General Conference

Social Concerns
The Rev. Dr. Rebekah Miles. Photo courtesy of the author.

Coming out with the new Book of Discipline

The Rev. Dr. Rebekah Miles, a veteran General Conference delegate, writes about what the removal of the Discipline’s longtime anti-gay stance means for The United Methodist Church and for her personally.
Mission and Ministry
On the eve of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., climate activists hold a candlelight Vigil for Creation to mark Earth Day and to call the denomination to greater stewardship of creation. Participants included Mary Frances Gaston (left) Emily McGinn, students at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. The service took place at the First United Methodist Church of Charlotte. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

The year in photos

2024 was a year of great change for The United Methodist Church and the world. General Conference brought big changes for the denomination, while wars and severe weather left millions of people displaced. The contentious U.S. presidential election fueled concerns over immigration, reproductive rights and other issues. But in a world filled with uncertainty, United Methodists continued to live out their faith. UM News documents a year in the life of United Methodism worldwide.
Church Leadership
Dr. Katelin Hansen. Photo by Maxine Moore, courtesy of the author.

Deaconesses are still here – let’s invest in them too!

A distinctly separate order from deacons, deaconesses and home missioners serve in a wide variety of full-time lay ministries for the church.
General Conference
The Rev. Andy Call, chair of the General Conference commission, helps lead Holy Communion during opening worship Nov. 19 at the General Conference commission’s meeting in Charlotte, N.C. Sitting beside Call are Monalisa Tui'tahi (left), the commission’s vice chair, and the Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright (right), the new General Conference secretary. During the meeting, the commission began preparations for the next gathering of The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly, scheduled in 2028. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

General Conference leaders start afresh

With mostly new membership, the group that plans The United Methodist Church’s big legislative assembly hopes to turn the page on past mistakes and act with more transparency.

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