Friends in the Alabama-West Florida Conference,
On Monday, January 8, 2024, the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) Committee on Episcopacy announced a recommendation on new episcopal areas to take effect September 1, 2024. That letter may be found here. Let me extend a word of thanks to this committee for their dedication and leadership, especially to the Rev. Emily Kincaid and Clara Ester, representatives of the AWF delegation.
In this letter you will see that the Alabama-West Florida, North Alabama and South Georgia Conferences will be served by one bishop. While this brings more change for each of these conferences, there is great opportunity in this next step. All three conference delegations have been in conversation with one another about this possibility and the collaborative efforts will continue.
Each conference has grieved the loss of clergy and churches over the past several years. What remains is a body of committed United Methodists with many commonalities. These conferences are similar in size (clergy and churches), are geographically in close proximity and share similar visions for ministry. The result of this decision will be a strong United Methodist presence in this region.
My hope is that many people will be involved in conversations around this new collaboration. It is essential for clergy and laity to have a voice in this process.
This recommendation must still be voted on by the SEJ delegates, who will meet July 10-12, 2024, at Lake Junaluska, NC. Also at that meeting bishops will be assigned by the SEJ Committee on Episcopacy to the areas that are approved by the delegates.
Join me in prayer as we continue to make Kingdom work a priority in these conferences and in our denomination. Let us continue to positively change our corner of the world.
In Christ,
David W. Graves
Resident Bishop, Alabama-West Florida Conference