Bishop Graves announces one new District Superintendent appointment, district alignments

Bishop David Graves announces the projected appointment of one new District Superintendent to the South Georgia Conference Cabinet, effective June 2023.

The Rev. Dr. Scott Hagan, currently serving as senior pastor of Statesboro First United Methodist Church, will be appointed to serve as superintendent of both the Coastal and Northeast districts. 

Dr. Hagan was ordained an Elder in The United Methodist Church in 2006. Born in Brunswick, Georgia to Dan and Miriam Hagan, he grew up in Statesboro with his brother, Kirk. Along with his wife, Julie, they have served local churches in Fayetteville, Albany, Waverly Hall, Columbus, Bonaire, and Statesboro. 

Dr. Hagan will join Rev. Doreen Smalls, the Rev. Dr. Paula Lewis, and the Rev. Dr. Jay Harris on the Appointive Cabinet in the new district leadership structure. Dr. Harris will assume an expanded role as the Superintendent of Clergy and District Services. 

In this structure, the six existing districts will remain as is. However, there will now be three regions composed of two districts each. One District Superintendent will oversee one region.

Along with Dr. Hagan’s service to the Coastal and Northeast districts, Rev. Smalls will give oversight to both the Northwest and Southwest districts while Dr. Lewis will oversee both the North Central and South Central districts.

"It is an honor to welcome Scott to the appointive cabinet,” said Bishop Graves. “He has demonstrated fruitful and effective leadership and will help guide our conference in the coming years. I consider it a privilege to welcome Scott to conference leadership in this capacity and look forward to our partnership in ministry.” 

After a stint in men's basketball - working for Georgia Tech, the Atlanta Hawks, and USA Basketball - Dr. Hagan answered the call to ministry in 1999. He has been a minister in the South Georgia Conference since 2003. Scott earned degrees from Georgia Tech (BS in Management), Georgia Southern University (Master of Business Administration), Emory University (Master of Divinity), and Columbia Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry). He has served in leadership roles on the district and annual conference levels, including the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Board of Pension and Health Benefits. Dr. Hagan was elected to serve on the South Georgia Conference delegation in 2016 and 2020. He and Julie have two sons, Sam and Jack, who love beating their dad in tennis. Sam is a senior at Georgia Southern University, and Jack will enroll there in the Fall.

“Julie and I have loved serving in the local church,” said Dr. Hagan. “Departing from that brings grief, but God is already shining through with a sense of excitement at what is ahead. I am humbled at the chance to join Bishop Graves and the Cabinet to equip churches and laity and partner with the amazing clergy of South Georgia. There is so much joy ahead.”

Rev. Steve Patton, current Northwest District Superintendent, will retire at the Annual Conference Session in June. Rev. Craig Hutto, current North Central District Superintendent, will take a local church appointment in the North Georgia Conference, and Rev. Stephen Grantham, current Northeast District Superintendent, will take a local church appointment in the South Georgia Conference. Rev. David Thompson, current Coastal District Superintendent, will go on spiritual renewal leave beginning May 1 and will not seek a pastoral appointment in June. 

“When I was assigned to serve in South Georgia I knew having a strong Cabinet would be instrumental in my ability to serve two conferences,” said Bishop Graves. “I have relied heavily on the giftedness and wisdom of the six members of my current Cabinet. They have served faithfully in a tough season, and I am grateful for their dedication to God and to this conference. I know you will join me in thanking Steve, Craig, Stephen, and David for their exceptional work on the Cabinet and in their districts.”

The restructuring of district leadership will take effect June 2023.

Bishop Graves and the Appointive Cabinet now continue their work to prayerfully discern the pastoral appointments of the South Georgia Conference. They will meet nearly weekly through April to make decisions and to prayerfully seek God’s guidance. Throughout the process, District Superintendents will continue to be in conversation with congregations and clergy as needed.

All appointments are considered firm projections pending the official announcement at the conclusion of the Annual Conference session on June 6, in Tifton.