General Conference 2024 Week One
-
Mike DuBose Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
Bishop's Sermon on Sexual Violence Broke Open My Lasting Silence
Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling didn't know about the editor's lasting silence about past sexual assault. Nonetheless she proclaimed April 25 that the church's silence obscures the fact that gender-based violence isn't about sex. Read more
Apr 26, 2024
-
Let Bishop Easterling's Words Ring Out
A suvivor of clergy sexual assault, the Rev. John Sumwalt calls on bishops and General Conference delegates to lead services of lament back home to help other suvivors begin to heal. Read more
May 1, 2024
-
Church Broadens Defense of Human Rights
General Conference delegates approved the first batch of Revised Social Principles, including an affirmation of the basic rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Read more
Apr 27, 2024
-
A Journalist and a Cartoon Fish Can Point the Way
Laity Address speakers at General Conference urged United Methodists to work together and keep the faith despite the setback of more than 7,000 disaffiliated churches. Read more
Apr 25, 2024
-
Delegates Urged to ‘Restart’ Church with Less
The budget presentation included the need to reduce the number of bishops in the U.S. and add less bishops to Africa than initially planned. Still, delegates also heard hope for the denomination to pivot from church exits to revitalization. Read more
Apr 25, 2024
-
Young People Share Fears, Hopes for Future Church
Young delegate Alejandra Salemi of Florida said she sees similarities between the current state of the church and a family torn apart due to divorce. Senesie T.A. Rogers of Sierra Leone said he believes there is hope for a bright future and unity. Read more
Apr 25, 2024
-
South Carolina Bishop Calls UMC to Become 'Who God Needs Us to Be'
In one of the most visual addresses in decades, Bishop L. Jonathan Holston built his message around a series of videos that contrasted traumatic world events of the past eight years with United Methodist events and activities that show God's reign. Read more
Apr 24, 2024
-
Creation Advocates Stage Bank Protest at General Conference
On the opening day of General Conference, United Methodist creation justice advocates held a prayer vigil and march at the Charlotte, N.C., headquarters of Bank of America to call for the bank to stop funding fossil fuels. Read more
Apr 24, 2024
-
UMC's High Court Says General Conference Decides Leader Elections
The United Methodist Church’s top court said it’s up to General Conference to determine how to handle the elections of the court’s membership. In a separate decision, the council also ruled that agency board members elected in 2016 can serve again. Read more
Apr 24, 2024
-
Bishop Challenges Conference to Move Forward from Conflicts under God's Power
Bishop Thomas Bickerton challenged delegates to the 2024 General Conference to cast off the trauma of past conflicts and move forward "under the power of the Holy Spirit" to create a new United Methodist Church. Read more
Apr 24, 2024
UMC Now
-
Commission on the General Conference Forges Towards 2028
Commission members rallied around having systems in place for transparency, internal controls, financial accountability, fiscal responsibility, and empowerment of all people. Such issues caused conflicts prior to the 2020/2024 General Conference, Read more
Nov 25, 2024
-
Philippines Reelects Acdal, Estrella, Painit
The Philippines Central Conference reelected Bishops Rodel Acdal, Ruby-Nell Estrella and Israel Painit at a Nov. 18-22 gathering. The bishops will continue serving in the episcopal areas where they were initially assigned upon being elected in 2022. Read more
Nov 25, 2024
-
Bishops Zero in on Challenges Ahead
Among the topics they tackled were Wesleyan teachings about mission, the denomination’s financial challenges and the continued need to care for immigrants. Bishops also plan for a 2026 leadership gathering to envision the UMC's future. Read more
Nov 19, 2024
-
Bishops Urge Halt to Côte d’Ivoire Funding
The United Methodist Council of Bishops is asking the denomination’s finance agency to suspend all funding for bishop compensation and related expenses in Côte d’Ivoire. Read more
Nov 18, 2024
-
A New Hymn Looks to the Rainbow in Stormy Times
Norweigian United Methodist Ole-Einar Andersen has written lyrics for a hymn that he hopes will brighten the future of The United Methodist Church. Read more
Nov 13, 2024
-
Reparations: Not Welcoming the Beloved
The Rev. Phyllis Tyler believes The United Methodist Church owes an official apology to retired Bishop Minerva G. Carcano for having cut her off from the consolation of the faith community while she awaited trial on charges of which she was acquitted Read more
Nov 13, 2024
