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Commentary: Seeking balance at General Conference
"What we are doing … is a spiritual work," says the assembly's chief scheduler, urging the 2012 gathering to observe Sabbath.

General Conference acts on wide range of issues
Delegates hear memorable speeches, approve $642 million budget, and set direction on social issues and church ministries.

Liberia President Sirleaf addresses United Methodists
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says her country and her church share a common commitment to end poverty.

United Methodists uphold homosexuality stance
After forceful arguments on both sides, delegates retain language in the denomination’s Book of Discipline.

Agency focuses on centennial, health initiatives
Health, wellness and central conference pensions will be among board's future emphases.

Assembly approves $642 million churchwide budget
General Conference approves a denominational spending plan built around four areas of mission and ministry.

Bishop Ward: Wait, watch, receive God's spirit
Delegates urged to be witnesses to God's work in the world.

Church supports justice for migrants
United Methodists have adopted resolutions supporting justice for migrants worldwide and reform of U.S. immigration laws.

Church tackles difficult subject of abortion
General Conference votes to continue membership with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

Commentary: Deliberating under the influence (of too little sleep) at GC 2008
Packed agenda with little time for rest or sleep impairs delegates' abilities.

Conferences extend covenant agreement
Relationship-building and work together benefits both Zimbabwe and Baltimore-Washington annual conferences.

Delegates reject petitions aimed at ineffective clergy
Pension plans adopted in 2004 are also retained.

Judicial Council defers two ruling requests from General Conference
The court said both issues need study and would become docket items for its October session.

Justice petitions address welfare, hate, torture
Resolutions call for work toward a living wage to be a worldwide effort.

Same-sex couple says ‘I do’ outside church assembly
Days after their church upheld its position against same-sex unions, two women join in a marriage ceremony.

United Methodist Social Creed celebrated
The church’s Social Creed continues to express the scriptural mandate to care for the sojourner, the weak and the orphaned.

United Methodists reject divestment from Israel
While rejecting divestment, General Confrence delegates urge advocating for peace in the Middle East.

Wrap-up: General Conference closes with message of hope after addressing budget, social issues
Delegates end meeting with action on diverse issues and parting words of hope.

‘Christian conferencing’ follows demonstration
Bridge building before General Conference facilitates conversation in the midst of pain.

Bishop Jung leads service of remembrance
Painful and wonderful remembering can bring Body of Christ back together.

Church supports people of Tibet, Sudan, Taiwan
Petitions express caring, compassion and support for human rights.

Demonstrators call church’s ‘anti-gay’ policies sinful
Witness asks General Conference to recognize and acknowledge that "the body is broken."

Exhibit narrates the journey toward inclusiveness
The exhibit tells the story of racial and gender exclusion and inclusion in The United Methodist Church.

Gates thanks United Methodists for partnership
Gates Foundation chairman says The United Methodist Church is the strongest force against malaria.

General Conference 101: Student gets ‘education’
Attending the assembly provides an added dimension to Ashley Hewitt’s study of United Methodism.

Interpreters assist General Conference delegates
Some 140 interpreters and technicians are helping nearly 300 delegates participate in General Conference.

Judicial Council elects first woman president
The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe of South Carolina will lead the supreme court of The United Methodist Church.

Prayer room serves as ‘space of quieting and slowing’
Open gates draw visitors into heart of A Space for Prayer.

United Methodist mission statement revised
Additional wording tells why church seeks to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

United Methodists expand global health campaign
Capital campaign will raise $75 to $100 million to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

United Methodists will pledge to ‘witness’
New members will promise to be faithful in “their witness” as well as in their prayers, presence, gifts and service.

Wrap-up: Constitutional amendments, Gates speech and resolutions on variety of issues top agenda
Chicago Bishop Hee-Soo Jung encourages church to value both holiness and hospitality.

Bishop Fisher preaches against 'sin of racism'
Preacher urges delegates to take the most difficult route necessary to eliminate racism.

Church adopts proposed creed as litany
While the Social Creed will continue in its 1972 language, the new litany will provide an accompanying "poetic expression."

Delegates celebrate 100th anniversary of men’s ministry
At its centennial, men's ministry continues to confront it original concern, the lack of men in the church.

