The South Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, meeting in special session October 18, 2025, approved the first phase of a significant restructuring of how ministry gets done across the conference.
Meeting virtually for two hours, more than 700 lay and clergy members overwhelmingly approved two significant steps in the first phase of the revisioning of the conference by four Jeremiah Teams created by Bishop Leonard Fairley.
Beginning July 1, 2026:
- The local churches of the Annual Conference will be organized around a 10-district structure, instead of the 12-district structure that has existed for decades.
- A newly created Office of Congregational Excellence will oversee the work of the Office of Congregational Development and the continuing work of the Office of Connectional Ministries.
Bishop Fairley will appoint a transition team to oversee implementation of both of these changes in how the conference conducts ministry.
“What we decide today might seem like nothing more than a strategy aimed at survival, rather than striving to thrive,” Bishop Fairley said. “We as followers of Jesus know that is not true, because our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
“No, this is not about struggling to survive. This is about trusting that our best days are not behind us but in front of us. It is about doing everything the Lord calls us to do to stay connected to the true vine.”
Annual Conference members heard reports from leaders of the four Jeremiah Teams, created by Bishop Fairley in response to a request from a previous Annual Conference. Each team includes lay and clergy members from across the Annual Conference.
These Jeremiah Teams have worked diligently for the better part of a year, researching best practices and exploring ways forward in four areas: Missional Priorities, The Black Church and Ethnic Ministries Strategy, District Alignment, and Conference Staff Alignment.
These last two teams – District Alignment and Conference Staff Alignment – were the only to bring motions for action by the Annual Conference. The other two teams provided updates of the significant work they have completed and continue to pursue.
District Alignment
The Annual Conference approved a recommendation that will reassign local churches in two districts – Florence and Greenville – to nearby districts. While the District Alignment Team shared suggestions on how this could be done, the actual drawing of district lines will fall to the Appointive Cabinet, in consultation with the Bishop.
Any decisions about conference staff affected by the change in district structure will be made by the Conference Staff Relations Committee, in consultation with the Bishop.
“No matter what decisions are made today,” said the Rev. Cathy Mitchell, the Spartanburg District Superintendent and chair of the District Alignment Team, “let us remember that we must trust that God has already gone ahead of us for the good of our church – because of us, or in spite of us. God never leaves us. God never forsakes us.”
Conference Staff Alignment
The Annual Conference approved a recommendation to eliminate the Office of Congregational Development and move its responsibilities to a newly created Office of Congregational Excellence, which also will be responsible for the continuing work of the Office of Connectional Ministries.
The Director of Congregational Development position, which is a part of the Extended Cabinet, will be replaced by a non-Cabinet part-time position. The Office of Congregational Excellence will be supervised by a newly created position of Director of Congregational Excellence, which replaces the current Director of Connectional Ministries.
The plan also eliminates three currently open congregational specialist positions – two full-time and one half-time. The work of congregational specialists will be re-organized to accommodate having only three specialists, instead of six specialists.
“The new Office of Congregational Excellence will better coordinate and strengthen the work that helps local churches, pastors, and lay people grow in faith, ministry, and mission,” said the Rev. Brian Gilmer, pastor of Travelers Rest United Methodist Church and a member of the Conference Staff Alignment Team.
“Combining the current work of Connectional Ministries with the work of Congregational Development will make us more effective and better aligned with our mission.”
