General Conference E-news Update – May 2, 2008
At 11:15 p.m. the business session of General Conference concluded, and delegates moved into a time of worship to close out the 2008 General Conference. Our faithful delegation has worked tirelessly in countless hours of legislative and plenary sessions over the past 10 days. They have waded through petitions, voted on issues and adopted a budget. South Georgia has much to be proud of. Our delegates will be coming home a bit weary but with a lot on their hearts and minds to share with you. Please pray for their safe travels as they travel back home to South Georgia.
In The News - Friday, May 2
Daily Wrap-up for May 2
Click here to read the complete daily wrap-up for Friday, May 2.
Assembly approves $642 million churchwide budget
(UMNS) Following a declaration that “the budget defines who we are and what we believe” as the church, the 2008 United Methodist General Conference approved a $642 million denominational spending plan for the next four years built around four areas of mission and ministry. “(The budget) is our mission statement of what God is calling us as people of The United Methodist Church to be about in the world,” said Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, president of the church’s finance agency, in presenting the proposed budget on May 2, the final day of the 10-day legislative assembly.
With minimal discussion, the delegates approved the budget by a vote of 750-28 and later approved the “apportionment formula” by which it is funded through money requested of the church’s 63 U.S. annual (regional) conferences and their local congregations. Less than 2 percent of the money placed in local church offering plates goes to fund denominational ministries and administration. More>>
Delegates reject petitions on evaluation of ineffective clergy
(UMNS) Delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference rejected two petitions dealing with clergy ineffectiveness and guaranteed appointments The delegates followed the recommendations of the ministry and higher education legislative committee and voted 824-25 to not amend paragraph 334.1 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline. The petitions asked that bishops appoint an ineffective pastor to less than full-time service. More>>
United Methodists reject divestment from Israel
(UMNS)
United Methodists have rejected attempts to have the denomination endorse divestment from Israel as a way of addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict. The actions occurred during General Conference, the church’s top legislative body, meeting April 23-May 2 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. A number of petitions, including five from U.S. annual (regional) conferences, were folded into one petition on "divestment" that called on the denomination’s pension board and finance agency "to review and identify companies that profit from sales of products or services that cause harm to Palestinians and Israelis and begin phased selective divestment from these companies." That petition was rejected May 2 by General Conference delegates as they voted on a special consent calendar. More>> |
 General Conference delegates continue their work in plenary sessions as the end of the 2008 session ends.
A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey. |
Justice petitions address welfare, hate, torture
(UMNS)
New resolutions adopted by United Methodists touch on a variety of social justice issues, including a living wage, hate crimes and the use of torture.
More>>
Church tackles difficult subject of abortion
(UMNS)
The United Methodist Church will continue to “sit at the table” and retain its 35-year membership with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. In a May 2 vote of 416-384, the 2008 General Conference affirmed continued membership of the denomination's Board of Church and Society and the Women's Division of the Board of Global Ministries in the organization. More>>
Church supports justice for migrants
(UMNS) The United Methodist Church supported justice for migrants worldwide and reform of U.S. immigration laws.
Delegates to the denomination's top legislative body, meeting April 23-May 2, adopted resolutions covering both global migration and immigration issues in the United States. More>>
Judicial Council defers two ruling requests from General Conference
(UMNS) Meeting on the evening of May 1, the top court of The United Methodist Church decided to defer two requests for rulings that came from the floor of the 2008 General Conference. The Judicial Council said both issues would require more study and would become docket items for its October session. More>>
United Methodist Social Creed celebrated
(UMNS)
United Methodists celebrated the 100th anniversary of the denomination's Social Creed during the last day of their General Conference.
“The Social Creed tradition of The United Methodist Church represents several streams of social concerns embodied today in the General Board of Church and Society,” said Jim Winkler, top executive of the board. The original creed, written in 1908, was a denominational statement decrying child labor and supporting the economic rights of workers, better workplace conditions, better wages and worker safety. More>>
Agency focuses on centennial, health initiatives
(UMNS) Leaders of the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits told the 2008 General Conference about 100 years of accomplishments and pledged to focus on the health of clergy and lay workers in the future. The agency's history is a “legacy of care and concern for the welfare of those who are called to serve--clergy and lay workers alike,” said Bishop Ben R. Chamness, chairman of the agency's board of directors. He spoke May 1 during a centennial celebration for the agency, which was created by the 1908 General Conference. The Board of Pension and Health Benefits, one of the top 100 pension funds in the United States, cares for more than 74,000 participants. It has grown from managing $200,000 in assets to managing $16 billion today. It also has become the largest denominational investor in affordable housing in the United States, with commitments of more than $1 billion. More>>
Bishop Ward: ‘Wait, watch and receive the spirit of God'
(UMNS) As the 2008 General Conference closes, delegates and other participants need to wait and watch so they can receive the ascended spirit of God. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of the Mississippi Episcopal Area delivered that message in her sermon on May 2, the final day of the gathering at the Fort Worth Convention Center. “God bless you as you go,” she said. “How glorious it is to be a witness to the way God will be in the world beyond this place.” Ward urged the delegates as they return to their homes to focus less on the decisions made and more on the things they learned. “We learned much about God,” she said. More>>
Pictured:
Tongans from across The United Methodist Church give the invocation during the May 2 morning worship at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin.
|
 |
On the Floor
Hal Brady, co-chair of the delegation and pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Columbus, speaks to a petition on the floor of General Conference on Thursday evening.
Photo Gallery
Click here to view all UMNS photos from the General Conference. Click here to see South Georgia pictures. Track Petitions Online
Wondering how a certain moved through the General Conference? Click here to find out. Search by number, keyword, author, etc.
Archived Plenary Sessions
Want to hear the discussion of certain business items during the plenary session? Click here to view all session archives.
Archived Video Stories
Discover the sights and sounds of General Conference through archived video and audio stories. Click here to view all archives.
May 2, 2008 - Video
General Conference Wrap-up
Be on the lookout next week for a General Conference wrap-up bulletin insert to use in your local church. |