Delegates reinvest and affirm hope in Africa University
The school’s mission of educating future leaders reflects the General Conference theme, “A Future With Hope.”

Display of boots represents ‘human cost of war’
Speakers gathered on "sacred ground" call for an end to war in Iraq.

Four jurisdictions will each lose one bishop under new plan
Assembly mandates fewer bishops in U.S. to free funding for more leaders in central conferences.

People in 48 countries view General Conference online
Live streaming video enables people around the world to experience the assembly’s proceedings.

Petitions seeking to control Judicial Council ruled unconstitutional
General Conference can set the council's quorum, but organization and operation are the court’s prerogatives.

Sand Creek Massacre research center supported
Delegates want to provide financial support for a memorial to victims of a Methodist-led massacre.

Sight, sounds, movements create worship experience
Marcia McFee believes getting physical in worship can help the church act like the body of Christ that it is.

U.S. Christians don’t feel pains of persecution
Christians in U.S. are beginning to taste of persecution experienced by believers in some other parts of the world.

Wrap-up: Assembly retains stance on homosexuality
General Conference keeps the position that the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.”

Church celebrates 40-year journey toward inclusivity
While journey is not complete and struggles remain, some wrongs have been righted in commission's first 40 years.

Delegates continue Study of Ministry Commission
A commission studying the ordering of ministry in The United Methodist Church is being continued for four more years.

Judicial Council releases rulings on docket items
The United Methodist Church’s supreme court hands down rulings on four cases.

Native American leaders honored for longtime service
Celebration honors leaders and marks "new beginning" for United Methodist Native Americans.

Proposed new hymnal will go to 2012 assembly
Delegates approve a panel to revise the United Methodist Hymnal and a study to develop an Africana songbook.

United Methodists raise bishops’ retirement age
Raising the age from 66 to 68 gives three bishops the option of reconsidering plans for retiring this year.

United Methodists, Lutherans look toward cooperation
Agreement recognizes and honors faith, ministry and mission of two denominations.

United Methodists, Lutherans take root together
ELCA bishop preaches at General Conference as denominations move toward full communion.

Wrap up: Liberian president addresses assembly
Other highlights include a celebration of the Commission on Religion and Race and a sermon by an ELCA bishop.

Young delegation leaders model inclusiveness
Young people can do more than read Scripture in church, according to four young people leading their delegations at General Conference.

Assembly creates committee on faith and order

Assembly creates new study group on church structure
Delegates take a hesitant step toward reorganizing the 11.5 million-member United Methodist Church.

Bishop Lyght: Church offers ‘fresh bread’
Offer bread of faith, hope and love, bishop urges, to those facing a "midnight hour."

Cleaver: Social, economic problems hurt poor most
“Poor people are being blamed for being poor people,” says U.S. Rep. Emanuel Clever II to a United Methodist gathering.

Cookson Hills center and The Advance turn 60
Center offers diverse ministries with Native Americans and shares an intertwined history with The Advance.

Delegates enjoy a taste of Texas during break
Music, photos and food fill "night off" as Fort Worth Area hosts delegates and visitors.

Five new members are elected to Judicial Council
The 2008 General Conference elects two clergy and three lay members to serve on the top court of The United Methodist Church.

Former abortion clinic owner shares her story with delegates
Abortion discussion is more complex than words on a bumper sticker.

More support for Katrina relief needed, bishops say
Noting that much work remains, several bishops call for a recommitment to rebuilding the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Sixty years later, the Advance still offers hope
The Advance for Christ and His Church serves people in need through projects around the world.

Theological education in Africa gets boost
Proposed $2 million boost will not be final until General Conference approves the churchwide budget.

Uganda children’s choir awes General Conference
Young singers find answered prayer, love and peace during General Conference visit.

University Senate members, trustees elected
Four people are elected to the University Senate and eight others to the board of historic John Street Church.

Wrap up: Assembly tackles items with price tags
Faith and order, theological education and finances fill delegates first full day of decision-making.

Bishop Gregory Palmer receives leadership gavel
“I owe the church and the Lord of the church everything,” says the new president of the Council of Bishops.

