General Conference E-news Update – April 29, 2008
In The News - Tuesday, April 29
Daily Wrap-up for April 29
Click here to read the complete daily wrap-up for Tuesday, April 29.
Liberia President Sirleaf Addresses United Methodists
(UMNS) Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told a worldwide gathering of United Methodists that her country and her church share a common commitment to eradicate poverty.
Sirleaf, a member of the Monrovia (Liberia) United Methodist Church, greeted delegates to the denomination's top lawmaking body as “fellow Christians and fellow Methodists” many times during her April 29 address to the 2008 General Conference. More>>
Video: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf:"The church has been a leader."
Windows Media | QuickTime |
 UMNS Photo |
UMNS Photo |
Delegates continue Study of Ministry Commission
(UMNS) A commission studying the ordering of ministry in The United Methodist Church is being continued for four more years. Delegates to the 2008 General Conference voted on April 29 to continue the commission work authorized by the 2004 legislative assembly to study the theological, ecclesial and practical groundings of its system of lay, licensed and ordained ministry. That commission was to bring clarity to the church's understanding of its ministry orders and make recommendations to the 2008 General Conference. However, after four years, the group found more questions and asked for more time--either by the current commission or a new one. Delegates to the 2008 assembly directed the United Methodist Council of Bishops--in consultation with the boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Discipleship and the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns--to establish a 28-member Study of Ministry Commission for 2009-2012. The delegates also authorized $150,000 for its work. More>>
United Methodists raise bishops' retirement age by 2 years
(UMNS)
The 992 delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference increased by two years the mandatory retirement age for bishops.
The decision impacts three of 14 bishops who were retiring on Aug. 31 following the regular sessions of the five U.S. jurisdictional conferences in July and the central conference meetings in Africa, Europe and the Philippines in the fall and in 2009. The increase in the retirement age was proposed by a task force studying the episcopacy, and a hand vote the delegates took on April 28 made the decision effective at the conclusion of the 2008 General Conference.
Changing the retirement age from 66 to 68 reflects the way Social Security is moving in allowing people to work longer if they choose, said Peggy Sewell of the episcopal services office at the United Methodist Council on Finance and Administration. More>>
Proposed new hymnal will go to 2012 assembly
(UMNS)
United Methodist congregations in the United States could have a new United Methodist Hymnal within five years.
Delegates to the 2008 General Conference set part of the agenda for the 2012 assembly late in the evening of April 28 as they approved creation of a hymnal revision committee. The committee will bring a proposed hymnal to the next session of the denomination's top legislative body. Delegates from around the world also approved a four-year study of issues around developing an Africana hymnal with findings to be reported to the 2012 session. More>>
Judicial Council releases rulings on docket items
(UMNS) Working through a regular docket while meeting during 2008 General Conference, the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church released rulings on four cases that emerged prior to the 10-day legislative assembly.
The church's top judicial authority affirmed two bishops' decisions of law, sustained the church trial conviction of a pastor in the Rocky Mountain Annual (regional) Conference and the revoking of his credentials for ministry, and ruled that annual conference commissions on religion and race do not have the authority to investigate complaints.
