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General Conference
Kaleigh Corbett and Thomas Lank of the Greater New Jersey Conference embrace after General Conference delegates voted on May 2 to eliminate the longtime assertion in the denomination’s Social Principles that “the practice of homosexuality… is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The legislative assembly is meeting in Charlotte, N.C., through May 3. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.
Kaleigh Corbett and Thomas Lank of the Greater New Jersey Conference embrace after General Conference delegates voted on May 2 to eliminate the longtime assertion in the denomination’s Social Principles that “the practice of homosexuality… is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The legislative assembly is meeting in Charlotte, N.C., through May 3. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

Church ends 52-year-old anti-gay stance
General Conference delegates supported a revision of the Social Principles that deletes the phrase “the practice of homosexuality… is incompatible with Christian teaching.” That phrase has been part of church teachings since 1972.

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General Conference
The Rev. Jay Williams (right) hugs fellow delegates after the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted May 1 to remove The United Methodist Church’s longtime ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

40-year ban on gay clergy struck down
In an emotional morning, General Conference has eliminated the ban on “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy. Following the vote at break, delegates and observers sang hymns in joy.
General Conference
Bishop David Graves (right) surveys the result of a General Conference vote on May 2 to approve a paragraph in the revised Social Principles that changes the church’s position on marriage. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

May 2 wrap-up: Delegates declare homosexuality no longer ‘incompatible’
The church’s top legislative body on May 2 voted to remove the denominational stance that declares homosexuality to be “incompatible with Christian teaching” — language that has been in place since 1972.
General Conference
The Rev. Jerry Kulah of Liberia leads a protest on May 2 outside the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., after General Conference delegates supported a revision of the Social Principles that redefines marriage. Kulah and other Africans in attendance support traditional views of marriage. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Marriage decision sparks protest, celebration
General Conference’s revision of the denomination’s position on marriage sparked protests from African delegates and celebration by supporters of same-sex marriage.

Latest News

General Conference
The Rev. Karen Jones of the South Carolina Conference reacts to the passage of legislation during the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., that will allow deacons to preside over Holy Communion in the context of their local appointments. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Deacons can now preside at sacraments in their appointments
General Conference
A procession of United Methodist bishops leads opening worship at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. The United Methodist Church’s top court released two decisions related to bishops on May 2. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Church court voids change to bishop expenses
General Conference
Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella (right) commissions Mamei Sombo Lansana as a missionary during the May 2 morning worship of the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Assisting are Grace Choi and Roland Fernandes. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Get out of silos and break down walls, bishop says
General Conference
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson (left), the Rev. Judy Chung and Jay Choy (right) commission S. Lee as a Missionary in a ceremony during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Korean United Methodists commit to support missionaries
General Conference
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey presides over a session of the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., on May 1. Behind her is Bishop Thomas Bickerton. Bishops have been commenting on General Conference’s votes to remove restrictions to full LGBTQ participation in The United Methodist Church. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops react to LGBTQ inclusion votes
General Conference
Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett (right) presides over the voting of members to the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., on May 2. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

General Conference elects commission members, others
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Local Church
Dancers Annika Schneider (left) and Briana Hanson from United Methodist-related Pfeiffer University help introduce a report from United Women in Faith on April 29 during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Women’s group celebrates past, present, future impact
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Evangelism
Ecumenical guests join in morning worship on April 30 during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Full communion with Episcopalians gets closer
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Social Concerns
Bishop Karen Oliveto (in blue jacket) and her wife, Robin Ridenour (front, center) join in embracing delegates and visitors to the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., after the conference voted to remove the denomination’s longtime ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Removal of LGBTQ ban comes too late for some
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Mission and Ministry
A circa 1930-1945 postcard of the United Methodist Building as seen from the capitol grounds in Washington, D. C. The 100th birthday of the iconic building was acknowledged May 1 during General Conference. Image from the Boston Public Library/The Tichnor Brothers Collection, courtesy of the Digital Commonwealth/Massachusetts Collections Online.

General Conference marks Washington building centennial
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General Church
Hannah Ka and Chan Gillham interpret the conference into Korean during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., on April 29. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

Translators bridge language gaps at General Conference
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Commentaries

The Rev. Dr. Scott Hughes. Photo by Jake Harsh, courtesy of Discipleship Ministries.

Courageous Conversations at General Conference
The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. Photo courtesy of Wesley Theological Seminary.

Revised Social Principles offer new start
Bishop Ernest S. Lyght. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Transformative unmasking paves a way forward
Dr. Kent Millard. Photo courtesy of United Theological Seminary.

Please spare Ministerial Education Fund
Christine Schneider. Photo courtesy of the author.

