United Methodist Bishop Homer Ellis Finger Jr. dies

A UMNS Report
By Linda Green*

Bishop Homer Ellis Finger Jr.

Bishop Homer Ellis Finger Jr., a former president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, died May 25 from heart failure.

Finger, 91, of Givens Estates in Asheville, N.C., was elected in to the episcopacy in 1964 and served in the denomination’s Nashville (Tenn.) Area for 12 years and the Holston Area, based in Knoxville, Tenn., for eight years.

Before the 1968 gathering that led to the creation of The United Methodist Church, Finger asked Nashville Area district leaders to "pray that this quadrennial meeting of churchmen will be not just a time for polishing structure and perfecting legislation, important as are these activities. Pray that God's spirit can move among the delegates and through the deliberations that the church can be a channel of hope and light for a distraught world and a troubled nation."

Retired Bishop Bevel L. Jones III of Decatur, Ga., described Finger as a man who could have fun and never strayed from character. "Quality was his trademark—a true statesman, with the courage of a prophet and the heart of a pastor.

"I have known Bishop Ellis Finger as a friend for over 40 years. He was a beloved friend and faithful colleague," Jones said. "He was straightforward and steadfast. He was persistent and progressive, determined to get the job done and done right."

Church leadership
Finger was president of the Council of Bishops 1980-1981. After his retirement from active service in 1984, he served as administrative assistant secretary to the council for 12 years.

Born Oct. 8, 1916, in Ripley, Miss., Finger was the son of the late Homer Ellis Finger and Bertha Rogers Finger and was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Mamie Lee Ratliff Finger, in 2006.

He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of United Methodist-related Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and received a master of divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School. He held honorary degrees from five colleges.

He was pastor of the Coldwater, Miss., and Oxford University United Methodist churches before his election in 1952 as president of Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., a position he served for 12 years. He also served three years as a Navy chaplain in World War II, and a quarter-century later, he became chairman of the former United Methodist Commission on Chaplains and Related Ministries.

Bishop Finger’s churchwide ministries also included serving as the chairman of the former Commission on Deaconesses; president of the General Council of Finance and Administration; president of the Division of Health and Welfare Ministries of the Board of Global Ministries and a director of that board; and president of the Southeastern Jurisdictional College of Bishops. He was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1952 thorough 1964 and was a delegation leader in 1960 and 1964. He was also a delegate to the World Methodist Conferences of 1951 through 1971.

"Bishop Finger was one of the outstanding leaders of the church and was a marvelous, gracious man and a valued colleague on the Council of Bishops and a good friend," said retired Bishop C. Dale White, Newport, R.I. "I respected and admired him very much and deeply appreciated his friendship."

Finger is survived by son Homer Ellis Finger III and his wife, Phyllis, of Easton, Pa.; son William Ratliff Finger, and his wife, Georgia, of Raleigh, N.C.; daughter Elizabeth Ellen Finger and her husband, Richard Vander Veen, of Arden, N.C.; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held June 4 in the Norma F. Pulliam Memorial Chapel at Givens Estates in Asheville.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Givens Estates, Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, N.C. 28803 or to the Lake Junaluska Foundation, Lake Junaluska, N.C. 28745.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

Long assembly welcomes lighthearted moments

Bishop John Hopkins laughs as 7-year-old Katherine Commale invites him to buy a net to help the Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign following her introduction to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.

By Marta W. Aldrich*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)--In show business, they warn that you should never share the stage with a child if you don't want to get upstaged.

Such was the case for Bishop John Hopkins when he presented 7-year-old Katherine Commale to delegates and visitors on the second day of the 2008 United Methodist General Conference. Introducing Katherine as a sign of hope in the church for raising more than $40,000 for the Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign, the bishop asked the brown-haired youngster, "What can I do to help?"

"Buy a bed net!" Katherine deadpanned as the crowd laughed and applauded.

Hopkins then reached into his pocket and handed her a wad of bills that Katherine later said added up to $100--enough to buy 10 bed nets to help protect families in Africa from the mosquito-borne disease.

The scene was among the lighter moments during the denomination's 10-day legislative meeting, where occasional humor was a welcome diversion from the more than 1,500 petitions that General Conference had to wade through--many on complex and emotional issues--under intense deadline pressure.

Finding humor in the process
General Conference meets once every four years to set policy for the 11.5 million-member worldwide United Methodist Church. This year's gathering, attended by 992 delegates and thousands of visitors at the Fort Worth Convention Center, ended May 2.

For the second General Conference in a row, legislative activity coordinator John Brawn amused delegates each morning with his daily status reports on how many petitions awaited them in order for him to get to return home to California.

"You hold my bedtime in your hands," Brawn told the delegates on the final scheduled day of the assembly, with approximately 68 petitions left to review. He also flashed a snapshot of the Fort Worth Zoo, noting that he would like to visit the attraction if only business could be finished.

A Hewlett-Packard network security architect who volunteers for the job each General Conference, Brawn used his digital skills and extensive software catalog to create daily videos that helped the delegates understand how to pace their work.

For one, he lined up all of the legislative committee chairpersons, gave each a Super Soaker squirt gun and instructed them to shoot straight ahead while he shot video. (Of course, several renegade chairpersons shot Brawn instead. "They nailed me," he said later.) Then he used that footage to develop a carnival-like graphic showing how much legislation each committee had processed.

Brawn has tracked legislation for General Conference since 1988 but started making the presentations beginning at the 2004 assembly "because there was a perception that they were behind."

His personal mission: presenting the much-needed information in a fun way. "When you're telling people something they don't want to hear, if you can make it fun, it goes down a lot better than if you do it in a monotone way," Brawn said.

In one low-tech presentation on the eighth day of General Conference, Brawn brought 11 bishops on stage wearing numbers and holding a long white and green banner--a "bishop-o-graph," he explained-to help the delegates see that their work was 76 percent complete.

At the end, the bishops draped the banner around Brawn, who then announced his candidacy for lay bishop. (Hint: No such thing.)

"I think we will lay him on the table, is what we will do," retorted Bishop Peter Weaver, the morning's presiding officer.

Brawn said his years in the 1980s as a youth director at a United Methodist church in San Jose, Calif., prepared him well for his General Conference role. "I've been treating the delegates like high school kids, and they've responded well," he quipped.

Show tunes
Mark Miller, who served as co-worship director throughout the assembly, used the power of adapted show tunes to bring delegates back to their seats occasionally following much-needed breaks from floor business--particularly during the tiring final days.

An accomplished musician, Miller played piano and came up with his own General Conference-related lyrics to the music from such toe-tappers as "New York, New York" and "Oklahoma!" including the following words set to the melody from "Oklahoma!

"Geeeeeeeeeneral Conference, every night my delegates and I
Stay up nice and late with continuous debate
Until morning light draws nigh!"

More tidbits


Here are a few other light moments observed:

+Walking delegates through voting procedures on opening day, General Conference business manager Alan Morrison asked for a "test vote" for "favorite apostles" among a slate of five candidates: the apostles John, Thomas, James, Thaddeus and Judas. The winning apostles were John and James. The same apostles were on the ballot again later as part of an equipment check. "We are sure they would not mind," presiding Bishop Michael Coyner said.

+Presiding over one morning session, Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo used a stick horse as a makeshift gavel when the traditional gavel "took a walk," according to General Conference Secretary Fitzgerald Reist. Asking delegates for the gavel's safe return, Reist said, "We would very much appreciate it. We did not bring a box of gavels to the convention center." The gavel was later returned.

+Following the on-stage presentation of 7-year-old Katherine to the assembly, Katherine and her mother, Lynda, were taken to the General Conference newsroom to take part in a brief press conference. Running barefoot between the rows of chairs, an excited Katherine eventually was seated behind a table and beside a smiling Hopkins--himself a doting grandfather--who declared, "This is the first time I've been in a press conference with somebody's who's barefoot!"

+Although the spring temperatures climbed into the 70s in downtown Fort Worth, the mercury dropped significantly inside the convention center, particularly on the floor of General Conference, where even Bishop Hans Växby--who hails from frosty Finland and lives in Moscow--was seen bundled up in a heavy parka. "It's colder than Fargo in the winter back here," complained Iowa Conference delegate Ed Kail at one point in the proceedings. Coyner assured him that "more hot air" would be created during the course of the legislative meeting.

