The annual shuffle of United Methodist pastors will this year include some notable changes around Chattanooga, the denomination announced, with the Rev. Nathan Malone set to take the top job overseeing area congregations and pastors.
Malone has been assigned this summer to take over as district superintendent of both the Scenic South and Hiwassee Districts, which together encompass roughly 100 United Methodist churches around Chattanooga and Cleveland, Tennessee, respectively.
Since 2017, he has been senior pastor at Christ United Methodist Church — the denomination’s largest in the area, according to published membership figures.
With Malone’s departure from the role, the East Brainerd church is one of several set to receive a new senior pastor July 1, when new appointments begin.
The new lead pastor will be the Rev. Jeffrey L. Lambert, currently the district superintendent of the conference’s Appalachian and Three Rivers Districts, the conference announced Sunday.