General Conference E-news Update – April 28, 2008
In The News - Monday, April 28
Daily Wrap-up for April 28
Click here to read the complete daily wrap-up for Monday, April 28.
Uganda children's choir awes General Conference
(UMNS) “I was just praying to God in my heart that I would perform well,” said Solomon Mutende, 10, of Uganda. Thousands of teary-eyed United Methodists know God answered that prayer after watching Solomon and the Hope for Africa Children's Choir perform before a worldwide gathering of United Methodists.
The energetic performance on April 28 was one of the most blessed moments of the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, the church's legislative assembly meeting through May 2 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
The appreciative crowd gave the youngsters an impromptu standing ovation after the children sang and danced to one song during a planned “celebration moment.” The audience even demanded an encore. More>>
Bishop Watson Presents the Hope for Africa Children's Choir to the General Conference
South Georgia Bishop Mike Watson was privileged this afternoon to present the Hope for Africa Children's Choir to the General Conference.
(Click to watch Bishop Watson's introduction of the choir:
Windows Media | QuickTime)
The twenty-three children choir from Uganda, East Africa sang two songs this afternoon to a standing ovation and will also be singing in tomorrow's opening worship service. After their performances in Texas, the children will tour and sing at United Methodist churches in Arkansas, Georgia, Wisconsin, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee until the end of July.
The choir is scheduled to be in South Georgia June 4-June 23 and will be performing on Tuesday evening of Annual Conference as well as performing in several districts. The choir was able to travel to the United States through a generous grant given to the South Georgia Annual Conference.
To find out more about children in the Hope for Africa Children's Choir view the following video: Windows Media | QuickTime.
Click here to view Bishop Watson's thoughts on introducing the choir. Click here to view the entire presentation from this afternoon. |
Bishop Mike Watson of the South Georgia Annual Conference is swarmed by members of the Hope for Africa Children's Choir from Uganda after their performance during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. |
Five New Members Elected to Judicial Council
The 2008 General Conference on April 28 elected five new members to the top court of The United Methodist Church. The nine-member Judicial Council acts as the church's top legal arbiter and will be made up of five clergy and four laity through 2016. Two lay persons were elected to the Judicial Council: Angela Brown (California-Nevada Annual Conference) and Ruben Reyes (Philippines). Three clergy persons were elected to the Judicial Council: Kathi Austin-Mahle (Minnesota Annual Conference), F. Belton Joyner (North Carolina Annual Conference) and William B. Lawrence (North Texas Annual Conference). More>>
Charlene Black, three others elected to University Senate
Four persons were elected to the University Senate: Maxine Clarke Beach (New Jersey Annual Conference), David Beckley (Mississippi Annual Conference), Maxie Dunnam (Kentucky Annual Conference) and Charlene Black (South Georgia Annual Conference). Dr. Black is co-chair of the South Georgia delegation and is a lay member of Statesboro First United Methodist Church. The University Senate is the professional educational advisory agency for The United Methodist Church and all educational institutions related to it. The University Senate represents those interests held in common by The United Methodist Church and its affiliated schools, colleges, universities, and graduate schools of theology. Among other tasks, the University Senate provides an effective review process for the educational institutions qualifying for affiliation with the denomination and for denominational support. The University Senate has twenty-five members elected by the General Conference and is related to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. More>>
Sixty Years Later, The Advance Still Offers Hope
(UMNS) Justa Mamani came from her home in Bolivia to deliver a message of thanks to delegates at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference.Justa Mamani of Bolivia thanks delegates for donations to The Advance. "I want you to know that the donations you give to The Advance are what sustain my community today," she said, during an April 28 presentation on the denomination's voluntary giving program at the Fort Worth Convention Center. More>>
More support for Katrina needed, bishops say
United Methodists have been generous in their response to Hurricane Katrina relief--but more is needed. During a "Katrina Report" on April 28 to delegates of the church's General Conference, Bishop William Oden of Dallas thanked church members for the $3 million raised so far for the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal, but he noted that "Katrina fatigue has set in." He called for a recommitment to the rebuilding and reconstruction of the U.S. Gulf Coast. More>>
Bishop Lyght: Church offers ‘fresh bread'
(UMNS) The church always must be aware of the needs of people and be ready to meet those needs with the “fresh bread” of faith, hope and love, said Bishop Ernest S. Lyght in his sermon to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference. Preaching April 28 on Jesus' parable of the man who knocks on a neighbor's door at midnight asking for bread, Lyght said people facing their “midnight hour” are waiting at church doors for a helping hand. “The United Methodist Church must be prepared to respond,” said Lyght, who presides over the church's West Virginia Area. “It is not the time of day that matters; what matters is the time of crisis in the life of one of God's children.” More>>
Pictured:
The Chikara Taiko Drummers from Centenary United Methodist Church in Los Angeles perform during worship. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey.