+In the waning hours of General Conference, it's easy to forget who you're talking to, as was demonstrated by lay delegate Frederick K. Brewington of the New York Conference as he introduced petitions and addressed Bishop Weaver. "The first petition that we'll deal with at this time, judge--excuse me, judge? You can tell I'm a lawyer, right?" Weaver didn't miss a beat. "It's all right, counselor," the bishop said.

+Delegates who were treated to memorable performances by the Hope for Africa Children's Choir saw the 23 Ugandan youngsters lovingly "swarm" around South Georgia Area Bishop B. Michael Watson at one point in their on-stage program. But what they didn't see was that, on the following day, the children did the same as an April 29 birthday surprise for Harry Leake, an employee of United Methodist Communications who had traveled to Uganda in January to help develop a series of video stories on the choir. At the prompting of choir director Tonny Mbowa, the youngsters serenaded "Uncle Harry," as they called him, with a birthday song near the Cokesbury display. "They kind of surrounded me and almost knocked me down," Leake said later with a smile. "But it was neat because they're precious kids. If you've got to have a birthday at General Conference, what better way to celebrate?"

+Since General Conference has a tendency to go on into the late hours of closing day, journalists who cover the event in behalf of their annual conferences and other church publications have conducted a press pool since 2000 to guess the exact time the final gavel will fall. The winner receives the coveted "rusty spigot" award, named for the cast-iron water spigot handle that was found by Florida Conference communicator Erik Alsgaard on the newsroom floor at the 2000 gathering in Cleveland. This year's winner: Woody Woodrick, editor of the Mississippi Christian Advocate. Of about 30 people who participated in this year's pool, Woodrick guessed the down-to-the-minute time of 11:49 p.m., when closing worship adjourned. Alsgaard will present the rusty spigot to Woodrick "on behalf of all bleary-eyed communicators who covered General Conference 2008" during the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference meeting this July at Lake Junaluska, N.C.

*Aldrich is news editor of United Methodist News Service.

Young people add voices to church policy

(From left) Matt Lockett, Becca Farnum, Andrew Craig, Kira Volkova, Jason Rathod and the Rev. Annie Arnoldy complete the first-ever Young People's Address before the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)--Young people added their voices to the top legislative meeting of The United Methodist Church and served as role models for "holy conferencing" during the 2008 General Conference.

They also submitted 43 proposals calling for resolutions on mostly social justice issues including war and peace, concern about poverty and opposition to killings in the Philippines.

Although the church is graying--most members are age 60 and older--the young adult presence at General Conference was highly visible during the April 23-May 2 gathering.

Six young United Methodists delivered the first-ever Young People's Address. That address was added to the traditional laity and episcopal addresses before the gathering of some 1,000 delegates that meet once every four years to establish policies for the 11.5 million-member denomination.

The conference's "Guidelines for Holy Conferencing--What God Expects of Us," was inspired by the 2007 Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly meeting in South Africa. The guidelines were adopted to provide a way for delegates to discuss important issues "without the acrimonious debate and parliamentary maneuvering" that can divide a group into contending factions.

The Division on Ministries with Young People of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship sponsored the resolutions passed by young people at their global convocation. Most of the proposed statements addressed social justice issues and called for increased representation of young people on church committees or agencies.

'Humanity of all people'
An adopted resolution on political and social unrest declares: "We strongly oppose an exclusive religious ideology of any faith that fails to recognize the humanity of all people." The resolution calls the church to combat violence and war peaceably and to take action against injustices.

In a statement of concern about poverty, local churches and agencies are asked to create groups to study and understand the root causes of poverty, find ways to work with communities to alleviate poverty, advocate for just wages and "launch programs that promote caring and support for the poorest of the poor."

During the global young people's convocation in South Africa, delegates worked with young people from the Philippines to draft legislation to support human-rights advocates under attack in Southeast Asia.

In part, the statement says: "Human rights are in danger in the Philippines. The image of God in every person is being assaulted in many ways, including God's servants--bishops, pastors, deaconesses and women, men and youth lay leaders. These prophet servants of God have preached, with costly discipleship, the good news to the poor, deprived and marginalized peoples of the Philippines."

The resolution also promises to pray and work with United Methodist youth and the young adult fellowships in the Philippines and look for ways to include young people on fact-finding missions to the country.

A "Young People's Statement on War and Peace" will be added to the 2008 Book of Resolutions and calls for "the preservation of youth around the world." The statement urges young people to work for peace in their communities, churches and world.

"We are the young people of The United Methodist Church," the resolution concludes. "We affirm God's clear call to be instruments of peace in all corners of the world."

General Conference also approved a resolution that encourages local churches to designate a Darfur/Sudan Awareness Sunday and make resources available to assist Sunday school classes or Bible studies to discuss ways "to establish justice and end suffering" in this country where over the past three years 400,000 men, women and children have been killed while 2.5 million have been forced to leave their homes.

Young people also supported and endorsed the work and mission of the denomination's Global AIDS Fund and the Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign.

Youth ministry
General Conference took action requiring each of the church's five U.S. jurisdictions to establish youth ministry organizations for the purpose of networking, supporting youth ministries in annual (regional) conferences and supporting youth workers. Each jurisdiction also will employ a youth ministry coordinator.

Other approved actions will ensure young people will have representatives on various committees of the Board of Discipleship, the Connectional Table and local church councils.

Changes to the candidacy process toward the ordained ministry will mean young adults can begin with a one-year membership in a campus ministry unit or a local church. This legislation replaces a requirement that a candidate for ministry must have been a member of the church for two years.

General Conference also approved legislation requiring that a clergyperson under age 35 be on the annual conference board of ordained ministry and, when possible, on the district committee on ministry.

As a result of General Conference decisions, the age of young adults now varies in the church's law book from 17 to 30. Paragraphs in the Book of Discipline that define ages for youth and young adult ministries are: 256.3, 602.4, 649.2, 705, 1207 and 1210.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

United Methodists refine process for ecumenical relations

By Linda Green*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)-Prior to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, the church's Council of Bishops was authorized to work in cooperation with its ecumenical agency to engage in formal relations with other denominations or ecclesial bodies. The bishops' ecumenical officer coordinated the relationships.

Delegates to the 2008 General Conference added language to give the bishops authority to enter into "interim and provisional ecumenical agreements" with other Christian bodies, following consultation with and concurrence of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. However, all agreements of full communion and permanent membership in ecumenical organizations must be ratified by General Conference.

By a General Conference vote, The United Methodist Church entered into full relationship with The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on April 28. The denomination also has an interim Eucharist-sharing covenant relationship with The Episcopal Church and agreements with five historically black Methodist denominations that make up the Pan-Methodist Commission.

"The nature of our ecumenical relationships is evolving, changing and growing," said Doug Mills, a staff member of the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. "The Discipline was silent on full communion and to keep up with our evolving relationships, we needed to give a structure to allow the church to move forward in its ecumenical commitments."

In approving the petition submitted by the Council of Bishops, General Conference delegates described full communion as two or more Christian churches that recognize the:

.One, holy, Catholic and apostolic faith as expressed in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the church's historic creeds;
.Authenticity of each other's baptism and Eucharist and extend sacramental hospitality to each others members;
.Validity of their respective ministries; and
.Full interchangeability and reciprocity of all ordained ministers in each of the churches.

Full communion does not presume that there are no differences in rites or doctrines between churches, but that these differences provide no barrier to affirming each other as full expressions of the one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, according to legislation passed by the assembly. The relationship commits the churches to working together as partners in mission.

"This is a positive step and it provides steps for further conversation with Christian bodies," said West Virginia Bishop Ernest Lyght, who submitted the petition on behalf of the Council of Bishops. "Historically, The United Methodist Church has not functioned in isolation. Going back decades, it has always sought to be in relationships with Christian communities and non-Christian communities."

Prior to the 2008 General Conference, the Book of Discipline did not define full communion but did define covenanting, said Bishop William Oden, the outgoing ecumenical officer for the Council of Bishops. "The understanding of covenanting has been expanded by the use of full communion," he said.

Oden said the church is in a new era in which the term "full communion" will be used more and more in ecumenical relationships.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

General Conference shortens candidacy process

A UMNS Report
By Vicki Brown*

The candidacy process for ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church will be shortened by two years beginning in January 2009, under legislation approved by the 2008 General Conference.

