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General Conference
The Rev. Jay Williams (right) hugs fellow delegates after the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted May 1 to remove The United Methodist Church’s longtime ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
The Rev. Jay Williams (right) hugs fellow delegates after the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted May 1 to remove The United Methodist Church’s longtime ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

40-year ban on gay clergy struck down
In an emotional morning, General Conference has eliminated the ban on “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy. Following the vote at break, delegates and observers sang hymns in joy.

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General Conference
Mark Miller (right) takes a group photo outside the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., with people celebrating The United Methodist Church’s removal of its ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” — a prohibition that dates to 1984. At center is Bishop Karen Oliveto, the denomination’s first openly gay bishop. Her wife, Robin Ridenour, is at left. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

May 1 wrap-up: Gay clergy ban lifted, new retirement plan approved
A source of heated, often painful, division at General Conference for the past 40 years was removed without debate: The denomination’s ban on ordaining “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” has been lifted.
General Conference
Lonnie Chafin, a delegate from the Northern Illinois Conference and chair of the Conferences legislative committee, speaks May 1 during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. The committee supported and brought to the floor a petition that deletes Paragraph 2553 from the Book of Discipline. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Disaffiliation ends, regionalization moves forward
General Conference delegates deleted the church disaffiliation policy, passed the last of the regionalization petitions and required annual conferences to set a reaffiliation plan for churches that want to return.
General Conference
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey (right) presides over the election of Judicial Council members during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., on May 1. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Elections held for all 9 Judicial Council spots
General Conference normally holds staggered elections for the church court’s lay and clergy membership, but the pandemic has thrown off that schedule and required a reset.

Latest News

General Conference
Bishop Karen Oliveto (in blue jacket) and her wife, Robin Ridenour (front, center) join in embracing delegates and visitors to the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., after the conference voted to remove the denomination’s longtime ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Removal of LGBTQ ban comes too late for some
General Conference
The Rev. Scott Christy, president of the New Federation of Asian American United Methodists, speaks during a gathering for delegates and observers of the United Methodist General Conference hosted by the racial-ethnic caucus on April 28 at First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Gladys P. Mangiduyos, UM News.

Delegates decry hate crimes against Asian Americans
General Conference
Jessica Vittorio, a Wespath board member and North Texas Conference delegate, urges passage of a new retirement plan for United Methodist clergy in the U.S. during a plenary session May 1 at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

New clergy retirement plan approved
General Conference
Bishop David Wilson, the first Native American to be elected a United Methodist bishop, preaches on May 1 during morning worship at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Bishop encourages delegates to inspire next 7 generations
General Conference
Fredrick Brewington, New York Conference, presents the Jurisdictional Study Committee report during a plenary session April 30 at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

Formula for calculating number of bishops eliminated
General Conference
The Rev. Jenny Phillips (right) shows a Mobile Solar Power Station to Bishop Robin Dease outside the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Phillips is the director of environmental sustainability with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Solar trailer brings power in disasters — and coffee at conference
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Local Church
Dancers Annika Schneider (left) and Briana Hanson from United Methodist-related Pfeiffer University help introduce a report from United Women in Faith on April 29 during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Women’s group celebrates past, present, future impact
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Evangelism
Ecumenical guests join in morning worship on April 30 during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Full communion with Episcopalians gets closer
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Social Concerns
Participants place flameless candles in front of crosses during a Service of Lament, Confession and Hope on April 29 at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. The service commemorated victims of sexual abuse within the denomination and called the church to greater accountability. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Time put aside at General Conference to lament abuse
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Mission and Ministry
Jim Salley, president/chief executive officer of Africa University Inc. and a delegate from South Carolina, introduces the board of Africa University to the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Monday April 29. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

Delegates celebrate success, growth of Africa University
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General Church
Hannah Ka and Chan Gilliam interpret the conference into Korean during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., on April 29. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

Translators bridge language gaps at General Conference
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Commentaries

The Rev. Dr. Scott Hughes. Photo by Jake Harsh, courtesy of Discipleship Ministries.

Courageous Conversations at General Conference
The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. Photo courtesy of Wesley Theological Seminary.

Revised Social Principles offer new start
Bishop Ernest S. Lyght. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Transformative unmasking paves a way forward
Dr. Kent Millard. Photo courtesy of United Theological Seminary.

Please spare Ministerial Education Fund
Christine Schneider. Photo courtesy of the author.

