West Tennessee

1-10000

This series comprises records from the West Tennessee district. They capture the district’s role as a vital regional hub within the wider church. The materials include minutes from district conferences, correspondence between local pastors and district leaders, reports from area churches, pastoral appointments, membership and financial statistics, and policy documents specific to the region.

These records reveal how the district guided and supported local congregations and clergy, implemented denominational policies on a regional level, and fostered church growth and ministry within the community.

The earliest journal in our files is 1908, which specifies it is the seventeenth session. Prior to 1891, white people and Negroes worshiped together in Tennessee churches, some of which date as early as 1866. In 1891, Negro churches were set apart as a separate conference organization and were known as West Tennessee, including some Negro churches in Alabama. The 1895 General Conference statistical report shows 5 appointments, 0 churches, 0 meeting houses, and 119 members. In 1857 West Tennessee merged with the South Ohio Conference.1899 General Conference journal That the newly authorized conference in Tennessee
include all of the state of Tennessee, and that all reference to the West Tennessee conference be omitted from the new Discipline.