"Steps were taken to shorten and expedite the process and make it more accessible," said the Rev. Sharon Rubey, director of Candidacy and Conference Relations at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

"The effect of these changes reduces the possible years from entry into candidacy to ordination by two years, plus makes the process less prescriptive, therefore making it more accessible to more possible candidates."

General Conference, meeting this spring in Fort Worth, Texas, affirmed legislation allowing a candidate to begin the ordination process with a minimum one-year membership in a church, campus ministry or other United Methodist ministry setting. The previous requirement was two years.

Other legislation made changes in probationary membership, including reducing the requirement from a minimum of three years to a minimum of two and changing the name to provisional instead of probationary membership.

Provisional members still will be required to follow a residency curriculum of theological education, take part in covenant groups and undergo mentoring with evaluation by their district superintendent and Board of Ordained Ministry.

The result will be more intense work for the candidates and the annual conferences, said the Rev. Anita Wood, the board's director of professional ministry development.

However, since the legislation requires a minimum of two years, Wood said annual conferences still have the option of a longer provisional period.

Complaints from young adults
Efforts to streamline and shorten the process without weakening it were in response to complaints from young adults that the process takes too long, according to the Rev. Rodney Steele. He was part of a group of delegates from the South Central Jurisdiction who drafted the legislation out of concern that the process is discouraging young ministry candidates.

"By the time people articulate that they are feeling called to ordained ministry, they've answered a lot of the questions that are part of the current process," said Steele, a member of board's elected directors.

The addition of campus ministry and mission churches as fulfilling that two-year membership requirement is particularly important, he said.

"We are seeing college students who get involved in campus ministry and decide to seek ordination. This legislation will let that time in campus ministry count as church membership," he said.

Approved legislation also provides new language to be more accessible to other cultural, racial/ethnic and non-English-speaking candidates. The petition passed by a sizeable majority in the legislative committee, and was approved by the entire assembly on the consent calendar.

In addition to campus ministry, membership in a United Methodist faith community or mission church that is not yet an established church will fulfill the one-year requirement.

The candidate, along with a candidacy mentor, will study resources determined by the conference Board of Ordained Ministry based on the candidate's statement of call, Wesley's historic questions found in Paragraph 310 of The Book of Discipline, and questions about formative experiences, the role of the church, Christian beliefs and personal gifts for ministry, which are listed in Paragraph 311.3.b and c.

This means there is no prescribed Candidacy Guidebook. However, the petition states that candidates are "encouraged to use resources recommended by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry." Rubey said recommendations will be offered as the process is implemented in January 2009.

Cultural and racial/ethnic realities
The required completion and release of psychological assessment reports, criminal background and credit checks remain in the process. However, the new paragraph states that district committees "shall seek ways to consider cultural and ethnic/racial realities in meeting these requirements."

Following one year as a certified candidate, if half the educational requirements have been met, the candidate is eligible to be commissioned and become a provisional member. Petition Nos. 80310, 80313, and 81450 also were approved on the consent calendar.

The language was changed to state that provisional members will be appointed by a bishop to serve a minimum of two years (reduced from three) following the completion of all educational requirements. Language also was added to make it clear that those in provisional membership "may be appointed to attend school, to extension ministry, or in appointments beyond the local church."

Steele noted that this is permissive legislation and believes some conferences, including his own, will keep the three-year provisional requirement. "It's working well for us, so I think the shortening for us will come on the front end," said Steele, a district superintendent in the Arkansas Annual Conference.

*Brown is associate editor and writer in the Office of Interpretation at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

United Methodists name new ecumenical leader

By Wendy Whiteside*

NEW YORK (UMNS)-The Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak Jr., executive director of the state council of churches in Connecticut, has been elected to lead the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

Sidorak, 58, was elected May 14 by the commission's directors and will assume the position of general secretary July 1 at the New York-based commission. He succeeds Bishop Albert F. "Fritz" Mutti, who was named interim general secretary last December following the departure of the Rev. Larry Pickens.

"I consider this the honor of a lifetime," said Sidorak, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Rocky Mountain Annual (regional) Conference. "It feels like coming home to my own church. It is a high privilege for me to accept this position."

The Commission on Christian Unity is the church's ecumenical agency. Working in cooperation with the United Methodist Council of Bishops, the commission seeks unity within the Christian community and fosters dialogue and understanding with other faith traditions.

The Rev. Marianne Niesen, chairperson of the commission's personnel committee, said the board believes Sidorak "will be a visionary leader and, with his wealth of experience, will move GCCUIC into the future. We are excited to have him join us."

Sidorak has served with the Christian Conference of Connecticut since 1987 and has 30 years of ecumenical leadership experience in Connecticut, Colorado and Utah.

He holds a B.A. from Baldwin Wallace College, M.Div. and S.T.M. degrees from Yale Divinity School and a D.Min. from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Sidorak said he "revels in diversity and delights in inclusiveness." "I believe in a truly ecumenical church in a wonderfully interreligious world," he said. "John Wesley called us to live out of a 'catholic spirit.' We must recapture that very spirit in all of its poignant simplicity, theological sophistication and practical application."

His priorities for the commission's work include relations through the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches. He also ranks the "building up of relations with the Pan-Methodist Commission" as another priority, as well as working with the World Methodist Council.

*Whiteside is a staff executive with the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

Assembly sets guidelines on clergy effectiveness

By Linda Green*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)-Delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference approved a petition dealing with clergy effectiveness and annual appointment, and also outlined conditions under which a pastor's appointment may be terminated.

The petition was one of many measures approved April 30 on the General Conference's consent calendar. The denomination's top lawmaking body, which meets every four years, gathered April 23-May 2 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

The delegates, following the recommendations of the ministry and higher education legislative committee, voted 696-24 to amend and approve a petition related to Paragraph 334 of the denomination's Book of Discipline to give bishops procedures for terminating an ineffective pastor's appointment.

The Book of Discipline specifies responsibilities that an elder in The United Methodist Church must fulfill. Those responsibilities, outlined in Paragraph 340, are derived from authority given by ordination, according to the book. Elders are responsible for the "ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order and Service" within the church and serve in the church and the world.

The delegates voted on the process for a guaranteed or annual appointment and what would occur if an elder does not fulfill his or her responsibilities. The basis for an elder's continued eligibility for appointment includes availability; annual participation in an evaluation process with a pastor-parish relations committee or comparable authority; annual evaluation with a district superintendent; evidence of continuing effectiveness reflected in annual evaluations by the pastor-parish relations committee, the district superintendent or comparable authority; professional growth through continuing education and formation; and willingness to supervise or mentor.

The delegates gave bishops an evaluative process to complete when an elder's effectiveness is being considered. The approved petition allows bishops to identify the concern, engage in conversations with the elder, design a corrective plan of action, and set a realistic expectation of future effectiveness.

After evaluation, if an elder has not increased competency or effectiveness as defined by the conference board of ordained ministry or cabinet "and/or does not accept the appointment determined by the bishop, then an appointment may be forfeited and the provisions of Paragraph 362 (of the Book of Discipline) may be invoked."

Paragraph 362 deals with complaint procedures, the supervisory response and due process, and remedial action.

The delegates rejected petitions requesting that bishops appoint a pastor to less than full-time service. The petition involving clergy evaluations would have allowed a district superintendent to initiate changing a pastor's conference relationship if three evaluations found the pastor to be ineffective and not likely to become effective through training and counseling.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

Delegates call for world peace, end to war in Iraq

Laurie Hays Coffman examines boots and shoes that symbolize people killed in the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. They were placed in a park across the street from the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) - The Iraq war, world peace and prayers for members of the armed forces and veterans were on the hearts and minds of delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference.

The denomination's lawmaking body approved petitions calling for an immediate end to the war in Iraq, a ban on cluster bombs, the prevention of "space weaponization" and study of the "degrading effects that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide have on the victims, the perpetrators and on those who silently stand by."

The statement on space weaponization calls for the rejection of any nation's efforts to "weaponize" space and urges all nations to pursue the "peaceful and collaborative development of space technologies and of outer space itself."

Other petitions approved include a statement on war and peace and the "high toll" war exacts on young people; a call for support and services for rebuilding Iraq; and an affirmation that the U.S. military should not exclude people from service on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The General Conference was held in the Fort Worth Convention Center April 23-May 2. The assembly meets every four years to set policy and is the only body that speaks for The United Methodist Church. Its resolutions on a wide range of issues are collected in the denomination's Book of Resolutions, revised every four years.

