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Commentary: Deliberating under the influence (of too little sleep) at GC 2008
Written: 5/3/2008
Commentary: Deliberating under the influence (of too little sleep) at GC 2008 A delegate catches a quick nap in between presentations on the eighth day of the 10-day 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Maile Bradfield. By the Rev. Rebekah Miles...

Wrap-up: General Conference closes with message of hope after addressing budget, social issues
Written: 5/2/2008
Bishop Gregory Palmer delivers the parting message to General Conference delegates during closing worship.  A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. By J. Richard Peck*May 2, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)United Methodists must live with a spirit of abundance and not scarcity as they go into ...

Delegates reject petitions aimed at ineffective clergy
Written: 5/2/2008
By Linda  Green*May 2, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) The Rev. A. Lynn Hill of Tennesseespeaks in committee. Delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference rejected two petitions dealing with clergy ineffectiveness and guaranteed appointments. The delegates followed t...

Assembly approves $642 million churchwide budget
Written: 5/2/2008
By Marta W. Aldrich*May 2, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 area...

Bishop Ward: Wait, watch, receive God's spirit
Written: 5/2/2008
Bishop Hope Morgan Ward preaches during the morning worship service on May 2, the final day of the 10-day United Methodist General Conference. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey. By Woody Woodrick*May 2, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)As the 2008 General Conference closes, delegates and other...

Prayer room serves as 'space of quieting and slowing'
Written: 5/1/2008
The Rev. Bo Joong Kim finds a quiet space to write in the Prayer Room at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. UMNS photos by Mike DuBose. By Jeanette Pinkston*May 1, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) The General Conference Prayer Room--a cross between an oas...

Judicial Council elects first woman president
Written: 5/1/2008
Members of the 2008-2012 Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church pose for a photo following their presentation to the denomination's 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. From left are: Ruben Reyes, the Rev. Dennis Blackwell, the Rev. Kathi Austin-Mahle, the Rev. Belton Joyne...

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U.S. Christians don't feel pains of persecution
Written: 4/30/2008
By Kathy L. Gilbert*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) Christians in the United States "have had an epidural" and are not feeling the birthing pains the rest of the world feels, said Faith McDonnell, an expert on religious persecution.Citing Mark 13:8, McDonnell said Jesus warned Christians ...

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United Methodists uphold homosexuality stance
Written: 4/30/2008
By Robin Russell*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 r...

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Wrap-up: Assembly retains stance on homosexuality
Written: 4/30/2008
By J. Richard Peck*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)After a long and emotional debate, the 2008 General Conference voted April 30 to retain statements in the Social Principles that the "United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompa...

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People in 48 countries view General Conference online
Written: 4/30/2008
April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 e...

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Sight, sounds, movements create worship experience
Written: 4/30/2008
By Yvette Moore*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 que...

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Church adopts proposed creed as litany
Written: 4/30/2008
By Kathy L. Gilbert*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 S...

Four jurisdictions will each lose one bishop under new plan
Written: 4/30/2008
By J. Richard Peck*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 t...

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Petitions seeking to control Judicial Council ruled unconstitutional
Written: 4/30/2008
By Neill Caldwell*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 Genera...

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Delegates reinvest and affirm hope in Africa University
Written: 4/30/2008
By Linda Green*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) 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.  Betty Musau Kaz...

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Display of boots represents 'human cost of war'
Written: 4/30/2008
By Deborah White*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)Four United Methodist bishops and a top agency executive spoke passionately about the human cost of war April 29, calling for an end to the war in Iraq during a prayer service for the Eyes Wide Open exhibit.The temporary display, which remain...

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Delegates celebrate 100th anniversary of men's ministry
Written: 4/30/2008
By Robin Russell*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 U...

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Bishop Fisher preaches against 'sin of racism'
Written: 4/30/2008
By Ciona D. Rouse*April 30, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (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 a...

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Young delegation leaders model inclusiveness for church
Written: 4/29/2008
A UMNS ReportBy Vicki Brown*April 29, 2008 At age 26, Matthew Johnson may be one of the younger General Conference delegates.Even so, 2008 marks his third trip as a voting delegate to The United Methodist Church's top legislative body, which makes him one of the most experienced members of the churc...