Western States Annual Conference Approved to Become the Western Pacific Annual Conference

The Global Methodist Church is pleased to announce that the Connectional Council approved the renaming of the Western States Annual Conference to the Western Pacific Annual Conference during its meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026. The change reflects the conference's expanding geographic reach and growing ministry throughout the Pacific region.

The new name better represents the conference's current ministry, which now extends beyond the western United States to include Fiji and Australia, while also recognizing the potential for future ministry partnerships with other Pacific island nations.

Rev. Clark Atkins, Chair of the Conferences Commission, said the name change reflects both the conference's history of innovation and its continued commitment to the mission of the Global Methodist Church. Clark shares, “Positioned on the frontier of the Pacific, we are excited about all that the former Western States Conference has done creatively to lead the way in the Global Methodist Church to reach new places and new people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With this new and expanded name the now Western Pacific Conference is poised to continue to lead the way as we make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.”

For Conference Superintendent Rev. Mark Maddox, the new name represents the conference's present reality and future vision. He continues, “We believe the Holy Spirit is opening new doors and expanding the mission God has entrusted to us. The name Western Pacific Conference better reflects who we are today: a conference that reaches beyond the western United States to include Fiji and Australia, with the possibility of welcoming other Pacific islands in the future. It speaks not only to our geography, but also to our shared mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ and truly spreading scriptural holiness across the globe.”

The renaming reflects the conference's continued growth as the Global Methodist Church expands internationally and underscores its commitment to serving churches across an increasingly diverse region while remaining faithful to the denomination's mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.

The Global Methodist Church celebrates this milestone and looks forward to the continued ministry and witness of the Western Pacific Annual Conference as it serves congregations throughout its expanding mission field.