Peace in Iraq
A revised resolution on peace in Iraq was adopted by a vote of 836-28. United Methodists throughout the world are asked to pray for an immediate end to the Iraq war and to support public policies that promote peace, justice and reconciliation.

"The war in Iraq must end. It is a tragedy that wounds the heart of God. Thousands of lives have been lost, millions of Iraqis have fled their country, and hundreds of billions of dollars wasted in a war the United States initiated and never should have fought," the resolution states.
In the resolution, the 2008 General Conference calls upon the U.S. government to end the violence by developing and implementing a plan for the immediate and safe withdrawal of U.S. and partner coalition troops from Iraq. The government is also asked to work with Iraqis of good will, the United Nations and nations in the Middle East to bring about a peaceful, long-term resolution.

A separate new resolution on support and services for U.S. military and rebuilding Iraq was approved.

"We call upon the government of the United States and its partners in the Iraq war to provide full support and services for as long as needed for returning veterans, especially for those wounded in body and spirit by their experiences in the war," states the resolution. Medical treatment, counseling, training for employment and a "generous pension" are some of the services called for in the resolution.

The rebuilding of Iraq's infrastructure, especially the medical system, is also on the list of concerns.

A copy of the resolution, "Support and Services for U.S. Military and Rebuilding Iraq," will be sent to the U.S. president, vice president, secretary of state, secretary of defense, congressional leadership and leaders of partner countries with troops in Iraq.

Instruments of peace
The United Methodist Division on Ministries with Young People's statement on war and peace was adopted by a vote of 836-28. The division is part of the Board of Discipleship. The Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly drafted the statement during the gathering held in South Africa at the end of 2006.

The statement says young people are among those sent to the front lines of every war; the ones who pay the price of military action at the expense of education, health and security; and among the least represented in decision-making bodies.

"We empower all young people around the world to actively work for peace within their churches, their communities and our world. We are the young people of The United Methodist Church. We affirm God's clear call to be instruments of peace in all corners of the world."

The General Conference also directed the denomination's Board of Discipleship and Board of Church and Society to develop study materials that will inform youth and young adults about theological issues surrounding war and peace.

The paragraph in the Book of Discipline on war and peace (165.C) was amended to include opposition to "unilateral first/pre-emptive strike actions and strategies on the part of any government." It also states, "As disciples of Christ, we are called to love our enemies, reject the use of violence, seek justice and serve as reconcilers of conflict."

The petition, proposed by Methodists United for Peace with Justice, was a return "to the historic, unconditional position of the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church that war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ."

"A Call for Peacemaking" was adopted and will become a new resolution in the 2008 Book of Resolutions. It calls for "United Methodist children, youth and adults as devoted disciples of Jesus Christ to become peacemakers." Bishops, local churches, annual conferences and the denomination's boards and agencies are to incorporate peacemaking into their regular programs and budgets.

Another new resolution calls for abolishing all nuclear weapons, renounces the use of chemical or biological weapons, and strongly protests unilateral first-strike actions and strategies. The U.S. government is asked to work "with all deliberate speed" toward peaceful resolutions of issues with Iran, North Korea, the Middle East and the rest of the world and to reject any first-strike action by U.S. armed forces anywhere.

Prayers and support are offered in resolutions that honor those who choose to serve in the armed forces and for those who conscientiously oppose all war.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

Meeting of the United Methodist Church General Conference, April 22 - May 2, 2008, Fort Worth, Texas

Tennessee Conference delegates at work, 2008 General Conference

Joe Williams is third from the left. Nashville Area news photo

by Cathy Farmer

by Tennessee Conference lay delegate Joe Williams

Introduction
The General Conference of The United Methodist Church United Methodist is the denomination's top legislative body for all matters affecting the United Methodist connection. By definition, it has no administrative or executive power.

The Book of Disciple and constituion of The United Methodist Church define the composition of the General Conference as no less than 600 and no more 1,000 delegates, half
laity and half clergy. These delegates are elected by the Annual Conferences Annual Conferences and several other specialized bodies within the structure of The United Methodist Church.

The General Conference meets on a "quadrennial" basis, that is, once every four years. Special sessions may be called by the Council of Bishops.

Delegates sought to serve with four areas of focus with seven vision pathways, following the three simple rules of John Wesley, as follows:

Four areas of focus
1. Developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.
2. Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones.
3. Engaging in ministry with the poor.
4. Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally.

Seven Vision Pathways
1. Teach the Wesleyan way of reaching and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
2. Strengthen clergy and lay leadership.
3. Transform existing congregations.
4. Develop new congregations.
5. End racism as we authentically expand racial/ethnic ministry.
6. Eliminate poverty in community with the poor.
7. Reach and Transform the lives of the new generation of children.

Three Simple Rules (of John Wesley)
1. Do no harm
2. Do good
3. Stay in love with God

Significant Happenings During the Conference

Constitutional amendments
All constitutional amendments approved by a two-thirds vote of General Conference must be ratified by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate number of voting Annual Conference members.

The assembly passed 23 constitutional amendments proposed by the Task Force on the Global Nature of the Church. The amendments will allow for the creation of a regional conference for the United States and change the words “central conference” to “regional conference.” The legislation does not create a U.S. regional conference but makes it possible for General Conference to do so at a later time. The assembly created a task force to examine possibilities.

Another constitutional amendment would permit local pastors, associate members and provisional members to join ordained ministerial members in full connection in voting for delegates to General and jurisdictional conferences. To be eligible to vote, local pastors must have completed the Course of Study or master of divinity degree and have served under appointment for two consecutive years immediately preceding an election. Only ordained members in full connection with an annual conference may serve as delegates.

Number of Bishops

General Conference established a new formula that will cause four of the five jurisdictions to lose a bishop at the 2012 jurisdictional conferences.

Social Creed

On the 100th anniversary of the Social Creed, delegates decided that a proposed new creed would serve the church better as a “companion litany” as well as arranged with music.

Abortion

Adopted a statement on abortion that adds language offering “ministries to reduce unintended pregnancies” and to assist the ministry of crisis pregnancy and support centers that help women “find feasible alternatives to abortion.”

The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church first dealt with abortion in 1972. The church does not approve of abortion but “respects the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child.”

Found in the Book of Discipline, the Social Principles are a "prayerful and thoughtful effort on the part of the General Conference to speak to the human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation as historically demonstrated in United Methodist traditions." The General Conference amended the 1972 statement on abortion in 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000.

Stem-cell research

The 2008 conference passed a new resolution on stem-cell research calling for the denomination’s Board of Church and Society to identify and publish on its Web site educational resources on stem-cell research.

“We encourage each pastor to use the resources to become informed concerning the debate regarding the use of embryonic stem cells for medical research and to offer these resources for study in her or his local church,” the resolution said.

Saying “some believe this century will be the ‘Century of Biology,’” the 2008 General Conference voted to join with other faith communities to support and dialogue with the medical and scientific communities concerning the ethic standards for its use.

Human Sexuality (Homosexuality) – April 30

The key Discipline paragraph, from which other United Methodist positions are based, is Para. 161G in the Social Principles, which states, "we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."

The debate lasted three wrenching hours. The debate included points of order, minority reports, and impassioned speeches. The African delegates spoke frequently. What was finally accepted was a re-writing of Para. 161G which states clearly that sexual relations are affirmed only within the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage, and the phrase, "we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching." The vote was 501-417 (55%- 45%).

Once the crucial motion retaining the words "We do not condone.." was approved other homosexual-related petitions followed suit.

1. The statement that ministers are not to perform same-sex marriages was retained.
2. The statement that self-avowed practicing homosexuals shall not be ordained or appointed was retained by a vote of 579-338.
3. The statement that apportionment funds will not be used to promote the cause of homosexuality also was retained.

It was evident that the vote of the African conferences was crucial. One African delegate was heard to remark, "Today we saved the church." Another said, "This is why we are here."

Church Membership

Another very important vote dealt with Para 304.3 on church memberships. The issue was whether the pastor has authority in determining readiness for church membership or whether the "pastor is to faithfully receive all persons willing to take the membership vows" (suggesting the final authority is the person taking the vows). Does the pastor have discretion in matters of membership, or not? Behind the argument is the matter that a Virginia pastor who denied membership to a practicing homosexual was relieved of his pulpit and the case went all the way to the Judicial Council. The evangelical argument is that this matter is not about practicing homosexuals but about standards in general.

