Disaffiliation

Lonnie Chafin, a delegate from the Northern Illinois Conference and chair of the Conferences legislative committee, speaks May 1 during the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. The committee supported and brought to the floor a petition that deletes Paragraph 2553 from the Book of Discipline. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Disaffiliation ends, regionalization moves forward

General Conference delegates deleted the church disaffiliation policy, passed the last of the regionalization petitions and required annual conferences to set a reaffiliation plan for churches that want to return.

General Conference

Delegate Julia Stukalova (left) and other members of the Eastern Russia and Central Asia Provisional Conference react as delegates to the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., vote on April 25 to allow their conference to exit the denomination. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Eurasian conferences get go-ahead to form own church

The four annual conferences in Russia and its neighboring countries are leaving to form the autonomous Christian Methodist Church.

General Conference

A journalist and a cartoon fish can point the way

With the future of The United Methodist Church at stake, believers need to trust in God, be faithful witnesses and work together, said speakers during the Laity Address at General Conference.

Bishops

Bishops urged to prepare for seismic shift

United Methodist Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton sees potential for big changes coming out of General Conference — including an end to the denomination’s bans related to LGBTQ people. Bishops, he said, will have a role to play in what comes next.

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