Preliminary steps have been taken to merge the Wisconsin District and the Great Lakes District of The Wesleyan Church. The Great Lakes District conference delegates approved the merger by a vote of 555-16, and the Wisconsin District conference approved the merger on March 30 by a vote of 52-30.

The districts will submit a resolution to the General Board of the denomination, requesting its approval in May 2019. Upon a favorable vote by the General Board, a merging conference will be held on August 2, 2019.

The merged district, which will still be called the Great Lakes District, will include the states of Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. It will include 181 churches with a combined worship attendance of 38,170.