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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Bishop John Yambasu
Bishop John Yambasu gives the sermon in French during morning worship May 19 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Cherokee Choir
The Cherokee Choir from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference sings during morning worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS
Desiree Segura
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung commissions Desiree Segura-April May 19 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. In the background is Thomas Kemper from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
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Double exposure by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Sign language
Michelle Menefee provides sign language interpretation during the May 19 session of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS
Cynthia Kent
Cynthia Kent, chairperson of the Native American International Caucus, speaks on a petition that asks The United Methodist Church “to be intentional about raising awareness of the harm caused by some sports teams through the use of mascots and/or symbols promoting expressions of racism and disrespect of Native American people," during the May 19 plenary session of the 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Judicial Council 2016-2020
Members of the United Methodist Judicial Council for 2016-2020 met briefly during General Conference 2016. From left are the Rev. Dennis L. Blackwell, Beth Capen, the Rev. J. Kabamba Kiboko, N. Oswald Tweh Sr., Ruben Reyes, the Rev. Øyvind Helliesen, and the Rev. Luan-Vu Tran of Lakewood, Calif. Not pictured are Deanell Reese Tacha and Lídia Romão Gulele. (File photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS)
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Neil Alexander
Carl Frazier (left) recognizes Neil M. Alexander for his service as president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House May 19 during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Voting fraud
The Rev. L. Fitzgerald Reist II, the secretary of the General Conference, confiscates voting devices from a delegate table on May 19 during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. At least two accusations of voter fraud have plagued the quadrennial gathering.
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Photo by MaileBradfield, UMNS
Coyner on Finances
Bishop Michael Coyner, president of the United Methodist General Council of Finance and Administration, responds May 19 to an inquiry from a delegate seeking to overturn the vote on the Council of Bishops' proposal for unity efforts. The delegate attempted to use the General Conference rules to overturn the vote, but Bishop Coyner explained that the unity proposal would be funded off the budget and was not subject to the rules on financial legislation.
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Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS
Beth Ann Cook
The Rev. Beth Ann Cook, Indiana Conference, introduces a petition from the Church and Society legislative committee regarding The United Methodist Church's association with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The vote took place May 19 at the denomination's 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore.
After a morning worship service during which bishops commissioned 29 new missionaries, delegates settled into a day of legislative work on May 19. However, continued allegations of voter fraud resulted in the removal of extra voting devices. Delegates who returned to their seats to find their devices gone had to request a new one from a page.