Central conferences already have exit paths
The Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of the unofficial advocacy group Good News. Photo courtesy of Rob Renfroe.

Traditionalist caucus president speaks to criticism
The Rev. Mark R. Holland. Photo courtesy of the author.

Say ‘no’ to disaffiliation petitions
The Rev. Forbes Matonga. Video image by UM News

African regionalization support hardly unanimous
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News From UMC Partners

Faith Stories
April is National Donate Life Month which highlights the urgent, widespread need for lifesaving donations of organs Graphic courtesy of Donate Life America.
April is National Donate Life Month which highlights the urgent, widespread need for lifesaving donations of organs Graphic courtesy of Donate Life America.

Church friendship grows from kidney donation
When Diane Boggess needed a second kidney transplant, her church family at Grove United Methodist Church came to the rescue. After hearing a sermon on sacrificial friendship, church member Susan Parno decided to step up as a donor.

Additional Headlines

Congregations
United Methodist churches in the Washington District help make Easter a little brighter for children in need. Photo courtesy of the Western Pennsylvania Conference.

Churches join forces to provide Easter baskets
Theology and Education
Desire Niyonkuru prepares for a class in the Styberg Libary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. Niyonkuru will finish his master’s degree in pastoral care and counseling this spring, thanks in part to financial assistance from a scholarship funded by Michigan United Methodists. Photo courtesy of Sarah Pressley.

Burundi student to be counselor
Local Church
A community dinner church offered by Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church, Cannon United Methodist Church, and the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry is proving to be popular. Photo courtesy of the North Georgia Conference.

Dinner church sets table for broader ministry
Local Church
United Methodist churches in Mitchell, S.D., are working together to serve their community. Photo courtesy of the Dakotas Conference.

Cooperation benefits small churches
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Multimedia

General Conference
Church leaders discuss issues coming to General Conference. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.
Church leaders discuss issues coming to General Conference. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Pre-General Conference Video Resources
Leaders from the United Methodist general agencies talk about each agency’s role in the church and legislation they’ve submitted to be considered by General Conference delegates.

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Faith Sharing
John 20:29. United Methodist News. "The Doubting Thomas" by Leendert van der Cooghen, 1654 / Wikimedia Commons. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Social media graphics from UM News
Mission and Ministry
Adriano António Paulino (standing) joins in prayer before lunch at the Quéssua Mission in Angola. A feeding program there serves as many as 700 children from nearby villages. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

2023: The year in photos
Church Leadership
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (right) speaks with the Rev. Martha Orphe who contracted sarcoidosis from breathing contaminated air while cleaning out dozens of churches after Hurricane Katrina. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Self-care and the “ministry of rest”
Faith Sharing
The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler (top right) speaks with the Revs. Romal Tune, Joe Daniels and Vance P. Ross about fathers and sons in the latest installment of the “Hollering for Change” series. Zoom video image courtesy of the Rev. Butler via YouTube.

Hollering for Change: Why are men discouraged from being vulnerable?
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Ask The UMC

General Conference
New legislation from GBHEM makes clergy formation more accessible, while a series of proposals from the Alabama-West Florida Conference would give more power to annual conferences in setting clergy standards. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.
New legislation from GBHEM makes clergy formation more accessible, while a series of proposals from the Alabama-West Florida Conference would give more power to annual conferences in setting clergy standards. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Ask the UMC: What's new for GC 2024, Part 3: Clergy Formation
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry wants to improve access for local pastors, and the Alabama-West Florida Conference wants to center the process of clergy formation in each annual conference.

Additional Headlines

Church History
The first woman among the Methodists to graduate from seminary, Anna Oliver advocated for full clergy rights for women. Original image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Ask the UMC: Anna Oliver: Methodist scholar, preacher, and advocate
Worship
« Oremus et pro perfidis Judaeis » Good Friday prayer for the Jews in Latin and French, from a French Catholic Liturgy. Image courtesy of Wikimedia; edited from original.

Ask The UMC: Three ways to avoid anti-Judaism during Holy Week
Theology and Education
Crowds waving palm branches process through the streets of Port-Bouet, Ivory Coast, on Passion/Palm Sunday. This joyful scene is repeated all over the country by Ivorian United Methodists and Catholics. Photo by Isaac Broune, UM News.

Ask the UMC: Why do we observe Passion/Palm Sunday?
General Conference
The proposed budget for 2025-2028 represents the largest cuts for nearly all areas of ministry in the history of The United Methodist Church. What will this mean for the continuing United Methodist Church? Graphic by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask the UMC: What's New for GC 2024 Part 1: The Budget
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