General Conference Reports

A news summary of the fourth day of action of the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church

A news summary of the third day of action of the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church

As discussion was winding down on the motion to request a declaratory decision about the plans for the church, delegate Jeffrey “J J” the Warren from Upper New York Conference delivered possibly the most impassioned statement of the entire General Conference so far in support of that request, a move that was affirmed by a 437 to 3781 margin, well beyond the twenty percent threshold needed to make the request.

A news summary of the second day of action at the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.

In his sermon for the Sunday morning worship service of the 2019 General Conference, Kenneth H. Carter, Jr., President of the Council of Bishops, reminded the General Conference delegates, “You are here because your people respect you.” He called the members of the denomination’s worldwide assembly to “watch and listen…and pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit, to make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.” Carter noted, “Where you see the mission of...

A news summary of the first day's action for the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church

Tim Jones (Holston Conference), Annette Spence (Holston Conference), and Jackie Campbell (Western PA Conference) are three of the communicators covering the 2019 Special General Conference. So far, they see it as a celebration and, at the same time, subdued. Campbell and Spence have each been to five or more general conferences while this is a first for Jones. Deadlines have changed and so has the technology – cell phones, for example were once restricted within the bar of the conference,...

Fasting, confession, and repentance are elements of the prayer ministry at the 2019 special General Conference. According to Prayer Team Lead Aletha Weatherall, a design team created a “spirit experience.” Reflective of four regions of the world, the experience includes a labyrinth, some quiet spaces, and an opportunity to meet with spiritual directors.

In the hours before the opening session, members of the General Conference worship team talked about how they have prepared themselves spiritually and listened for God’s direction. Whether through music, the visual arts or helping to manage the flow of the worship experiences, the members of the team are at peace as they work to transform The Dome in St. Louis from a concert and sports venue into a sacred space. The members of the worship team in the conversation were: Raymond Trapp,...

Jessica Brodie and Matt Brodie are United Methodist communicators from South Carolina. Being a communicator brings with it “a great deal of responsibility to do whatever we do with exceptional integrity,” they believe, and it’s their “responsibility to keep telling the story.”

Bishop Laurie Haller shares her feelings about the upcoming General Conference

Bishop Laurie Haller describes the role of a Bishop at the General Conference

Bishop Laurie Haller offers a prayer for Iowa United Methodists and for the 2019 special General Conference of The United Methodist Church