|
 |
Other News from Yesterday
United Methodists formally admit Côte d'Ivoire
(UMNS) The United Methodist Church in Côte d'Ivoire , the largest regional conference of the worldwide denomination with almost 700,000 members, has received its full rights and responsibilities. The action came April 27 at the 2008 General Conference, which meets every four years to conduct the business of the church. As a result, United Methodists in the West African country, which has only two delegates at this General Conference, will receive significantly greater representation at future assemblies. Expenses related to its bishop will now be covered by the United Methodist Episcopal Fund instead of by its own conference. Four years ago, the Methodist Protestant Church of Côte d'Ivoire, an autonomous church, was admitted to the United Methodist fold, but the Judicial Council later ruled that the decision of the 2004 General Conference was incomplete. More>>
Church makes Malawi district a missionary conference
(UMNS) United Methodist district in the African country of Malawi was elevated to the standing of a “missionary conference” by the denomination's 2008 General Conference. Some 990 delegates to the assembly supported the measure by a vote of 92 percent. “It opens up Malawi for church agencies to empower the local people,” said Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, leader of the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area and the now missionary conference in Malawi . With 18,329 members and 17 pastors, there is a “tremendous level of ministry,” he said. More>>
Delegation Interviews
Dr. Brad Brady, Macon District Superintendent, shares his thoughts on General Conference. Look for more delegate video interviews throughout the remainder of General Conference.
Question: What do you think about General Conference so far? View response.
Question: The first several days you were in legislative committees. Can you tell me a little bit about the process? View response.
Question: Can you share your reaction to the worship services? View response.
Photos From the Day
Click here for photos from the day, including pictures of the delegation and the Hope for Africa Children's Choir.
Photo Gallery
Click here to view all UMNS photos from the General Conference. Track Petitions Online
Wondering how a certain petition is moving through the General Conference? Click here to track petitions by number, keyword, author, etc.
Live Streaming
Watch live video streams of worship, special addresses and plenary sessions.
Watch This
Tuesday:
Address by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Republic of Liberia: 3:30 p.m. EST (2:30 p.m. Central Time)
Archived Video and Audio Stories
Discover the sights and sounds of General Conference through video and audio stories.
April 28, 2008 - Video
Agenda Items for Tuesday, April 29
| 7 A.M. |
Committee on Calendar and Agenda |
|
Committee on Reference |
| 8 A.M. |
Choral music |
| 8:15 A.M. |
Plenary call to order |
|
Morning worship |
| 9:05 A.M. |
Reports (as necessary) |
|
Committee on Courtesies and Privileges |
|
Committee on Calendar and Agenda |
|
Committee on Presiding Officers |
| 9:20 –10:25 A.M. |
Plenary—calendar items and conference business |
|
Presentation of ecumenical guests and greetings |
| 10:25 – 10:45 A.M. |
Morning break |
| 10:45 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. |
Plenary—conference business |
|
12:10 P.M. Celebration: 40th anniversary of the General Commission on Religion and Race (12 minutes) |
| 12:30 – 2:30 P.M. |
Lunch recess |
| 12:40 – 1:10 P.M. |
Service of Holy Communion |
| 2:30 – 3:40 P.M. |
Plenary—conference business |
|
2:30 P.M. Address: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Republic of Liberia |
|
3:30 P.M. Celebration moment (5 minutes) |
| 3:40 – 4 P.M. |
Afternoon break |
| 4 – 5 P.M. |
Plenary—conference business |
| 5 P.M. |
Daily deadline for Daily Christian Advocate Printing |
| 5 – 7:30 P.M. |
Dinner recess |
| 7:30 – 11 P.M. |
Plenary – conference business |
Stay Connected Throughout General Conference
Stay up to the minute on General Conference 2008 news at www.sgaumc.org. Your conference site also contains a link to the main General Conference web site, www.gc2008.umc.org.
|