Black civil rights veterans advocate inclusion
James Lawson and Gil Caldwell say there are parallels between blacks’ struggles in the 1960s and those of gays and lesbians today.

Church task force to examine global warming
General Conference instructs a task force to look for ways to reduce the church’s negative ecological impact.

Delegates extend plan to strengthen the black church
Twelve-year-old initiative will continue to be force for transformation.

Leaders remember Central Jurisdiction’s dissolution
Speakers celebrate progress and name challenges in 40th anniversary commemoration.

Malawi district becomes missionary conference
New missionary conference has a "tremendous level of ministry," says Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa.

Oklahoma Indian Mission choir opens worship
Native American children learned new languages during rehearsals.

United Methodists formally admit Côte d’Ivoire
The West African conference receives full rights and responsibilities and becomes the largest regional conference in the global church.

Wrap-up: Black churches, Cote d’Ivoire, global warming on Sunday docket
Both umbrellas and points of order were raised during an April 27 session of General Conference.

Church teams ‘hoop it up’ for Nothing But Nets
Two Texas conferences raise $300,000 for the church’s anti-malaria campaign.

Delegates seek General Conference ethics panel
A request for forming an ethics committee follows concerns about free cell phones given to some delegates.

Hutchinson says be moved by 'water and the Spirit'
Claim the reibrith and power of baptism, urges Bishop William W. Hutchinson.

Pension Initiative needs millions for retired pastors
Response to pension initiative beginning to meet the need of retirees in central conferences.

Rally urges inclusion regardless of sexual identity
Young speakers address a rally of more than 200 people supporting inclusion of gays and lesbians in the church.

Shalom initiative returns to General Conference —where it all began
Leaders of the Communities of Shalom highlight the program’s achievements since its birth in 1992.

United Methodists look to Latin America
The delegates hear a call to more fully embrace their counterparts in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Wrap-up: Delegates renew baptism, celebrate rural churches
General Conference delegates also perfect legislation to be presented in plenary sessions.

Young Russian pastor shares courageous journey
Strong faith, compassion move Kira Volkova's ministry.

$5 million grant boosts Global Health Initiative
The grant will help The United Methodist Church fight malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

Bishop Machado: Deeds, not words, needed to make true disciples
True disciples will use deeds to transform the world.

Church leaders support sanctuary for immigrants
Pastor calls immigrants' plight an "affront to God."

Daily wrap-up: Church receives $5 million for global health work
Other highlights included a call to action by Mozambique Bishop João Somane Machado, a Judicial Council ruling and the introduction of delegates from affiliated churches.

Doubts arise following gifts of cell phones
Gifts to 150 African and Filipino delegates raise questions for some delegates and church officials.

Language on board membership is unconstitutional, Judicial Council says
Ruling applies to petitions that would mandate some types of board members and delegates.

Potato drop yields 20 tons of food for area hungry
Sweet potatoes will feed people, such as the 13-year-old who ate grass, “because it was like eating salad.”

‘Join us in choosing hope,’ church leaders urge
Seven-year-old Katherine Commale provides life-saving bed nets for African children -- and life-giving hope for United Methodist adults.

Church focuses on poverty, health, people, leaders
Church's general agencies organize their budgets and ministries to emphasize key priorities.

Church urges humane treatment of immigrants
About 300 United Methodists gather for a rally on immigrant and human rights in Fort Worth.

Conflicting paragraphs should be reconciled, Judicial Council says
The paragraphs address how jurisdictions should be represented on church boards and agencies.

Daily wrap-up: Legislative work begins, follows day of speeches at General Conference
Delegates to General Conference heard major addresses and began legislative work.

Delegates react to day of messages, presentations
Messages of hope and action draw praise from people attending General Conference.

Finance report emphasizes abundance over scarcity
The United Methodist Church needs to claim spiritual truth of abundant living in managing its finances.

Invitation, personal ministry make disciples, laity told
Lay people must get involved in winning people for Christ, Laity Address speaker says.

Pathways can lead to transformation
Identifying fruitful ministries and best practices was first step toward naming vision pathways.

Request anticipates constitutionality questions
In the opening hours of the 2008 assembly, delegates to the 2008 General Conference requested a decision from the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church.