Central conferences already have exit paths
The Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of the unofficial advocacy group Good News. Photo courtesy of Rob Renfroe.

Traditionalist caucus president speaks to criticism
The Rev. Mark R. Holland. Photo courtesy of the author.

Say ‘no’ to disaffiliation petitions
The Rev. Forbes Matonga. Video image by UM News

African regionalization support hardly unanimous
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News From UMC Partners

Faith Stories
April is National Donate Life Month which highlights the urgent, widespread need for lifesaving donations of organs Graphic courtesy of Donate Life America.
April is National Donate Life Month which highlights the urgent, widespread need for lifesaving donations of organs Graphic courtesy of Donate Life America.

Church friendship grows from kidney donation
When Diane Boggess needed a second kidney transplant, her church family at Grove United Methodist Church came to the rescue. After hearing a sermon on sacrificial friendship, church member Susan Parno decided to step up as a donor.

Additional Headlines

Congregations
United Methodist churches in the Washington District help make Easter a little brighter for children in need. Photo courtesy of the Western Pennsylvania Conference.

Churches join forces to provide Easter baskets
Theology and Education
Desire Niyonkuru prepares for a class in the Styberg Libary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. Niyonkuru will finish his master’s degree in pastoral care and counseling this spring, thanks in part to financial assistance from a scholarship funded by Michigan United Methodists. Photo courtesy of Sarah Pressley.

Burundi student to be counselor
Local Church
A community dinner church offered by Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church, Cannon United Methodist Church, and the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry is proving to be popular. Photo courtesy of the North Georgia Conference.

Dinner church sets table for broader ministry
Local Church
United Methodist churches in Mitchell, S.D., are working together to serve their community. Photo courtesy of the Dakotas Conference.

Cooperation benefits small churches
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Multimedia

General Conference
Church leaders discuss issues coming to General Conference. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.
Church leaders discuss issues coming to General Conference. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Pre-General Conference Video Resources
Leaders from the United Methodist general agencies talk about each agency’s role in the church and legislation they’ve submitted to be considered by General Conference delegates.

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Faith Sharing
John 20:29. United Methodist News. "The Doubting Thomas" by Leendert van der Cooghen, 1654 / Wikimedia Commons. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Social media graphics from UM News
Mission and Ministry
Adriano António Paulino (standing) joins in prayer before lunch at the Quéssua Mission in Angola. A feeding program there serves as many as 700 children from nearby villages. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

2023: The year in photos
Church Leadership
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) speaks with the Rev. Martha Orphe who contracted sarcoidosis from breathing contaminated air while cleaning out dozens of churches after Hurricane Katrina. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Self-care and the “ministry of rest”
Faith Sharing
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (top right) speaks with the Revs. Romal Tune, Joe Daniels and Vance P. Ross about fathers and sons in the latest installment of the “Hollering for Change” series. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Why are men discouraged from being vulnerable?
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Ask The UMC

General Conference
New legislation from GBHEM makes clergy formation more accessible, while a series of proposals from the Alabama-West Florida Conference would give more power to annual conferences in setting clergy standards. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.
New legislation from GBHEM makes clergy formation more accessible, while a series of proposals from the Alabama-West Florida Conference would give more power to annual conferences in setting clergy standards. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Ask the UMC: What's new for GC 2024, Part 3: Clergy Formation
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry wants to improve access for local pastors, and the Alabama-West Florida Conference wants to center the process of clergy formation in each annual conference.

Additional Headlines

Church History
The first woman among the Methodists to graduate from seminary, Anna Oliver advocated for full clergy rights for women. Original image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Ask the UMC: Anna Oliver: Methodist scholar, preacher, and advocate
Worship
« Oremus et pro perfidis Judaeis » Good Friday prayer for the Jews in Latin and French, from a French Catholic Liturgy. Image courtesy of Wikimedia; edited from original.

Ask The UMC: Three ways to avoid anti-Judaism during Holy Week
Theology and Education
Crowds waving palm branches process through the streets of Port-Bouet, Ivory Coast, on Passion/Palm Sunday. This joyful scene is repeated all over the country by Ivorian United Methodists and Catholics. Photo by Isaac Broune, UM News.

Ask the UMC: Why do we observe Passion/Palm Sunday?
General Conference
The proposed budget for 2025-2028 represents the largest cuts for nearly all areas of ministry in the history of The United Methodist Church. What will this mean for the continuing United Methodist Church? Graphic by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask the UMC: What's New for GC 2024 Part 1: The Budget
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