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Reconciling Ministries Network | May 11, 2026
CHICAGO, IL — Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is thrilled to announce that Rev. Andromeda (Andi) Woodworth (she/they) has been named the next Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries Network. Woodworth, a United Methodist elder, pastor, and deeply committed advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church, will step into the role on June 1, 2026, following a nationwide search.
Woodworth brings nearly two decades of pastoral leadership, community organizing, and movement-building experience to the role. As the founding co-pastor and current solo pastor of Neighborhood Church in Atlanta — a United Methodist congregation recognized across the region as a model for liberation-focused, radically inclusive ministry — she has spent her career at the intersection of faith and justice.
A passionate preacher, gifted writer, and experienced curator of generous communities, Woodworth has led significant institutional projects throughout her ministry: renovating facilities for accessibility, securing a $4M financial reserve, launching community fundraising initiatives, and developing inclusive worship music now used across the country. She has also served as an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia and beyond, including making history in 2024 as the first openly trans chaplain of the day at the Georgia State House of Representatives.
For Woodworth, this appointment is deeply personal. Her own journey into faith and leadership in The United Methodist Church unfolded alongside her journey of coming out as trans — and RMN was part of that story. Woodworth shared what this moment means to her personally:
“At every step of the way, Reconciling Ministries Network has been there, in one form or another, to help support my faith and my flourishing as a leader in The United Methodist Church. It [will] be a deep honor to be a part of leading RMN as it enters the next phases of its journey.”
Woodworth is a graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Phi Beta Kappa alumna of Emory’s undergraduate program. She was honored as the Emory Office of LGBTQ+ Life Alumna of the Year in 2025, and preached at the RMN Convocation that same year.
Woodworth’s appointment comes at a defining moment for United Methodism. As the denomination navigates a historic season of regionalization and works to de-colonize its mission and ministry around the globe, RMN sees in Woodworth a leader uniquely equipped to meet this moment. Her intersectional approach to faith and justice — shaped by her experience as a queer, trans woman in the church — positions her to build bridges across difference, amplify marginalized voices, and partner with United Methodists worldwide who are doing the courageous, ground-level work of inclusion and liberation.
RMN’s selection committee expressed deep enthusiasm for what Woodworth brings to the organization at this pivotal moment. Rev. David Meredith (he/him), Chair of RMN’s Board of Directors, reflected on the appointment:
“In this pivotal moment, as the denomination moves from neutral into policies and practices of affirmation, encouragement, justice, and repair, Andi brings the insight and experience this work demands. For Andi, the church is a laboratory for love and forgiveness, and she brings that same spirit to RMN and the UMC. She brings the willingness to wade out into the community, to listen, to learn, to collaborate, and to activate. She is the right person for the right time.”
Additional details about her plans for the role will be shared in the weeks ahead.
\Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world. RMN is committed to the full participation of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the Church — in worship, leadership, and community. Learn more at rmnetwork.org
Taylor Whitley (she/her) is Director of Communications for Reconciling Ministries Network.