Transgender United Methodists share stories
This year, persons who have changed their gender are adding a new angle to the debate over sexual identity at General Conference.

United Methodist delegates receive message of hope
In the Episcopal Address, Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher says the world is hungering for "the bread of life."

Young people call United Methodists to action now
General Conference hears a challenge to be bold and to have confidence in the church's young people.

Young people work as team to deliver address
Six strangers became friends as they worked to deliver the first ever Young People’s Address.

Bishop opens General Conference 2008 with ‘resurrection hope’
Rousing worship marks the assembly's opening on the 40th anniversary of The United Methodist Church.

Church can be key to fighting AIDS, speakers say
United Methodists must "pray and pay" to solve the global AIDS/HIV crisis.

Council accepts resignation of Bishop Edward Paup
Bishop Edward W. Paup says he will leave his episcopal position to lead the church’s mission agency.

Daily wrap-up: United Methodists begin legislative marathon with worship
Nearly 1,000 delegates from United Methodist churches around the world begin General Conference.

Delegates get oriented on ‘hows’ and ‘whys’
General Conference opening day orientations focus issues of special interest to groups of delegates.

Three Texas conferences ‘net’ support for ‘Nets’
Nothing But Nets gets a fundraising boost through a bike ride and basketball tournament

Bishops elect Goodpaster as president-designate
Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster has been unanimously elected to lead the Council of Bishops in 2010.

Agency withdraws petition on Caterpillar divestment
The action follows Caterpillar’s steps to address concerns regarding the use of its equipment in the Mideast.

Commentary: Developing a new hymnal in harmony
What might a new United Methodist hymnal look like in the United States?

Delegates prepare, pack for General Conference
Nearly 1,000 United Methodist delegates from around the world converge April 23 on the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas.

General Conference to include emphasis on health
During 10 consecutive days of meetings, delegates will be able to take daily fitness walks and visit a Health and Wholeness booth.

Cookie bakers fire up ovens for General Conference
A longstanding tradition, cookies in all sizes and varieties are being concocted for delivery to the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Commentary: It’s time for a new set of priorities
The United Methodist Church has an opportunity for a new beginning, writes the Rev. Tom Berlin.

Gulfside trees transformed into Lord’s table
Despite devastation by Hurricane Katrina, Gulfside Assembly will have a central presence at General Conference.

Report urges stronger ties with Latin America
A study group will present its recommendations to the 2008 General Conference this month.

Commentary: Race speech models holy conferencing
Bishop Sally Dyck lifts up U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s recent speech about race in America as an example for addressing divisive issues.

Choir opens world to children with 'hard lives'
Twenty-three children whose lives have been uprooted by war are preparing for their first “international tour.”

Assembly delegates to consider over 1,500 petitions
Advance materials help the nearly 1,000 delegates get familiar with upcoming General Conference legislation.

Assembly music leaders branch out together
Marcia McFee and Mark Miller are drawing inspiration from the assembly’s tree logo as they plan worship for the event.

United Methodists discuss the hard conversations
A JustPeace workshop explores how to talk about divisive issues in constructive ways that bring people together.

United Methodist ethnic ministries seek $12.3 million
Six ethnic ministries of The United Methodist Church are requesting $12.3 million in denominational funding for the next four years.

United Methodists explore church's global structure
Is The United Methodist Church truly a global church, and should its structure change accordingly? Ten leaders explore that question.

2008 General Conference to welcome online visitors
People unable to attend the church's top legislative meeting this spring can watch the proceedings online with Internet access.

Task force recommends ways to improve health
The United Methodist Church has a health problem, say leaders working to improve the health of clergy and church lay employees.

News briefing offers glimpse into assembly changes
Many changes at General Conference aim to foster unity through common ministry instead of gridlock over divisive social issues.

United Methodists explore divestment proposals
Divestment petitions aimed at bringing about change in the Middle East are reviewed at a General Conference informational session.

Fort Worth hotel changes challenge church assembly
With the United Methodist assembly just three months away, organizers are scrambling for rooms to accommodate delegates and others.

Fort Worth awaits General Conference delegates
"Cowtown" is preparing a Texas-sized welcome to United Methodists looking for some cowboy culture during General Conference.

