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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Windsocks
Denise Henrikson and Susan Russell fly " wind sockeyes"--silk batik salmon windsocks--in preparation for a May 12 climate vigil at the United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. The conference is considering a wide variety of policy proposals, including several related to the environment, among them a move to divest the denomination's pension funds from companies profiting from fossil fuels.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Bishop Alsted Preaches
Bishop Christian Alsted preaches on May 12 during the United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Danish singers
Maria Thaarup sings on May 12 during morning worship at the United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. She is part of the KEFAS Choir from Denmark.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Trouble with Translation
Bishop Hope Morgan Ward (right) indicates that she is having trouble with her translation equipment during debate on "Rule 44," a process for small group discernment, at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Assisting her is the Rev. L. Fitzgerald Reist, secretary of the General Conference.
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Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS
Favoring Rule 44
Dorothea Benz and the Rev. We Hyun Chang wait at the microphone for an opportunity to speak on Rule 44 during the May 12 plenary sesssion of the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Against Rule 44
The Rev. Edwin Julius Jeblar Momoh, a clegy delegate from the Sierra Leone annual conference, speaks to the United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore., on May 12. Momoh spoke against adoption of Rule 44, which would have introduced small group discussions for sensitive issues. The proposed rule was not approved.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS
Pause for Prayer
Delegates pause for a moment of prayer during following the morning discussion and expressions of confusion in the plenary at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference. (From left) Vasylyna Babych from the Ukraine-Moldava Provisonal, Laszlo Vukszta from the Ukraine Moldava Provisional, and Alexander Pererva and Alexandr Meinikov from the Southern Russia Provisonal.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
United Methodist Women
The Rev. Hikari Kokai Chang (center), speaks to other women at the United Methodist Women exhibit at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Chang is a regional missionary based in Japan.
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Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS
Prayer beads
Volunteers make prayer beads May 12 during the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore.