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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Bishop James Swanson
Bishop James Swanson, Jr., preaches on May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Bishop Swanson brought the assembly to its feet by invoking heavenly power against demonic forces of hatred and bigotry.
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Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS
Malaria dancers
Members of the Jefferson Dance Group help celebrate The United Methodist Church's Imagine No Malaria campaign May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS
Global AIDS Fund
The Rev. Dr. Anne Gatobu from the Global AIDS fund speaks during the the 2016 United Methodist General Conference May 18 in Portland, Ore. In the background are the Rev. Donald Messer and the Rev. Joan Carter-Rimbach.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS
Youth Statement
Ann Jacob, reserve delegate from the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, reads a statement on church unity adopted by the Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly. She presented the statement adopted in July 2015 during the May 18 afternoon plenary after a motion to accept three parts of the Bishops' report on unity was defeated.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Sand Creek Descendants
Representatives of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes are recognized May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore., where delegates received a tutorial on the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, in which U.S. troops led by a Methodist preacher-turned-cavalry officer attacked unsuspecting Indians.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Sand Creek report
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky (left) introduces Gary L. Roberts, author of a report on the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre in which U.S. troops led by a Methodist preacher-turned-cavalry officer attacked unsuspecting Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians. Roberts presented the report to the 2016 United Methodist General Conference and tribal representatives who were guests of the conference in Portland, Ore., on May 18.
May 18 was a dramatic day of highs and lows as delegates heard inspiring worship and reports of successes in United Methodist ministries around heated debates over unity efforts.