Global gathering increases General Conference costs
The United Methodist assembly is becoming more costly, due in part to expenses related to international delegates.

United Methodists get their game on to fight malaria
Texas area basketball players and hoops fans gear up for a General Conference faceoff to raise big bucks for Nothing But Nets.

Music leader scatters seeds for General Conference
Seeds are being sown for the church's top assembly, where thousands of seedlings will serve as symbols of hope.

Commentary: Church builds vision for addressing critical issues facing United Methodists, world
Top church leaders embrace a plan to reclaim the church's transformational heritage.

Liberian president to address United Methodists
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will speak to the United Methodist General Conference during its meeting next spring in Fort Worth, Texas.

Prayer conference calls United Methodists to prayer
As General Conference approaches, a churchwide prayer event sends the message that "God needs the church to work with him."

Six young people to address General Conference
Six United Methodists from 15 to 28 have been chosen to deliver the first Young People's Address at the 2008 General Conference.

United Methodists seek change in tone at assembly
General Conference organizers endorsed “Guidelines for Holy Conferencing – What God Expects of Us” for the 2008 meeting.

General Conference petitions lost through e-mail
Petitions sent via e-mail before noon on July 27 should be resubmitted to the 2008 General Conference due to technical problems.

General Conference 101: All you ever wanted to know
A guide for the 2008 meeting where United Methodists will set direction for the church for 2009-12.

Oct. 26 deadline set for General Conference petitions
United Methodists face a fall deadline for submitting legislation to the assembly, which meets next spring.

General Conference host issues call to prayer
United Methodists are asked to pray for God's guidance in the time leading up to and during the church’s 2008 legislative assembly.

Unprecedented unity builds for mission initiatives
A movement is under way to bring United Methodists together around the same four areas of emphasis.

Bishops examine roles, appointments process
Bishops say retooling the church's leadership processes, including 'guaranteed appointments' for clergy, is essential to the church's vitality.

Plan would pave way for U.S. regional conference
A task force examining the global nature of The United Methodist Church proposes four changes to the denomination's constitution.

Commission proposes changes in General Conference
New petitions call for streamlining the assembly's size and petitions process.

Volunteer pages, marshals needed for '08 assembly
Applications are being accepted to serve at the General Conference meeting in Fort Worth, Texas.

Commentary: How to become a General Conference delegate
General Conference is a year away, but would-be delegates must start working now to get elected.

Georgia lay leader is General Conference speaker
Lyn Powell of the North Georgia Conference is to give the Laity Address when the church’s top lawmaking body meets in 2008 in Texas.

Annual meetings to elect conference delegates
United Methodists gather this spring and summer at annual meetings with an eye toward next year’s General Conference.

Music directors seek gifted United Methodists for '08 assembly
Local church choirs, ensembles and bands, instrumentalists, singers, dancers and dance groups, as well as visual, video, textile and performing artists from around the world, are invited to send audition tapes for a chance to perform at worship services at the 2008 General Conference.

East, West Coast musicians to direct 2008 General Conference
TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — Two prominent United Methodist musicians from California and New Jersey have been named co-music directors for the denomination’s 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

Bush, Sirleaf invited to address 2008 General Conference
TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — The Commission on the General Conference is inviting the president of the United States and the president of Liberia — both United Methodists — to address the denomination’s 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

Judicial Council is asked to determine size of Cote d'Ivoire delegation
The governing committee of the quadrennial legislative assembly of the United Methodist Church is asking the denomination?s supreme court to rule on the size of the delegation from Cote d?Ivoire for the 2008 General Conference.

Logo for 2008 General Conference keys on theme of hope
United Methodists gathering for their top legislative assembly in 2008 will meet, symbolically, under a tall, green tree representing “A Future with Hope.”

Pennsylvania pastor to become assembly business manager
PITTSBURGH (UMNS)—The Rev. Alan J. Morrison, who served as host operations director for the United Methodist Church’s 2004 General Conference, has been selected as the meeting planning director/business manager of General Conference, the denomination’s legislative assembly.

General Conference commission sets '08 dates, chooses theme
The commission that plans the United Methodist Church's top legislative assembly has chosen a theme for the 2008 gathering and has set the dates, shortening General Conference by two days from previous years.

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