General Conference E-news Update – April 30, 2008
In The News - Wednesday, April 30
Daily Wrap-up for April 30
Click here to read the complete daily wrap-up for Wednesday, April 30.
Church adopts proposed creed as litany
(UMNS)
A proposed new Social Creed for The United Methodist Church became a “companion litany” instead after action by the denomination's lawmaking body on April 30.
A task force under the leadership of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society worked on the “poetic” 2008 Social Creed that was proposed to the denomination's General Conference meeting in Fort Worth through May 2.
Even though it will not replace the United Methodist Social Creed, the Rev. Neal Christie, staff on the board and a member of the task force, said it is “a gift to the church and reinforces and reframes the creed.” More>>
United Methodists uphold homosexuality stance
(UMNS) Delegates to the 2008 General Conference on April 30 rejected changes to the United Methodist Social Principles that would have acknowledged that church members disagree on homosexuality. Delegates instead adopted a minority report that retained language in the denomination's 2004 Book of Discipline describing homosexual practice as “incompatible with Christian teaching.” The adopted wording in Paragraph 161G also states that “all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God,” and that United Methodists are to be “welcoming, forgiving and loving one another, as Christ has loved and accepted us.” More>>
Four jurisdictions will each lose one bishop under new plan
(UMNS) Delegates to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church approved a plan that will result in one less bishop in each of four of the five U.S. jurisdictions, beginning in 2012.
In an April 29 legislative session, delegates agreed that savings from those reductions will be used to fund new episcopal areas outside the United States. Those new areas -- each to be led by a bishop -- will not be created until the 2012 General Conference.
The North Central, Northeastern, South Central and Western jurisdictions will each have one less bishop under a new formula for determining the number of bishops. The action will not affect the Southeastern Jurisdiction, as it already has one less bishop than the present formula allows, and it is not requesting an additional Episcopal leader. The Northeastern Jurisdiction will lose a bishop in both 2008 and 2012. More>>
Petitions seeking to control Judicial Council ruled unconstitutional
(UMNS) Legislative petitions to direct how the Judicial Council organizes and how it works are unconstitutional, says The United Methodist Church’s top court. But requiring the entire court to be present to rule on the constitutionality of General Conference actions is permitted by the Book of Discipline, the council said. On April 27, the denomination's Judicial Council responded to the 2008 General Conference's request for a declaratory decision on four petitions submitted to it. The petitions relate to recusal, conflict of interest issues, judicial conduct and the establishment of a quorum. Issued on April 30, Decision 1096 says the General Conference can determine the number and qualifications of Judicial Council members and how they are elected. But the constitution of the church empowers the Judicial Council "to adopt its own methods of organization and procedure."
More>>
Delegates celebrate 100th anniversary of men's ministry
(UMNS)
General Conference delegates celebrated on April 30 the 100th anniversary of ministry to men in The United Methodist Church and its predecessor denominations. “This is huge,” said the Rev. David C. Adams, top executive of the Commission on United Methodist Men, in a six-minute video presentation. “Other men's ministries over the years have come and gone. But United Methodist Men has been steadfast.”At the 1908 General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, delegates officially authorized the newly created Methodist Brotherhood. More>>
Delegates reinvest and affirm hope in Africa University
(UMNS) Amid all the elements that seek to divide United Methodists, Africa University is a uniting, connectional dream come true. That’s the message delegates to the denomination's legislative assembly received during a report from its nearly 16-year-old Pan-African institution. In a report about the church-related school in Mutare, Zimbabwe, associate vice chancellor of institutional development James Salley said the 2008 General Conference's theme of "A Future With Hope" directly parallels the school's mission of educating future leaders for Africa in a Christian environment. Africa University "is bringing about a continental and global change in the name of Jesus Christ," Salley said. More>>
Pictured:
The Africa University traveling choir performs during the April 29 Bridges of Unity ecumenical awards banquet. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.
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Bishop Fisher preaches against 'sin of racism'
(UMNS) Necessity calls the church to take a more challenging route to end racism, Bishop Violet L. Fisher told to United Methodists in her April 30 sermon to the 2008 General Conference.
“If we're going to be serious about the future of our church around the sin of racism, some tables will have to be overturned,” said Fisher, episcopal leader of the New York West area.
Fisher quoted Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly, and asked the delegates to proclaim with her, “Racism does not belong in the church!”
Preaching about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, Fisher said, “Jesus deliberately and unabashedly modeled for His disciples” both gender and racial inclusiveness by going into Samaria and speaking with the woman. More>>
People in 48 countries view General Conference online
(UMNS)
The number of people experiencing The United Methodist Church's top legislative assembly goes far beyond a few thousand people in the heart of Texas. People in 48 countries have been going online to watch the business sessions, worship services and special events of the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth. The proceedings are being streamed live on the assembly's Web site, www.gc2008.umc.org. More>>
Sight, sounds, movements create worship experience
(UMNS) What we do in worship matters. That's a guiding principle shaping the sights, sounds, feel and movement experienced in the physically engaging worship services of the 2008 United Methodist General Conference. "Worship helps form us. The question is what are we being formed into?" said Marcia McFee, co-director of music and worship at the quadrennial event. "It's not enough to sing the word. It's not enough to talk the word. Something happens when we act." She believes getting physical in worship can help the church act like the body of Christ that it is. Worshippers at General Conference clapped, sang, offered liturgies in American Sign Language, moved with songs of faith from around the world and turned en masse to face one another across the communion table in the center of the arena to enter what McFee calls "the physicality of spirituality." More>>
Delegation Interviews
Mark Shelnutt, lay member of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Columubus, shares his thoughts on General Conference.
Question: What has been your impression of General Conference? What have been some highlights? View response.
Question: What does it mean to you to be a representative of South Georgia? View response.
Question: Has your perspective on the United Methodist Church changed because of attending General Conference? View response.
Question: What will you take away from General Conference? View response.
Lee Bush, lay member of Bainbridge United Methodist Church, shares her thoughts on General Conference.
Question: Have you enjoyed General Conference? View response.
Question: What excites you about the United Methodist Church? View response.
Question: As a first time delegate what you learned about the General Conference session? View response.
Question: You had the privildge of sitting on the floor of General Conference and voting. What was that like for you? View response.
Photos From the Day
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Photo Gallery
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Live Streaming
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Watch This
Thursday:
William H. Gates Sr. of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: 3:30 p.m. EST (2:30 p.m. Central Time) (time is approximate)
Archived Video Stories
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April 30, 2008 - Video
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Morning Worship
Africa University Choir of Mutare, Zimbabwe, Africa
The Spiritual Image of South Hayward UMC of Hayward, California
Windows Media | QuickTime
Agenda Items for Thursday, May 1
| 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 |
|
Recognition of retiring Judicial Council members |
|
Introduction of new Judicial Council members |
| 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 General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (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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