By: Rev. Sam McGlothlin
March 6, 2026
If you asked me to pinpoint the exact moment the Sisters Circuit came into being, I would be hard pressed to name it. I know the revelation came shortly after the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference in June 2025. The conference was a microcosm of what I experienced at General Conference 2024.
The Holy Spirit was palpable. Worship was dynamic. The stories of God’s work in communities across our geographical area were a source of assurance and inspiration. There was unbridled joy in the room, and it sloshed and seeped into lunches and small gatherings, invigorating hearts that needed renewal.
It was also the preaching of my colleagues at that Annual Conference that incited me to dream of what could be. What if we created a modern-day revival, a circuit that would invite new voices and fresh theological insights into our churches? What if those voices were those of female senior pastors?
Fast forward to mid-June. I emailed my colleagues Rev. Toi King at Clark Memorial UMC, Rev. Dr. Paula Smith at Gordon Memorial UMC, and Rev. Dr. Carol Cavin-Dillon at West End UMC. They responded with enthusiasm and interest. We had collaborated for many years in a similar manner for Good Friday services at Gordon Memorial. We knew and respected one another. We were good friends and eager to partner in fun, creative ways.
It wasn’t until sitting down to put words to website that I realized we were all the first female senior pastors appointed to our congregations. For some of us that was 70 years in the waiting, for others it was 155.
As we thought deeper on the desired outcomes of the exchange, we decided this was a beautiful way to empower female voices, to bring fresh perspectives, and to strengthen inter-church bonds. We believe the way of the future in the UMC is deeper connection. Here, we had the opportunity to start bringing people together in the same way that Good Friday service had been doing for years. Though our congregations would stay put, we could introduce them to leaders ready for more united partnership.
The first morning of the circuit led me to Clark Memorial UMC. I am embarrassed to say that I did not know the extent of its leadership during the civil rights movement. Proximity-wise, our churches are not far apart. Yet still, I had no clue of the depth of influence Clark carried during a pivotal time in our country. It was only seven miles down the road.
I only have this knowledge now because as I walked around the exterior of Clark, taking in my surroundings with anticipation, a man who keeps an eye on the parking lot waved me down. He said, “Go down there and read that sign! Take a picture and show everybody!"
As I walked to the corner, I discovered a historical marker that said Clark was founded in 1865, moved to North Nashville in 1936, and then to its current location in 1945. Activist James M. Lawson conducted classes there in 1959 on non-violent protests. Lawson was a founding member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), whose Nashville members included students at American Baptist College, Fisk, Tennessee State, and Vanderbilt.
United Methodist history is United States history.
When I walked into the church, I was greeted by the familiar and exuberant voice of my friend LaRhonda Potts, one of my co-hosts for a TWK podcast called Table Talk. Her warmth, and the kindness of everyone I met, filled my spirit with excitement. To meet new people, to preach in places I may never be appointed, to worship in different ways — these were all hoped for moments that were coming to life.
As the circuit continued, unexpected outcomes arose and new possibilities unfolded. Interaction upon interaction breathed new life into my preaching bones and illuminated the gift of community across the connection.
What I knew from the beginning and stand by today is that this exchange can be replicated. It can be transfixed and transfigured to fit any context. What if you created a modern-day revival, a circuit that would invite new voices and fresh theological insights into your churches?
The time for curiosity and creativity and connection is ripe!
If you’re interested, we want to share more with you. I invite you to hear from all four sisters on March 10 at 12 PM (CST). To register visit: Celebrating The Sisters Circuit.
McGlothlin is the senior pastor of Belle Meade UMC in Nashville, Tennessee and serves as a board member of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.