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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Native Drummers
Drumming and songs from Pacific Northwest tribes opened the 2016 General Conference.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Native Greetings
Kathryn Jones Harrison, former chairwoman of the Grand Ronde Tribal Council, welcomes delegates to the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore., to the traditional homeland of her ancestors. She spoke during the conference's opening worship on May 10.
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Bishops Process
United Methodist bishops process during opening worship at General Conference. (Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS)
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Bishop Opening Worship
Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr. helps lead opening worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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Opening Worship
Observers at the opening worship of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore., reflect the denomination's diversity. (Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS)
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Digital Conference
The 2016 General Conference embraced 21st century technology with electronic voting, iPad-based speaker line-ups and an online service for donations.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
LGBT Protest
The United Methodist Church does not authorize the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals," but activists have for years demonstrated in favor of change at the quadrennial gathering of the world-wide denomination.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS
Baby's First GC
The Rev. Motoe Yamada from California-Nevada Annual Conference brought her 5-month-old daughter, Kimiko, to the opening worship of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore.
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UMNS Photo
Lesbian 'Ordained'
Sue Laurie celebrates after being ordained in an irregular ceremony on May 10 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Laurie, a lesbian, was ordained in an unauthorized service in the lobby of the Oregon Convention Center.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS
Tablet Training
Lidia Gulele and Laura Maganda attend the Portuguese tablet training for delegates at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference held at the Oregon Convention Center.
The first day of the 2016 General Conference included Pacific Northwest tribal song, drumming and greetings, followed by passionate communion, presentations and protests. (Click on the photos to enlarge).