A minority report prepared by evangelicals and moderates giving clear pastoral authority was rejected 384-515 (43%-57%). Then in an unusual move, the conference rejected also the majority report 436-448 (49%-51%) which stated that persons determine their own readiness. Thus the present statement in the Discipline remains. And with Judicial Council backing.

Soul Force – May 1

There was a demonstration by Soul Force and other homosexual advocacy groups on the floor of the conference which was in response to the conference's voting to retain the stance on homosexuality the day before. The demonstration was officially clocked at 15 minutes (but timed by others more like 20-25 minutes) and consisted of a number of marchers (one estimate was 250) who sang and circled the floor of the conference. The presiding bishop called this period of time a “recess.”

Other Highlights

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia, addressed the GC.

Bill Gates, Sr. – Background: In January 2007, the Gates Foundation provided a challenge grant to the Nothing But Nets malaria prevention campaign to match contributions up to $5 million—a goal that was reached by the United Methodist Church in August due in part to a groundswell of support from UMCs across the U.S. According to the organization’s website, the foundation has committed more than $6 billion in global health grants. Mr. Gates, Sr. addressed the General Conference and matched $80,000.00 more for Nothing But Nets while he was there!

Celebration: 100th anniversary of United Methodist Men.

United Methodist Women: Status remains as is. (Petition asking for it to be subject to local church authority was not passed.)

Bishops’ Retirement Age: Upped from 66 to 68.

Hymnal: A Hymnal Revision Committee was created. It will report back to General Conference in 2012.

Fair Representation: A favorable Judicial Council decision to an appeal by SEJ Nominating Committee regarding membership in General Boards and Agencies was received. Accordingly, ¶¶705-706 in Discipline were revised to reflect the decision.

Worship Services: The special music and congregational singing were fantastic! The preaching was good, but (in my opinion) not as outstanding as in 1996, 2000, and 2004. The overall worship experience, nevertheless, deserves high ratings!

Mission Statement: “for the transformation of the world” was added to the existing mission statement of the UMC, “The mission of the church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ.” The addition is intended to give missional direction.

Budget: A $642 million budget for 2009-2012 was approved.

Membership Vow: The word “witness” was added to the existing membership vow to make it ask “Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness ?”


Cute expression heard: “Kicking a dead horse doesn’t make it run any faster.”

Amendment would allow voting rights for local pastors

A UMNS Report
By Vicki Brown*

The 2008 United Methodist General Conference approved a constitutional amendment giving local pastors, provisional members and associate members voting rights to elect clergy delegates to General Conference and jurisdictional conferences.

In 2005, nearly 15 percent--or 6,660 of the total clergy membership of annual conferences--were full-time or part-time local pastors. Of these, approximately 4,000 local pastors will be able to vote for delegates to the 2012 legislative meetings, should the amendment be approved during the 2009 annual conference sessions. In 2005, there were 2,492 probationary members, now called provisional members, and 2,065 associate and affiliate members.

To go into effect, the amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the aggregate vote of all clergy and lay delegates voting in the 2009 annual conferences, said the Rev. Robert Kohler, a staff member of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

"Previously, only ordained deacons and elders in full connection could vote on clergy delegates, so this represents a significant change," Kohler said.

If approved, local pastors would be able to vote for delegates if the local pastors have completed the United Methodist Course of Study or have a master of divinity degree and have served under appointment for two consecutive years immediately preceding an election.

Kohler estimates that at least half of all local pastors have completed the Course of Study. Only ordained members in full connection with an annual conference may be delegates.

The Course of Study includes basic and advanced programs. The basic program is a five-year curriculum with four courses offered annually at regional Course of Study schools at eight United Methodist seminaries. Most courses are offered in a two-week module during the summer to allow both full-time and part-time local pastors to attend. Many of the regional schools have extension centers at different annual conferences specifically for part-time local pastors and offer courses in a two- or three-weekend format to accommodate participants' work and family schedules.

The advanced course enables a local pastor to meet the educational requirements for probationary membership, full conference membership and ordination as an elder in The United Methodist Church. It consists of 32 semester hours of graduate theological study or its equivalent as determined by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry and includes study in the areas of evangelism, United Methodist history, doctrine and polity.

"In some conferences, local pastors represent more than 50 percent of the clergy appointed to local churches," Kohler said.

General Conference action
The provision that local pastors who have a master of divinity degree could vote was added on the floor of General Conference, and Kohler said that provision is a cause for concern.

"There is no guarantee that the M.Div. will be from an accredited or University Senate-approved seminary," Kohler said. He called the General Conference action problematic because many M.Div. programs do not require United Methodist history, doctrine, polity or other basic graduate theological studies required for annual conference members.

The Senate is a 25-member body of professionals in higher education who determine how institutions are related to The United Methodist Church. The body supports development of institutions with programs that reflect significant educational, cultural, societal and human issues in a manner reflecting the values shared by the institutions and The United Methodist Church.

"We evaluate the M.Div. credentials of candidates and persons transferring in from other denominations, and many of them do not meet the requirements of the (United Methodist Book of) Discipline for conference membership," Kohler said.

*Brown is associate editor and writer, Office of Interpretation, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

Jurisdictional conferences will elect, assign bishops

United Methodist bishops take a group photograph during their October 2004 Council of Bishops meeting at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island, Ga. In July, five jurisdictional conferences are expected to elect nine new U.S. bishops. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose

A UMNS Report
By J. Richard Peck*

With the 2008 United Methodist General Conference now adjourned, denominational attention shifts to July gatherings of jurisdictional conferences at which nine new U.S. bishops are expected to be elected.

Like the worldwide legislative meeting held April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas, jurisdictional conferences meet once every four years. However, while General Conference handles denominational matters across the globe, each jurisdictional gathering covers business related to one of the church's five regional jurisdictions in the United States.

The primary business of jurisdictional conferences is the election and assignment of bishops. Up to 11 spots for new episcopal leaders could be open due to 10 possible retirements and the resignation of Seattle Area Bishop Edward Paup, who has been elected chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

However, it appears likely that the Northeastern Jurisdiction will elect only two bishops instead of three. And since General Conference extended the retirement age from 66 to 68, at least one of the three bishops now eligible to continue in office has indicated a desire to do so.

The conferences will meet simultaneously July 16-19 in their respective regions, except for the Northeastern Jurisdiction, which meets July 13-18. The locations are: North Central, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Northeastern, Harrisburg, Pa.; Southeastern, Lake Junaluska, N.C.; South Central, Dallas; and Western, Portland, Ore.

Here is a primer on some of the issues and changes related to this year's jurisdictional meetings:

Fewer U.S. bishops
General Conference approved a plan that will result in one less bishop in four of the five U.S. jurisdictions, beginning in 2012.

Under the new U.S. formula, all but the Southeastern Jurisdiction will have one less bishop. The Southeastern Jurisdiction already has one less than the current formula allows, and it is not requesting an additional episcopal leader.

The new formula will take effect Jan. 1, 2009, however, so it will not affect the number of bishops elected in the United States in July.

A Task Force to Study the Episcopacy, mandated by the 2004 General Conference, proposed the reduction to save money. The proposal was approved 457-401, and delegates also agreed by a vote of 435-394 that the $4.8 million anticipated savings will be used to fund new episcopal areas outside the United States. Those new areas-each to be led by a bishop-will not be created until the 2012 General Conference.

The current formula entitles each jurisdiction with 500,000 church members or fewer to have six bishops. Jurisdictions with more than 500,000 members are entitled to one additional bishop for each 320,000 members. There is a provision for additional bishops if episcopal areas average more than 55,000 square miles.

The task force noted that the current formula results in inequities in the number of churches per bishop (ranging from 256 to 928) and the number of members per bishop (ranging from 58,970 to 225,814).

The new formula provides for one bishop for every 150,000 members, or one bishop for 100,000 members in jurisdictions where episcopal areas average more than 55,000 square miles.

Retirement age and limits
The assembly also voted to raise the retirement age of bishops from 66 to 68. A bishop must retire Aug. 31 following the regular session of the jurisdictional conference if the bishop reaches his or her 68th birthday on or before July 1 of the year in which the jurisdictional conference is held.

The change, which took effect when General Conference adjourned, gives Louisiana Area Bishop William Hutchinson, Harrisburg (Pa.) Area Bishop Jane Middleton, and Charlotte (N.C.) Area Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey the option of proceeding with retirement or serving for another four years. Middleton told United Methodist News Service she probably will continue for another term. Hutchinson and McCleskey have not made public announcements.

