The last day of General Conference May 3 brought passage of the budget before lunch, as well as a plan for how many bishops each United States jurisdiction will get. Pictured, delegates, visitors and staff of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., dance in the aisles following morning worship on the final day of the conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
Day Nine at General Conference saw a number of key happenings, most notably that deacons can now preside at sacraments in their appointments and The United Methodist Church no longer condemns homosexuality. Pictured, South Carolina’s the Rev. Karen Jones reacts to passage of legislation that will allow deacons to preside over Holy Communion in the context of their local appointments. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
General Conference ended a 40-year ban on gay clergy on Day Eight of the event, May 1. That, along with a host of items—including the green light for a new Compass retirement plan, passage of four Jurisdictional Study Committee petitions, the final regionalism petition and elections—wrapped up an often-emotional day of church business. Pictured, Jesi Lipp, a lay delegate from the Great Plains Conference, reacts May 1 after General Conference voted to remove the ban. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.
General Conference Day 7 brought a silent protest against the violence in Palestine as well as full communion with Episcopal Church, passage of a new base rate for apportionments, Social Principles changes and more. (Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News)
After a much-needed rest day, delegates to the United Methodist General Conference completed a jam-packed day of business Monday, April 29, including the passage of nearly 200 petitions and the consecration of 26 people as deaconesses and home missioners. Pictured, United Methodist Bishops Robin Dease (left), Karen Oliveto, and Kennetha Bigham-Tsai lead singing at the gathering. Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News.
Day Five of the United Methodist General Conference brought not only the final day of legislative committee work but also rousing worship celebrating the ministry of the UMC and the passage of some Social Principles revisions. (Pictured, Susan Brumbaugh, coordinator of the calendar for the conference, addresses the 2024 General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.)
Day Four of General Conference saw delegates speed through a quick morning plenary and worship before spending the rest of their day in legislative work. (Above, Bishop Sharma Lewis preaches at the April 26 morning worship service at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.)
General Conference gave regionalization the definitive go-ahead Thursday as Day Three’s legislative plenary session drew to a close. That capped a morning also filled with powerful preaching, a hope-filled Laity Address, a positive report on diversity in legislative leadership and more.
Bishop L. Jonathan Holston gives the Episcopal Address on Day Two of the United Methodist General Conference April 24 in Charlotte. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton brought a word of optimism and diligence as he preached the opening worship service Tuesday, April 23, at the postponed 2020 United Methodist General Conference. By Jessica Brodie.
It’s here. After multiple postponements because of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent international travel issues, the 2020 United Methodist Church General Conference is gearing up to start just as the Advocate releases this edition. By Jessica Brodie.
Dementia workshop to empower churches through new ministry. By Jessica Brodie