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Church Restructuring
Delegate Joan Carter-Rimbach urges delegates to reconsider the elimination of the United Methodist Commissions on Religion and Race and the Status and Role of Women during floor debate at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla. "Who will speak for me as a woman of color?," she asked. (UMNS Photo by Mike DuBose.)
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UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.
Reaction to Ruling on Plan UMC
Members of the Virginia delegation huddle to discuss possible next steps after the United Methodist Judicial Council ruled the proposed "Plan UMC" for church restructuring to be unconstitutional on May 4.
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UMNS photo by Mike DuBose
Proposing to Refer
Delegates the Rev. Greg Stover of West Ohio and Christine Dodson of North Carolina propose referring the "Plan UMC" for church restructuring to the Council of Bishops after the United Methodist Judicial Council ruled that the plan was unconstitutional. After an hour of confused amendments and debate, the General Conference voted to table the referral, killing the plan.
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UMNS Photo by Paul Jeffrey
Bishop addresses protesters
Council of Bishops President Rosemarie Wenner of Germany tells dozens of demonstrators for full inclusion of gays and lesbians in The United Methodist Church that the denomination's bishops feel their pain. Several dozen demonstrators took over the plenary floor of the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla., on May 3 after the body reaffirmed the church's stance on homosexuality.
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UMNS Photo by Paul Jeffrey
Protesters Listen to Bishop
Dozens of demonstrators demanding a more inclusive United Methodist Church listen to a reply to them from Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, president of the Council of Bishops. They held Holy Communion around the center table and sang songs, causing the presiding bishop, Bishop Mike Coyner of Indiana, to recess the morning session and threaten to close the afternoon session to all but delegates. The demonstrators left at the beginning of the afternoon session after discussion with several bishops, who publicly told the demonstrators that they felt the pain they had experienced as a result of the conference's actions to continue the denomination's position on homosexuality.
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UMNS photo by Mike DuBose
Liturgical Dancers
The Surrendered dance team from Nuevo Nacimiento United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Pa., dances before the May 3 evening plenary session.
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UMNS Photo by John C. Goodwin
Bishops Blessings
Bishops Deborah Kiesey and Marcus Matthews give the closing benediction the Thursday evening worship service May 3.
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UMNS Photo by Mike DuBose
Lanterns Honor Deceased Bishops
Lanterns honoring United Methodist bishops who have died in the past four years line the dock outside the Tampa Convention Center, site of the 2012 United Methodist General Conference.
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UMNS Photo by Mike DuBose
Financial Reports
Moses Kumar of the United Methodist Council on Finance and Administration presents a report on the financial impact of church restructuring during the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla.
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UMNS Photo by Kathleen Barry
Poverty Simulation
Karin VanZant holds two baby dolls used in poverty stimulations conducted during the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla. VanZant is CEO of the Circles National Campaign.
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UMNS Photo by Kathleen Barry
Evening Worship
(From left) Krista McVey, Laura Jaquith-Bartlett and Randall Miller, lay delegate and chair of the General Commission on the General Conference, offer plates of bread during the May 3 evening worship at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla.
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UMNS Photo by Paul Jeffrey
Signing Choir
The Sign Choir from Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, signs a hymn during evening worship at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Florida.
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UMNS Photo by John C. Goodwin
Family of Volunteers
Volunteers from local area churches make a huge difference in the smooth functioning of the conference, Elizabeth Kempton and her mother, Meagan, are joined here by Paul Phaneuf at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference.
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UMNS photo by Mike DuBose
Blocking Westboro Baptist Protest
Members of a group that supports full inclusion for gays and lesbians in The United Methodist Church stand together to help shield other members from protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church outside the Tampa (Fla.) Convention Center, site of the 2012 United Methodist General Conference. The Westboro Baptist Church is known for its extreme stance against homosexuality and for picketing the funerals of military service members.