Rev. Brittany Watson has been named as the Arkansas Conference Age Level Discipleship Coordinator effective August 25, 2025.
In this part-time position, Rev. Watson will be responsible for coordinating and resourcing the children’s and youth ministries of the Arkansas Conference while helping develop age-appropriate models of discipleship, creating and supporting leadership networks, and coordinating events for age-level ministries. She will also lead the management of Safe Gatherings, the Conference platform for abuse prevention.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rev. Watson to the Conference team and look forward to the many gifts that she will bring to our connectional ministry work. Her thoughtful perspective and successful work at the local level are a rich resource for the church,” stated Bishop Merrill.
“I feel incredibly blessed to be entrusted with this important work. Our ministry with young people is not only one of our most important callings, but also one of our most fun. Over my last years working with kids and youth, I have been challenged and inspired in equal measure by their enthusiasm, questions, and faith. I look forward to working alongside our congregations as we learn, create, and walk this discipleship journey together,” said Rev. Watson.
Rev. Watson will continue to serve part-time as the Pastor to Young People and their Grown Ups at First United Methodist Church of Little Rock, where she has served since 2019. She is an elder in full connection with the Arkansas Conference and has served as the associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in El Dorado, Highland Valley UMC in Little Rock, and as senior pastor at Sylvan Hills UMC in North Little Rock. She is married to Dr. J. Clark Watson and is the mother of three boys: Joseph (12), Leo (9), and George (6).