“The process has simply been harder than anticipated.” — Kim Simpson, chair of the Commission on the General Conference, on getting visas for delegates.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
No-shows a problem for General Conference
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — United Methodist officials face a visa-related struggle to get some delegates to General Conference, the crucial legislative assembly that convenes here April 23. African United Methodist groups have been warning their region will be underrepresented as delegates gather to make key decisions for the denomination’s future. Sam Hodges reports.
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Conference online document altered
MITCHELL, S.D. (UM News) — The Dakotas Conference is reporting that an online Q&A document it shared about the upcoming General Conference was maliciously altered. “The counterfeit document was littered with disinformation about our denomination,” Bishop Lanette Plambeck said. Sam Hodges reports.
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Following the news at General Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist Communications and United Methodist News have been preparing for the challenge of covering and publicizing developments of the long-delayed General Conference. Church leaders and members can stay informed via a live video stream, daily reports from UM News delivered in several languages, video recaps, updates on social media and a new United Methodist News Facebook Messenger Bot and WhatsApp channel. Jim Patterson has the story.
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Judicial Council
Questions from bishops added to docket
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Judicial Council has added to its docket a request from the Council of Bishops related to the elections of agency board members and terms of Judicial Council members given that the last regular General Conference session was eight years ago. Briefs are due by 4 p.m. U.S. Eastern time April 21. There will be no reply briefs.
See docket
Western Pennsylvania Conference
God’s presence in the path of totality
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — On April 8, millions of people turned their faces skyward to collectively witness the long-awaited and much-hyped natural phenomenon: a solar eclipse with a path of totality that stretched across the United States. Western Pennsylvania Conference lay leader Paul Huey shared his reflections on the awe-inspiring experience with Liz Lennox, conference director of communications. “What moved my spirit … was this snapshot of what is possible every day — not just when something special comes along,” he said. “What could be if we all lived in unity in Christ?”
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West End United Methodist Church
Service set for Carlton Young, hymnal editor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A memorial service for the Rev. Carlton R. “Sam” Young will be May 18, beginning at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time at Nashville’s West End United Methodist Church. Young, editor of The United Methodist Hymnal and an important composer, arranger, educator and hymnody expert, died May 21, 2023, at age 97. His service will be led by the Revs. Carol Cavin-Dillon, Don E. Saliers and Barbara Day Miller, and will be livestreamed by the church.
Watch livestream
Read UM News obituary
PRESS RELEASES
Philippines and European bishops
Central conference bishops call for unity
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ahead of General Conference, Bishops Rodel M. Acdal, Ruby-Nell M. Estrella and Israel M. Painit — the three active bishops in the Philippines — put out “A Call for Unity and Loyalty to Jesus Christ through The United Methodist Church” that also endorsed worldwide regionalization legislation. Nine active and retired United Methodist European bishops followed suit with a statement proclaiming “Our commitment to the unity of the church.” Both statements follow a declaration of 12 of the denomination’s African bishops, vowing to stay in The United Methodist Church.
Read Philippines bishops’ statement
Read European bishops’ statement (PDF)
Read African bishops’ statement
Finance and Administration
Agency releases video on proposed budget
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration has released a video on the proposed 2025-28 denominational budget going before General Conference delegates when they meet April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The video is part of the finance agency’s Data-Driven Discernment campaign.
Watch video
Read budget FAQ (PDF)
See Data-Driven Discernment site
UM News: Amid church losses, proposed budget slashed
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff.
Courageous Conversations at General Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Discipleship Ministries started the Courageous Conversations project in 2015 with the goal of equipping churches with tools to facilitate learning opportunities on any subject. At its heart lies a belief that the church should be a place where individuals feel brave enough to express their views and engage with differing perspectives. The Rev. Dr. Scott Hughes looks at how those principles could be practiced at General Conference and beyond.
Read commentary
Western North Carolina Conference
An elder’s perspective on sexuality issues
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — The Rev. Mary John Dye, a retired elder, offers four videos discussing human sexuality issues in traditional, conservative terms. It is a topic that General Conference is likely to address later this month. “I have long had a heavy heart about the disconnect for many traditional United Methodists with the issues we are dealing with regarding human sexuality,” Dye said.
Watch videos
RESOURCES
Emily Explains
Videos explain agency priorities
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — A three-time General Conference delegate, Emily Allen, has created a video series explaining a variety of topics related to The United Methodist Church’s legislative gathering. In a new installment of “Emily Explains,” she talks with staff from the United Methodist general agencies about their ministries and focus at the upcoming General Conference April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Watch videos
EVENTS
Monday, April 22
Breaking Barriers AIDS Conference
Monday, April 22
Earth Day Vigil for Creation
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Bishops urged to prepare for seismic shift
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — United Methodist Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton sees potential for big changes coming out of General Conference. Bishops, he said, will have a role to play in what comes next after the lawmaking assembly. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops press release
Queer Delegate Caucus debuts in Charlotte
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Members of the first caucus of LGBTQ delegates at a General Conference believe their time has finally come, but they stress their efforts for full inclusion will continue whether or not the votes go their way. There is also hope for relationship-building with African delegates, who traditionally have opposed removing restrictions against LGBTQ people in the church. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Timeline: General Conference history with LGBTQ
Big changes proposed for clergy retirement
GLENVIEW, Ill. (UM News) — Wespath, The United Methodist Church’s pension and benefits agency, is asking General Conference to authorize a new retirement program for U.S. clergy. While the proposal won’t affect current retirees, Wespath staff say change is needed for sustainability. Heather Hahn has the story.
Read story
Ask The UMC
A look at legislation that affects clergy formation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clergy formation is a significant topic that General Conference delegates will consider when they meet beginning April 23 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry and Alabama-West Florida Conference have each offered petitions. The Rev. Taylor W. Burton Edwards offers an analysis of the legislation in Part 3 of Ask The UMC’s series on what’s new for General Conference 2024.
Read analysis
Read more in series
Pre-General Conference video resources
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As The United Methodist Church approaches a major legislative gathering that will determine its future, UM News is providing video resources to help people better understand how the legislative assembly works and what legislation is under consideration. The last installment includes church leaders discussing proposals related to the church’s work in the world, education and formation of clergy and the denominational budget.
Watch videos
Commentary: Revised Social Principles offer new start
WASHINGTON (UM News) — The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. says the Revised Social Principles, up for consideration by the General Conference, provide United Methodists “a better way to live together as Christ followers.” He maintains in a commentary that the revision’s language about marriage can be affirmed across a diversity of annual conferences. Weems is senior consultant of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary.
Read commentary
Duke Today
Study: Remaining churches more diverse
DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina congregations that remained with The United Methodist Church during the recent wave of disaffiliations over LGBTQ inclusion are more politically and theologically diverse than those that left, researchers at Duke University found. Congregations that disaffiliated tended to be more homogenous in their beliefs and somewhat smaller and more rural.
Read press release
Read report (PDF)
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