is dict ional ▁Conference . ▁ ▁The ▁current ▁pres iding ▁Bishop ▁is ▁Bishop ▁Paul ▁L . ▁Le eland . ▁ ▁High er ▁education ▁support ▁The ▁Western ▁North ▁Carolina ▁Conference ▁provides ▁fund ing ▁to ▁five ▁institutions ▁of ▁higher ▁learning : ▁ ▁Ben nett ▁College ▁– ▁Gre ens bor o , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁Bre vard ▁College ▁– ▁Bre vard , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁Gre ens bor o ▁College ▁– ▁Gre ens bor o , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁High ▁Point ▁University ▁– ▁High ▁Point , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁P fe iffer ▁University ▁ ▁Main ▁Camp us ▁– ▁M isen heimer , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁Ext ension ▁Camp us ▁– ▁Charlotte , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁ ▁District s ▁The ▁W NC ▁Ann ual ▁Conference ▁is ▁further ▁sub div ided ▁into ▁eight ▁smaller ▁regions , ▁called ▁" d istrict s ," ▁which ▁provide ▁further ▁administrative ▁functions ▁for ▁the ▁operation ▁of ▁local ▁churches ▁in ▁co operation ▁with ▁each ▁other . ▁This ▁structure ▁is ▁vital ▁to ▁Method ism , ▁and ▁is ▁referred ▁to ▁as ▁connection al ism . ▁The ▁districts ▁that ▁compr ise ▁the ▁Western ▁North ▁Carolina ▁Conference ▁are : ▁ ▁App al ach ian ▁Blue ▁R idge ▁C ata w ba ▁Valley ▁Metro ▁Northern ▁P ied mont ▁Sm ok y ▁Mountain ▁U wh ar rie ▁ ▁Y ad kin ▁Valley ▁ ▁Prior ▁to ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁the ▁W NC ▁Ann ual ▁Conference ▁had ▁ 1 5 ▁districts . ▁Alb em ar le ▁As he ville ▁Charlotte ▁Gast onia ▁Gre ens bor o ▁High ▁Point ▁Lake ▁Norman ▁ ▁Lex ington ▁Mar