Before the 2008 General Conference, a bishop was required to move to a new episcopal area after serving two four-year terms unless a two-thirds majority of the jurisdictional committee on episcopacy and a two-thirds majority of the jurisdictional conference approved the bishop remaining in that appointment an additional four years. General Conference deleted the two-thirds vote requirement, so bishops may remain in an episcopal area for a third term without special action.

Assigning bishops
Twice as many U.S. delegates participate in jurisdictional conferences as in General Conference. Equal numbers of lay and clergy members are elected by their respective annual conferences.

Within each jurisdiction, a committee on episcopacy consists of one clergy and one lay person from each annual conference. The committee is responsible for reviewing the work and character of the bishops, and the committee assigns the bishops to their areas. The jurisdictional conference has the authority to affirm or reject the assignments. If the conference rejects the assignments, the committee must make new assignments.

The assignment for bishops elected at the 2008 jurisdictional conferences becomes effective Sept. 1, 2008.

In rare cases, an Inter-jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy, elected by General Conference delegates, can transfer bishops across jurisdictional lines if the bishops and the jurisdictions consent.

Electing new bishops
People considered for the episcopacy are generally nominated by an annual conference or endorsed by jurisdictional conference delegates from the various annual conferences. Delegates from those annual conferences are not required to vote for the candidate from their conferences, and balloting is not limited to nominees. In the Northeastern Jurisdiction, a person can be endorsed by a caucus listed in the United Methodist Directory.

Each jurisdiction devises its own means of providing information about the candidates. In the Western Jurisdiction, for example, nominees are invited to give speeches and later answer delegates' questions during "fishbowl" meetings prior to the first ballot. In other jurisdictions, candidates go from one small group to the next answering questions posed by delegates.

Each jurisdiction can establish the percentage of votes needed for election. The church's Book of Discipline recommends 60 percent.

The number of required ballots varies from year to year. Voting by ballot continues until someone reaches the required number of votes.

In 2004, the Northeastern Jurisdiction elected two bishops on the first two ballots. However, it took 34 ballots for the Southeastern Jurisdiction to elect the Rev. Mary Virginia Taylor as its sixth and final bishop.

The record for lengthy elections was established in 1980 in the Western Jurisdictional Conference. In that year, the Rev. Calvin McConnell attended as chair of a Rocky Mountain Conference campaign to elect the Rev. Jamison Jones to the episcopacy. After 47 ballots, however, McConnell was elected to that office. "I hope no one ever comes near to that many ballots," McConnell said in a recent interview.

The new bishop's consecration service was scheduled for 1 p.m. but, since McConnell was not elected until 5 p.m., the service was held at 9 p.m., long after the other jurisdictional conferences had adjourned. "I had to borrow a white shirt, tie and robe for the service," said the now-retired bishop.

Candidates for bishop do not have to live within the jurisdiction where they are elected. In 1984, the Rev. Leonine T.C. Kelly was serving as pastor of a church in Richmond, Va.--part of the Southeastern Jurisdiction--when she was elected bishop in the Western Jurisdiction.

A consecration service is held at the conclusion of the jurisdictional conferences in which bishops are consecrated (not ordained) to the office, and bishops are assigned to their episcopal areas.

South Central: Bush library
The conferences also handle jurisdictional business.

The South Central Jurisdiction is expected to address a 2007 decision by its Mission Council to lease property on the campus of Southern Methodist University to build the George W. Bush presidential library, museum and policy institute.

The 21-member Mission Council serves as the executive committee of the conference to oversee ministry during the four years between jurisdictional meetings. The extent of the council's power became a central issue when SMU, which is owned by the jurisdiction, asked to give the Bush Foundation a 99-year lease for the project and make the lease renewable up to 249 years. United Methodists opposing the plan, citing the Iraq war and many Bush policies, questioned the appropriateness of linking the Bush presidency with SMU and argued that the school would have no control over the complex.

The opponents said only the jurisdictional conference can give final approval for the lease. However, university officials and 10 bishops in the South Central Jurisdiction disagreed (one abstained). They said jurisdictional rules permit the Mission Council to make decisions between sessions every four years.

Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones, president of the South Central College of Bishops, said the bishops considered convening a special session of the jurisdictional conference. "The proposal was rejected because that is not the normal way we make decisions," Jones said.

The outcome is uncertain. David Severe, jurisdictional secretary, told UMNS that it is not clear whether the decision needs to be ratified or just reported. "It's a matter of interpretation," he said, "and I'm only the secretary."

A resolution to General Conference called for the denomination to prevent the "leasing, selling or otherwise participating in or supporting the presidential library for George W. Bush at Southern Methodist University." The assembly referred the resolution to the jurisdictional conference.

Northeastern: New boundaries
Jurisdictional conferences are responsible for establishing the boundaries of the annual conferences.

Meeting in concurrent adjourned sessions, members of North Central New York, Troy, Western New York and Wyoming annual conferences voted in 2007 to ask the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference to create a new episcopal area and a new annual conference from all or portions of these and/or other contiguous conferences. They propose that the Pennsylvania churches of the Wyoming Annual Conference align with the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference, and that the Vermont churches of the Troy Annual Conference align with the New England Annual Conference.

Conversations already have taken place between Wyoming and Central Pennsylvania conferences regarding the merger of Wyoming churches in Pennsylvania.

Mark Marino, director of connectional ministries for the Wyoming Conference, said Central Pennsylvania Conference has "been very welcoming" to pastors serving in Pennsylvania.

"There's a lot of excitement about ministry in new areas," he said.

"The resolution regarding the eastern boundary of the proposed conference will be contingent on conversations among Troy, New England Conference and the churches of Vermont," said the Rev. Sidney Sadio, chair of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Boundaries Committee and pastor of New Brunswick (N.J.) United Methodist Church. "We won't put forth a resolution to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference until we know what happens in those annual conferences and the responses of Vermont churches."

If approved by the jurisdiction, the new structure would be implemented in 2010. A special team then would begin to resolve issues of structure, policies, programs and practices. The plan would reduce the number of bishops in the jurisdiction from 10 to nine.

2008 Jurisdictional Conference Representation

North Central Jurisdiction--Grand Rapids, Mich.

276 delegates.

Northeastern Jurisdiction--Harrisburg, Pa.

252 delegates

Southeastern Jurisdiction--Lake Junaluska, N.C.

504 delegates

South Central Jurisdiction--Dallas

296 delegates

Western Jurisdiction--Portland, Ore.

80 delegates

Bishops who may retire in 2008

North Central Jurisdiction
Sharon Brown Christopher, Illinois Area

Northeastern Jurisdiction

Jane Middleton, Harrisburg Area -- With increased retirement age, she has an option to continue.

Violet Fisher, New York West Area

Susan Morrison, Albany Area -- Morrison retired in 2006 for reasons of health; Susan Hassinger is interim bishop.

The Committee on Episcopacy is proposing the election of two bishops, according to Ernest Swiggett, chairman.

South Central Jurisdiction
Ben Chamness, Fort Worth Area
William Hutchinson, Louisiana Area -- With increased retirement age, he has an option to continue.

Joel Martinez, San Antonio Area

Rhymes H. Moncure Jr., Dallas Area -- Bishop Moncure died in 2006; Alfred Norris is interim bishop.

Southeastern Jurisdiction
J. Lawrence McCleskey, Charlotte Area
With increased retirement age, he has an option to continue

Western Jurisdiction

Beverly Shamana, San Francisco Area

The jurisdiction is scheduled to elect two bishops because Ed Paup has resigned as bishop, effective Aug. 31, following his election as chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

*Peck is a retired clergy member of the New York Annual Conference and former editor of Newscope, Circuit Rider, the International Christian Digest and the Daily Christian Advocate.

Myanmar bishop monitors situation at home

Satellite photos from NASA dated April 15 and May 5 show the coastal devastation that occurred when Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar May 3. A UMNS photo courtesy of NASA.

A UMNS Report By Neill Caldwell*

As the nation of Myanmar began to assess the damage following a catastrophic cyclone, the Methodist bishop for the area was in Virginia, working the phones to organize relief efforts and preparing to return to his devastated country.

Bishop Zothan Mawia will participate in the May 9 baccalaureate service at Shenandoah University, a United Methodist-related school in Winchester, Va., where his daughter is a freshman, before returning home. He is the episcopal leader of the Methodist Church of the Union of Myanmar (Lower Myanmar).

