The MidSouth Annual Conference Announces Rev. James Todd Chancey as the Next Conference Superintendent

The MidSouth Annual Conference is pleased to announce the selection of Rev. James Todd Chancey as the next Conference Superintendent. Rev. Todd Chancey will continue serving as the Conference Connectional Officer until July 1, 2025, as he assumes his new duties as the Superintendent. He succeeds Rev. Dr. Mike Powers who is currently serving as the MidSouth’s first Conference Superintendent.

The Superintendency Committee under Bishop Levingston’s leadership joined together in prayerful discernment for the selection of Rev. Chancey for this honorable appointment. Rev. Michael Sweeney, Chairman of the MidSouth Superintendency Committee and lead pastor of Florence Methodist Church, remarked that, “Todd is a gifted servant leader who has led the MidSouth well since the beginning. The Superintendency Committee is excited to see him bring this same hard work and servant leadership to the role of Conference Superintendent.”

Rev. Chancey began serving in ministry in 1988 and has continued serving in full-time ministry over the course of the past 36 years. As an elder in the Global Methodist Church, Rev. Chancey served as the Chairman of the Appointment Committee overseeing the recommendation and appointment of clergy across five states during the MidSouth’s formation and joined the staff in January of 2024. On staff, he has diligently served the Conference in the capacity of Connectional Officer working tirelessly in disaster relief efforts and annual conference planning, serving as a delegate to the 2024 Convening General Conference of the Global Methodist Church in Costa Rica, as well as traveling the region to connect with clergy and laity to continue building the ministry of this conference. His other professional accolades include experience in supervising staff of 100+, serving as an adjunct professor at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, co-authoring a self-published work: Heavenly Helper: A Guide to Church Employment Administration, and co-authoring: God in the Midst of Thorns: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Strength and Justice (published by WestBow Press – Thomas Nelson & Zondervan, 2019).

Rev. Chancey’s commitment to the local church is demonstrated by his service in church administration for 14 years, his experience in children and youth ministry, alongside his 21 years pastoring in the church setting in both rural and metropolitan locations. This commitment to the local church and expansion of the GMC vision, to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe, has been evident in his recent work as lead pastor at Trinity Global Methodist Church, a church plant that has grown exponentially since its formation in 2023 including the recent purchase of their own facility as they pursue God’s call on their lives as church planters.

Dr. Benjamin Bowman, the Vice-Chair of the Conference Leadership Committee who also served as a lay delegate to the 2024 GMC Convening General Conference, states that, “During my time in volunteer conference leadership, Todd has exhibited his heart to see all of us in the MidSouth Conference transformed by the Holy Spirit. He does this by inspiring others to live lives of holiness, building trust by being trustworthy, using the unique gifts and graces of everyone for the kingdom work, and encouraging us all to grow deeper with Jesus through the discipleship courses offered across the conference. I’ve felt motivated to live into my full potential as a leader because of Todd’s dedication to Jesus. We are blessed to have him serve as Conference Superintendent!”

As an active participant in the community, Rev. Chancey has volunteered to work with many groups including the Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, Awake 21 Ecumenical Ministry, and the Faith and Family Coalition while partnering with schools in the local community to help children and youth in need and giving encouragement to teachers and staff.

Rev. Chancey has been married to his wife, Liz Chancey, for 43 years and pleased to raise together two daughters gifting them with their sons-in-law and now four grandchildren.