Superintendent of the Seashore District of the Mississippi Conference in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and worked closely with Disaster Response and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

He served in many capacities in the Mississippi Annual Conference including the Millsaps College Board of Trustees; Mississippi Methodist Foundation; Board of Ordained Ministry; Design Team for the Residency in Ministry Program; and Development of the Transitions Seminar for Moving Pastors.  He has been a delegate to four Jurisdictional Conferences and three General Conferences.

He led the Council of Bishops’ Leadership Team on Leadership Development and serves on the Leadership Discernment Team from 2016-2024. He also led in 2023 the Quadrennial Orientation for New Bishops.   

He served as president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops in 2016-17 and continues to serve on the Southeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Coordination & Accountability. He served as Chair of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) from 2016-2021.

Bishop McAlilly currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Emory University, Atlanta, GA and previously served on the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Board, Memphis, TN.  

A lover of books, music, and movies, Bishop McAlilly also enjoys writing, golf, grilling, and travel. He and his wife Lynn have been married since 1978. They have two married adult children: Chris McAlilly and Laura McAlilly Paulk, and five grandchildren.

Compassion for the least and last has been at the heart of his emphasis on missions throughout his ministry—locally in the communities in which he has served and globally in Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Under McAlilly’s leadership, the Nashville Episcopal Area built the Mama Lynn Center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Named after Lynn McAlilly, the Mama Lynn Center is a sanctuary for women to receive care and find restoration. It provides space for women to get medical attention, counseling, and faith-centered nurture to address problems related to what they have experienced and helps them recover self-respect, dignity, and a sense of joy.  

In retirement, Bishop McAlilly will be engaged in coaching and consulting next level leaders and congregations. 

Bishop McAlilly has a pastor’s heart with a vision for the reign of God.

Dr. Davis Chappell is a native of Nashville, Tennessee.  He graduated from Overton High School in 1978.  Davis holds undergraduate degrees in Psychology at Martin Methodist College and Lambuth College in Tennessee.  He is a graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. Davis completed his Doctor of Divinity degree, in the areas of evangelism and church renewal, at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He is Chair of World Methodist Evangelism Institute, housed at Candler School of Theology on the campus of Emory University and is a member of the Foundation for Evangelism.  He is also a current Board Member of Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Davis is a Board Member of the Center for Spiritual Life and Leadership for the Tennessee/Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church and he is a recipient of the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism.  

Davis has been married for 38 years to the former Sherre Hufman, of Tifton, Georgia. They have two adult children, one a therapist and one a pastor. They have two grandsons. 

For 30 years, Davis served churches in the Atlanta area.  He joined Brentwood United Methodist Church as Senior Pastor in July, 2013, where he is starting his 12th year of ministry. 

Rev. Jacob Cogman is an Elder in Full Connection in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church and serves as the United Methodist Chaplain at Howard University.

Rev. Cogman is a 2016 honors graduate of Claflin University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Justice Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion; he was the only male to graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA. As a student, he served in various leadership capacities on campus and as an Ambassador for The Black College Fund of The United Methodist Church.  

In May 2019, Rev. Cogman satisfied the requirements for the Master of Divinity degree at Emory University's Candler School of Theology with a certificate in Women, Theology, and Ministry. During his tenure at Candler, Rev. Cogman received numerous awards, including the Hoyt Hickman Award of the Order of St. Luke, recognizing his contributions to Candler's liturgical life and pastoral care. Additionally, he was the winner of the inaugural Candler Creation Keepers Ecological Preaching Competition and a scholastic ambassador to Trinity Theological College in Singapore.

Rev. Cogman is the son of CMSgt. (Ret.) Billy Cogman and Rev. Dr. Johnsie Cogman; he is brother to Rev. James Cogman. Rev. Cogman is a man of faith, family, and fun and is excited about what God is doing in his life and the world. He lives by Romans 12:21, "Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."  

Stephen is the lead pastor visionary, strategist and partnership collaborator of the gospel message of Jesus Christ at McKendree UMC. He is a passionate communicator that desires to speak God’s truth so people of different cultures, experiences, neighborhoods, and all of God’s unique diversity can be reconciled through the unity in Jesus Christ. Stephen is a strong advocate of restorative justice, serving the poor and needy, and participating in life groups for spiritual formation and accountability. 

Stephen and Shelley are married with three children and live in the Greater Nashville area. His go-to scripture is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all through Christ who strengthens me.”

Bishop Joe E. Pennel, Jr. is a retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church, having served from 1996-2004.
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He is a graduate of Lambuth College, and earned both M.A. and D.Min. degrees from Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Ordained deacon and elder by Bishop Marvin A. Franklin, Joe served parishes located in rural areas, university settings, inner cities, and the suburbs. The congregations ranged from 25 to 4500 and were all in the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences.

Joe E. Pennel, Jr., was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July of 1996 and assigned to the Richmond Area, where he served until his retirement in 2004.

He has served as chair of the Board of Advisors for Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Candler School of Theology. He has been a member of the Board of Publications and has served the Tennessee Annual Conference as Chair of the Board of Pensions and the Committee on the Episcopacy.

In addition to the local church, Joe has a strong interest in theological education, racial/ethnic issues, the emerging role of women in the Church and empowering the laity and spiritual formation. He currently serves in a faculty appointment to Vanderbilt Divinity School as Professor of Pastoral Leadership.

Janene Dunavant and Joe were married in 1962; they are the parents of Melanie and Heather who are both married.

Dr. Wilson grew up in rural Western Kentucky and made Tennessee her home all of her adult life. She has over 35 years of leadership experience in the public, private and non-profit sector.

Prior to full-time ministry, she served in a variety of roles, all focused on serving the community and facilitating change. A former paramedic, Vona served as the Director of the Emergency Medical Services in Williamson County. She also served as the Director of Organizational Improvement for Williamson Medical Center and helped facilitate change, strategic planning, and leadership development throughout the hospital. Dr. Wilson then answered the call of God to take her experiences into full-time ministry. She served on the clergy staff team at Franklin First UMC for 15 years; Bethlehem UMC in Williamson County as Interim Lead Pastor during a midyear pastoral transition; and three years as Chaplain for the YMCA of Middle Tennessee.

Her most recent appointment is serving as the District Superintendent for the Harpeth River District. Vona also leads the Faith and Innovation Team (formerly New Church Development) for the TWK which has helped her work across the conference for the past five years. She will continue to lead this work through the episcopal office in her next appointment as Assistant to the Bishop.

Dr. Wilson holds a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC ; a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University; a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Human Relations and a Master of Organizational Management from Trevecca University; and an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedic Technology from Vol State Community College.