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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.
Water march
Participants in a May 16 vigil for environmental justice at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Sponsored by United Methodist Women, the vigil focused especially on struggles for clean water around the world.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Activist remembered
Harriet Olson, the CEO and general secretary of United Methodist Women, holds an image of Berta Caceres during a moment of silence in May 16 vigil for environmental justice at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Sponsored by United Methodist Women, the vigil focused especially on struggles for clean water around the world. Caceres was a Lenca indigenous leader in Honduras who was assassinated in March after months of protesting against a proposed hydroelectric project. Bishop Elias Galvan appears in the background, also holding a photo of Caceres.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Black Lives Matter
The Rev. Pamela Lightsey leads advocates from the Black Lives Matter movement as they disrupt the proceedings of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Africa U Choir
The Africa University choir sings during the presentation of the Africa University report May 16 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Retro tech
Faced with glitches in the electronic voting system, delegates use colored cards to vote on May 16 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Bishop Stanovsky
Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky presides over Judicial Council elections on May 16 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS
Gary Graves
The Rev. Gary Graves of the Kentucky Conference, and his wife Jennifer, are recognized following his election as the incoming Secretary of the General Conference at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Bethany Amey, a lay delegate from the Greater New Jersey conference, speaks for United Methodist Women on May 16 to the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the denomination's women's organizations.
Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.
United Methodist Women celebrated their 160th anniversary with an environmental demonstration on behalf of clean water as a universal human right. Throughout the day, representatives of various human rights organizations lifted up Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ inclusion. Around the demonstrations, the business of General Conference went on.