The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Davis will become superintendent of the Mississippi River District in the Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Church beginning March 1.
Davis follows the Rev. Kevin Conrad who will become senior pastor of Cookeville First UMC in Cookeville, Tennessee, in the Tennessee Conference.
The Mississippi River District includes eight counties in northwest Tennessee and has its district office in Alamo, Tenn.
Davis currently serves as senior associate pastor and executive director of congregational care at Christ UMC in Memphis, an appointment she has held since July 2016.
Before her appointment to Christ UMC, Davis was superintendent of the Memphis Conference’s former McKendree District. The McKendree District combined with the Asbury District in mid-2016 to create the current Metro (Memphis) District.
Davis received her doctor of ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio in 2005. She earned her master’s degree in counseling from the University of Memphis in 1994 and bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson in 1980.
Davis and her husband, Dr. Sonny Davis, are the parents of four adult children and two grandsons.
“I am tremendously humbled by this opportunity and ask for prayers of wisdom and discernment,” Davis said. “Sonny and I look forward to meeting the wonderful people of the Mississippi River District. We give God thanks for the great spiritual leadership of the Rev. Kevin Conrad and how he has led the district with exceptional excellence.”
Bishop William T. (Bill) McAlilly of the Nashville Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church (UMC) announced Davis’ appointment.
“In this season of challenge in the Church, we need an experienced, pastoral presence to serve in the Mississippi River District,” McAlilly said. “Cynthia is a beloved and proven leader in the Memphis Conference and was the unanimous choice of the cabinet.”
(Source: Memphis-umc.net; drawn from a report by Lane Gardner Camp, director of communications, Memphis Conference.)
