General Conference E-news Update – April 26, 2008
In The News - Saturday, April 26
Daily Wrap-up for April 26
Click here to read the complete daily wrap-up for Saturday, April 26.
Hutchinson says be moved by 'water and the Spirit'
(UMNS) Bishop William W. Hutchinson, episcopal leader for the Louisiana area, challenged United Methodists during the April 26 morning worship service to move toward the baptismal waters and to be moved by the Holy Spirit. The worship service was one of 18 services scheduled during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, being held April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. Thousands were sprinkled with the water as young confirmands moved throughout the meeting space, wetting branches and shaking them over worshippers. Those present made signs of acceptance and renewed their baptismal commitment as musicians sang, “Rain down, rain down, rain down your love on your people.” More>> |
A young confirmand sprinkles water on participants during the morning worship service. A UMNS photo. |
Rural churches celebrate ‘planting seeds of hope'
(UMNS) Members of 25,000 rural United Methodist churches are “planting seeds of hope in every place,” leaders of Town & Country Ministries emphasized during a Rural Life Celebration April 26 at the 2008 General Conference. About 100 volunteers from rural areas across the United States formed a colorful procession down the aisles of the assembly hall in the Fort Worth Convention Center . They passed out “Seeds of Hope” packets of zinnias, long-stemmed flowers that come in a variety of bright colors. Volunteers throughout the parade carried 25 T-shaped poles covered with 25,000 paper butterflies. Senior citizens in the Redbird Missionary Conference spent three months cutting out the butterflies. Leaders of the celebration asked delegates to “shake their seed packets high” if they have ever attended a town and country church, lived in a house constructed of wood, eaten food grown in a rural area or seen small church signs bearing the United Methodist cross and flame symbol. More>>
South Georgia young adult participates in Rural Life Celebration
Margaret Bagwell, member of the South Georgia Conference and daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Bill Bagwell (Trinity UMC - Warner Robins), participated in today's Rural Life Celebration at General Conference. Margaret is part of the US-2 Program of the United Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministries. The program is a two-year leadership development and mission service opportunity for young adults between the ages of 20 and 30 to be actively involved in mission service and social justice work within the United States.
Margaret began the program serving in campus ministry in North Dakota. Last February she moved to Louisiana where she works with the United Methodist Committee on Relief's Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La. as their community outreach director. The depot serves as a warehouse where relief supplies are stored before they are shipped across the U.S. and around the world in times of disaster. Sager Brown is also involved in local outreach projects to the community. Margaret's US-2 term will end in June 2008.
Pension Initiative needs millions to help retired pastors
(UMNS) For many retired United Methodist pastors serving in Africa, the Philippines and Eastern Europe, retirement often becomes “a transition to homelessness,” said Barbara A. Boigegrain, chief executive of the church's Board of Pension and Health Benefits. Boigegrain made that statement in a video during an April 26 report from the Central Conference Pension Initiative to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, the quadrennial meeting of the church's top legislative body. Bishop Benjamin Chamness, Fort Worth Area, told delegates the initiative has raised $7.8 million but needs $20 million to fully fund pensions for retired pastors in areas outside of the United States. He challenged delegates to contribute to the fund while at General Conference. More>>
Church basketball teams ‘hoop it up' for Nothing But Nets
(UMNS) “Malaria, malaria, malaria—the horror, the killer,” 23 children from Uganda’s Hope for Africa Children’s Choir chanted April 26. The chant came during a skit before United Methodist basketball teams squared off in championship games of a tournament held to benefit the anti-malaria Nothing But Nets campaign. The 3-on-3 basketball games, played at First United Methodist Church in downtown Fort Worth, pitted teams of boys and men from the North Texas Annual (regional) Conference and the Central Texas Conference. Five United Methodist bishops took time out from attending General Conference 2008 to speak at a pre-game news briefing and to show support for Nothing But Nets. More>>
You can watch the choir's skit online: Windows Media | QuickTime.
Pictured:
Members of a Ugandan children's choir cheer during a fundraising basketball game. UMNS Photos by Paul Jeffrey. |
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United Methodists look to Latin America
(UMNS) Tracing a “shared journey of faith,” a United Methodist committee is calling on the denomination to more fully embrace the church's counterparts in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The request came during an April 26 presentation by the General Conference Study Committee on the Relationship between The United Methodist Church and the Autonomous Methodist Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean. Delegates will vote on the committee's report and recommendations.
General Conference participants sang a song in Portuguese, Spanish and English that included the lyrics “your voice is very important,” as representatives of the Latin American/Caribbean churches ascended the stage. More>> Live Streaming
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April 26, 2008 - Video
Agenda Items for Sunday, April 27
7 A.M. |
Committee on Calendar and Agenda |
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Committee on Reference |
8 A.M. |
Choral music |
8:15 A.M. |
Plenary call to order |
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Morning worship |
9:05 A.M. |
Reports (as necessary) |
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Committee on Courtesies and Privileges |
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Committee on Calendar and Agenda |
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Committee on Presiding Officers |
9:20 – 10:25 A.M. |
Plenary—calendar items and conference business |
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Recognition of retiring bishops |
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Presentation of new Episcopal Leadership Team |
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Strengthening the Black Church Initiative (15 minutes) |
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Celebration: 40th anniversary of the dissolution of the Central Jurisdiction (12 minutes) |
10:25 – 10:45 A.M. |
Morning break |
10:45 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. |
Plenary—conference business |
12:30 – 2:30 P.M. |
Lunch recess |
12:40 – 1:10 P.M. |
Service of Holy Communion |
2:30 – 4:30 P.M. |
Legislative committees |
4:30 P.M. |
Dinner recess |
7:30 P.M. |
Area night program and reception |
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No legislative committees will meet Sunday evening |
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