05/14/2026
The Pain and the Push: The Story of the Central Jurisdiction
From 1939 to 1968, the Methodist Church maintained a racially segregated structure known as the Central Jurisdiction - a separate conference created specifically for Black Methodist congregations, spanning thousands of miles and dozens of states. It was written into the church’s constitution. It broke hearts. Yet, the people inside it built something extraordinary anyway.
This short documentary draws on the voices of those who lived it: bishops, leaders, and witnesses who navigated the pain of institutional segregation while sustaining a community of faith that refused to be diminished.
From 1939 to 1968, the Methodist Church maintained a racially segregated structure known as the Central Jurisdiction - a separate conference created specific...