Mawia came to the United States in April to attend a meeting of the United Methodist Council of Bishops meeting and then General Conference, the denomination's top legislative gathering, in Fort Worth, Texas. He then saw his elder daughter graduate from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., another United Methodist-related school.

"I am sorry I am here instead of at home," the bishop said during a May 7 interview with UMNS, "but I know God has a plan, and I am hoping something good comes out of it. Here I can better contact people, to reach out and help and encourage people in America to do what they can to help us. My heart is there, but I know God has a purpose for me being here."

Estimates of the death toll from the cyclone range up to 100,000, with tens of thousands missing.

Mawia has been unable to contact his office, but he has talked to people in the area who have told him that the damage in that part of central Yangon, or Rangoon, is not as severe. He said the homes of several family members were damaged, and some of his relatives have come to the episcopal residence for safety. He added that no one in his family was killed or injured.

Eager to return home The bishop is unsure about how he can return home, as the Rangoon airport is still closed. He is scheduled to leave the United States on May 11 and fly as far as Korea. After that, he is not sure what the travel arrangements will be.

He is eager to tour the damaged areas. "I want to be on the front lines, so I am planning on going to the places that were hit. Friends have been calling me, and I know the situation is very bad."
The area hardest hit is the low-lying delta area along the Indian Ocean. The cyclone's 80 miles-per-hour winds and the storm surge that accompanied it wiped away many villages.

Mawia was elected to the episcopacy in 2000 in a time of reconciliation following a dispute that split the Methodist church in Lower Myanmar into two distinctive groups. Burma officially became Myanmar in 1989. It is a country that has been torn by political and internal strife, but Mawia said it has never experienced a natural disaster of this kind.

"We are all in shock," the bishop said.

UMCOR responds
Mawia has talked to the Rev. Sam Dixon, top executive for the United Methodist Committee on Relief, about the church's response to the disaster.

"UMCOR and GBGM (General Board of Global Ministries) are already sending American dollars to help," he said. The bishop also invited Americans to visit his nation and help with the rebuilding of the infrastructure and the "building of relationships."

Mawia is also on the board of World Vision, which is working to provide relief. His wife is a consultant to the World Health Organization and is currently in Manila, the Philippines, presenting a paper to a WHO conference.

The bishop expressed thanks to United Methodists who have already donated money to help the relief effort through UMCOR's Advance special. "Our economy is bad and rebuilding will be expensive, so we will need financial help," he said. "But our church will be good stewards of what is sent to us, and we will be very careful as to how we use the money."

Gifts to UMCOR Advance #3019674, "Myanmar Emergency," will help survivors of Cyclone Nargis. Checks can be placed in church offering plates or mailed directly to UMCOR at P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Credit-card donations are accepted by phone at (800) 554-8583 or online at http://www.umcor.org/.

"Money can do a lot, but without prayers, nothing can be accomplished," Mawia added. "So we need your prayers."

*Caldwell is editor of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate and a correspondent for United Methodist News Service.

Marines receive Strength for Service devotionals

Marines from the Naval Air Station in Fort Worth, Texas, stand with Larry Copock (left), Mary-Sheba Graves (center) and the Rev. David Adams (right) after being presented with copies of the Strength for Service devotional. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.

By Deborah White*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)-A group of Marines based in Fort Worth received copies of the devotional book Strength for Service to God and Country in a presentation during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference.

The marines, members of Marine Aircraft Group 41, received the books from United Methodist Men and Gathering of Eagles, a national group that supports military troops.

"It's an honor to be respected and supported," said Sgt. Dean Williams of Louisville, Ky., holding a stack of the devotionals for friends at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. He was among seven Marines on hand for the presentation.

The event took place on May 2 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, where the United Methodist legislative assembly was meeting. The soldiers had attended a breakfast earlier sponsored by Good News, an organization that works for evangelical renewal in The United Methodist Church.

"We are partnering with other organizations to help distribute this book to the military," said Larry Coppock, national director of scouting ministries for United Methodist Men.

Presenting the books were Coppock; the Rev. David C. Adams, chief executive of the men's organization; and Mary-Sheba Graves, Texas education project coordinator for Gathering of Eagles. Graves' son serves in the Air Force.

Republished book
Strength for Service is a revision of a book carried 60 years ago by Eugene Hunsberger during World War II. Hunsberger was given the book while serving in the Navy, and he continued to read from it for the rest of his life. In 2002, his teenage grandson, Evan, spearheaded a project to republish the book for his Eagle Scout project.

The Commission on United Methodist Men supported Evan's work, and with the Pentagon's approval, began raising money to give copies to members of the military. United Methodist Publishing House is a partner in printing the books.

"We just topped $1 million raised," Coppock said. "We have more than 4,000 donors for this project. We have given out about 300,000 copies."

Adams said the ministry has taken on a life of its own. "The money comes in and we buy new books," he said.

Evan Hunsberger will be recognized at the Duty to God breakfast during the national annual meeting of the Boy Scouts of America, set for May 21-23 in San Diego.

"He is Catholic, his troop is sponsored by the Lutheran church, and The United Methodist Church is distributing the book," Coppock said. "It's true to the spirit of this book.

*White is associate editor of Interpreter magazine.

UMNS Commentary by the Rev. Youngsook C. Kang: Seeking balance at General Conference

The Rev. Youngsook C. Kang* speaks to the legislative committee on ministry and higher education at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey.

When the 2008 General Conference was over, I headed to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport with my eyes barely open.

As I checked my luggage, a couple of delegates standing next to me asked, "So, what is the order of the day?" We laughed. On the plane to Denver, another group of United Methodists asked, "What calendar items are you going to present?"

We were all happy there were none left to deliberate!

As chairperson of the Committee on Agenda and Calendar, ordering the agenda and calendar was my responsibility during 10 days of the General Conference, in consultation with the coordinator of the calendar and the entire committee. This was my fourth General Conference as a delegate, but it was the first time that I served on the Agenda Committee. My learning curve the first few days was steep. However, it was a privilege to serve in this capacity, and I learned how complex the work of scheduling legislative calendar items can be.

Time management
The underlying issue we faced was a basic daily scheduling structure. Delegates felt pressured with each day's tight schedule, which began at 8 a.m. and ended at around 11 p.m., with two less days to work than at previous General Conference meetings.

With less time for legislative committee work, many committees had to work through lunch and dinner breaks and after plenary sessions during the second week. For example, one committee completed its work only on Wednesday of the second week--two days before the conference adjourned. From the point of view of the Agenda Committee, it was difficult to order consent calendar and calendar items since several legislative committees still were completing their work.

Some who felt we had significantly less time for both committee and plenary work proposed that no less than 75 percent of General Conference be dedicated to legislative work. For me, the issue was not a lack of scheduled time for legislative work, but that many plenary presentations including worship ran over their scheduled time. In fact, 74 percent of this General Conference was scheduled for legislative work. My suggestion for the 2012 General Conference is to strongly urge that each presenter keep his or her presentation to the assigned time.

In spite of a pressured schedule, we completed all the calendar items through various creative omnibus motions made by delegates. As usual, the delegates were committed to completing their work.

Sunday off
Another scheduling challenge was not taking a day of rest on Sunday, as we have in previous assemblies, in an attempt to save conference expenses. With lack of sleep and a tight schedule, delegates were getting sick by the beginning of the second week. Some said, "I feel as if my eyes don't belong to me," indicating their eyes were red and puffy from sleep deprivation.

Such concerns led the Committee on Agenda and Calendar to move that no order of the day be scheduled on Sunday during the 2012 General Conference. I suggested we take Sunday off as a day of rest and provide time to attend local worship services in Tampa, Fla., where the next General Conference will be held. I believe that suggestion received the biggest applause from the delegates. The motion passed with an astounding yes!

So, we will have Sunday as a day of rest and a day of worship during the 2012 General Conference! What we are doing at the General Conference is a spiritual work. Jesus told us to take Sabbath. As we are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, our spirit is strengthened and nurtured through an appropriate time of rest and Sabbath.
See you in 2012!