The nine-member council meets during General Conference to complete action on items received before the legislative gathering and to respond to requests for decisions that arrive from the floor during plenary sessions. More>>
United Methodists, Lutherans take root together
(UMNS) In a rootless, restless world, Christians “have a powerful testimony to give,” according to the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Bishop Mark Hanson, who also is president of the Lutheran World Federation, preached during the April 29 morning worship at the United Methodist General Conference—one day after conference delegates overwhelmingly approved an agreement of full communion with the ELCA. Pointing to an increasingly rootless society, as well as the worldwide migration caused by famine, war, poverty and national disasters, Hanson reminded the 992 delegates and visitors that “in a rootless, restless, hopeless world, we have good news to share.” More>>
United Methodist Celebrate Higher Education
(UMNS) A 120-member student choir, college presidents and delegates attending the 2008 General Conference celebrated United Methodist higher education and church-related schools for their “open hearts, open minds and open doors.” More than 1,000 delegates and visitors attended the banquet and program celebrating higher education on April 28 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, site of the 2008 General Conference. The event honored the institutions for educating the next generation of students that will determine the future of the United Methodist Church. The evening included a video presentation on the 122 United Methodist-related academic and theological institutions. Openness is "not just a slogan" at United Methodist institutions, said the voiceover on a video. Students from all over the world attend church-related schools and, when they walk through "the global doors," they put a face on United Methodist education, the video said. More>>
Other News from Yesterday
Assembly creates committee on faith and order
(UMNS) Creation of a study committee that will provide leadership in faith and theology for The United Methodist Church was authorized April 28 by the 2008 General Conference. The Committee on Faith and Order was authorized by a vote of 454-360. It will reflect on matters of faith, doctrinal teaching, order and discipline. It will have three broad responsibilities:
- To lead and coordinate studies commissioned by the General Conference about matters of faith, doctrine, order and discipline of the church;
- To support and provide resources for the Council of Bishops; and
- To prepare resources and study materials for the church upon request from General Conference, the Council of Bishops or the Connectional Table.
The committee will function independently but fall under the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns staffing, budgeting and financial affairs. More>>
Assembly creates new study group on church structure
(UMNS) After lengthy debates lasting through the dinner hour, delegates to the 2008 General Conference took a hesitant step toward reorganizing the 11.5 million-member United Methodist Church so it does not appear to be a U.S. church with satellite communities in Africa, Asia and Europe. The last time the quadrennial legislative assembly met in 2004, nearly 1,000 delegates from around the world created a Task Force on the Global Nature of the Church. That six-member group proposed the possibility of making the United States a "central conference" esimilar to other conferences outside the United States. The group said it prefers the word "worldwide" rather than "global," since global might b associated with the "homogenization and dominance of Western economy and culture." More>>
Delegation Interviews
Rev. Robert Beckum, Vice President for Church Relations and Development at Magnolia Manor, shares his thoughts on General Conference. Look for more delegate video interviews throughout the remainder of General Conference.
Question: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges before this General Conference? View response.
Question: What are your thoughts on General Conference? View response.
Question: What does it mean to you to be representing the South Georgia Conference here at General Conference? View response.
Question: What do you think of the worship here at General Conference? View response.
Rev. Joseph Roberson, senior pastor at South Columbus United Methodist Church, shares his thoughts on General Conference.
Question: Can you share about your experience at General Conference so far? View response.
Question: What legislative committee do you serve on and what were some issues coming out of that committee? View response.
Question: You stood up yesterday and spoke on an issue. Can you tell me a little about that? View response.
Question: What do you think about the future of the United Methodist Church? View response.
Question: What have been some of the highlights of General Conference? View response.
A Word with Bishop Watson
Bishop Watson talks about the South Georgia delegation. Click to view.
Bishop Watson shares about the action so far at General Conference and the role of bishops at General Conference. Click to view.
Photos From the Day
Click here for photos from Tuesday, April 29.
Bishop Watson confers with the secretary of General
Conference as he gets ready to preside |
Bishop Watson presides over the morning
session of the General Conference. |
Photo Gallery
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Live Streaming
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Archived Video Stories
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April 29, 2008 - Video
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Morning Worship
"Oh, Jehova, Cuan Grande es tu Nombre" by Unidos en Cristo of Columbia, South America; "Tree of Life" by Church of the Resurrection Choir and Orchestra of Leawood, Kansas
Windows Media | QuickTime
Agenda Items for Wednesday, April 30
| 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 |
|
Africa University report (15 minutes) |
| 10:25 – 10:45 A.M. |
Morning break |
| 10:45 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. |
Plenary—conference business |
|
12:10 P.M. Celebration: 100th anniversary of the United Methodist Men (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 |
|
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 |
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