*Kang is superintendent of the Metropolitan District in the United Methodist Rocky Mountain Annual (regional) Conference.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters included officially as youth serving agency partner of the Church

The 11.4 million member United Methodist Church held its quadrennial General Conference April 23 – May 2 in Fort Worth, TX. The General Conference is the Church’s top legislative body. Nine hundred ninety-two delegates from all over the world met to revise The Book of Discipline, which regulates the manner in which local churches, annual conferences and general agencies are organized. The book sets policies regarding church membership, ordination, administration, property and judicial procedures. Please visit umc.org to learn more about the United Methodist Church.

Big Brothers Big Sisters will be in paragraph 2302 of The Book of Discipline. The entire Big Brothers Big Sisters Network is thankful to Todd Bristow of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas for his service as a delegate to the General Conference and for his successful efforts to have Big Brothers Big Sisters included as a youth serving agency partner of the Church (along with Boy Scouts, 4-H, Girl Scouts, and Camp Fire). The Big Brothers Big Sisters of North TX team was out in full force to plant seeds by sharing information about becoming a Big at the General Conference that will bear fruit for years to come.

Because of the pilot BBBS Amachi partnership with the General Commission on United Methodist Men Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are working United Methodist Churches today to mobilize and support mentors, particularly men and particularly for children of incarcerated parents. Use the new material for the Big Brothers Big Sisters and United Methodist Church partnership debuted at the General Conference to begin to reach out United Methodist Churches in your area. See [link] to for the testimonial posters and [link] to for the call to action business cards. The Book of Discipline will be printed in the fall and agencies and churches should expect more communication and support on building local partnerships.

Because of the new and growing partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters and the United Methodist Church Hamilton Park UMC member Dale Long and his Little Brother Ladaruss were featured during the General Conference’s celebration of 100 years of United Methodist Men’s ministry. View the inspirational video of Big Brother Dale Long at http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=1723949&ct=3932325&undefined.

Please look for more information on the Big Brothers Big Sisters-United Methodist Church partnership to be shared soon. If you have questions about the partnership please contact the Director of Community Partnerships, Mark Scott at mark.scott@bbbs.org.

Wrap-up Summary of major actions of General Conference

By J. Richard Peck*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)––The 2008 United Methodist General Conference opened its legislative session on April 23 with a Communion service celebrated at a wooden table fashioned from trees destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

For the next 10 days, delegates heard stirring speeches and sermons offered from a pulpit made of the same hurricane-damaged trees—taken from the historic Gulfside Assembly retreat center in Waveland, Miss. Both the pulpit and the Communion table served as reminders of physical and spiritual storms and the common faith that links members of the 11.5 million-member church.

Under the theme "A Future with Hope—Making Disciples for Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World," the conference began on the 40th anniversary to the day when the Evangelical United Brethren Church united with the Methodist Church to form The United Methodist Church.

The 2008 meeting ended on May 2 with a worship service led by Bishop Gregory Palmer, the new president of the church's Council of Bishops, declaring hope for the church through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In between, the assembly approved a $642 million denominational budget for the next four years and created a hymnal revision committee. It generally retained the church's stances on homosexuality, including the declaration in the church's Social Principles that homosexual practice is "incompatible with Christian teaching." Delegates opened the door to significant structural changes as the church works to address its increasingly global nature. And it tweaked the denomination's mission statement to read: "The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

The worldwide church

The assembly reflected changing demographics, as membership has shrunk in the United States while growing in Africa and the Philippines and parts of Europe.

This gathering was less centered on issues confined to the United States than at previous assemblies. That was partially because 278 of the 992 delegates came from outside of the United States––100 more than attended the 2004 session. It also was the result of proposals from a task force studying the global nature of the church.

Delegates approved 23 constitutional amendments that would make it possible to change the church's U.S.-centric structure to a more uniform global structure. The amendments must be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the aggregate total of annual conferences. A 20-member committee will bring recommendations to the 2012 assembly.

In separate action, The United Methodist Church in Côte d’Ivoire, the largest regional conference of the worldwide denomination with almost 700,000 members, received its full rights and responsibilities. As a result, United Methodists in the West African country, which has only two delegates at this General Conference, will receive significantly greater representation at future assemblies.

Delegates approved $20 million for Africa University in Zimbabwe; $10 million was already budgeted in apportioned funds, and $10 million will be raised through World Service Special Gifts.

Delegates also approved $2 million to help United Methodist theological schools in Africa train additional pastors.

Budget

The delegates approved a $642 million denominational spending plan for the next four years built around four areas of focus for the immediate future:
.Developing principled Christian leaders.
.Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones.
.Engaging in ministries with the poor.
.Improving global health, especially attacking the killer diseases of poverty.

It was the first time the church has developed a budget on an outcome-based model, and church leaders celebrated the collaborative process used to reach a consensus among general agencies and other interests.

The budget is 4.8 percent higher than the spending plan for the 2005-2008 period.

Presentations

U.S. President George W. Bush, a United Methodist, declined an invitation to speak, though he and first lady Laura Bush sent greetings.

Instead, another United Methodist head of state––Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf––delivered an address that was an assembly highlight.

"This is a special honor for me," she said. "I am the first African leader and the first female president to address the General Conference of The United Methodist Church." Her message included that "Liberia is on the way back" after years of civil war.

William H. Gates Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, thanked the denomination for being a partner in the Nothing But Nets campaign to eliminate malaria in Africa. More than $20 million has been raised since the campaign began in 2006. The church recently learned it will receive a $5 million grant from the United Nations Foundation with help from the Gates Foundation on other health initiatives.

General Conference dedicated most of its second day of business to a series of addresses designed to provide vision for the future of The United Methodist Church.

Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher used an innovative format to deliver the Episcopal Address on behalf of the Council of Bishops. The message was filled with songs, multimedia and multisensory images about how people receive and give hope, and are transformed by encounters with Christ. She attributed some of the U.S. membership decline to "ruptures in our United Methodist relationships. Left or right, conservative or liberal, we treat our baptized brothers and sisters as if they are our enemies" and seek to destroy those who have a different viewpoint or perspective, she said.

The first-ever Young People’s Address was delivered by six young people of different ages and backgrounds. The presentation included videos, photos, drumming and singing. "We have shared stories of persecution, homelessness, and what it means to be a young person in a world desperately in need of Jesus," said Matt Lockett of Seattle, one of the presenters. "What you do with what you have heard is really up to you."

Lyn Powell, lay leader of the North Georgia Conference, delivered the Laity Address. She challenged lay members to assume responsibility for reaching the unchurched and said it is unreasonable for clergy, with their myriad responsibilities, to spend large quantities of time engaging the unchurched.

Choirs from all over the world performed during the assembly. Presentations by the 23-member Hope for Africa Children’s Choir, including many Ugandan children from displaced persons’ camps, were among the musical highlights.

Homosexuality

General Conference essentially upheld the status quo on sexuality issues.

In retaining its stance declaring homosexual practice "incompatible with Christian teaching," the assembly rejected a majority report from a legislative committee that recommended new language that faithful people disagree on the topic but that "all seek a faithful witness." A 516-416 vote replaced the majority report with a minority report calling for retention of the incompatibility clause. A subsequent final vote of 501-417 made it official.

The assembly affirmed that all people are "individuals of sacred worth created in the image of God." Delegates also retained statements asking "families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends."

On the day after emotional debate and votes on many of the issues, approximately 250 advocates for full inclusion were allowed to walk silently through the aisles of the legislative gathering as an act of protest. Participants covered the Communion table with a black shroud to mourn the church's position in its Social Principles and the conference's actions that deny gays and lesbians the right to serve as clergy.

Palmer expressed a "deep sense of gratitude" for both how the demonstration was handled and how delegates and bishops responded.

In other actions related to sexuality, the conference:
.Asked the United Methodist Board of Church and Society to develop educational resources and materials on the effects of homophobia and heterosexism, the discrimination or prejudice against lesbians or gay men by heterosexual people.
.Continued the policy of not funding groups that promote the acceptance of homosexuality, but noted that funds also should not go to groups that violate church principles against rejecting or condemning lesbians, gays and friends.
.Retained language defining marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman.
.Let stand language in the Book of Discipline regarding pastoral authority over church membership.

The church did not take action to remove transgender pastors from ministry, leaving the Rev. Drew Phoenix to lead his Baltimore congregation. Phoenix transitioned from female to male about two years ago.

Legislative process

The assembly received 1,564 proposals, 540 fewer than the number processed by the 2004 session, but the body had one less day to work. Former General Conference sessions lasted 12 days but took a day of rest at the midpoint on Sunday. This year, as a cost-saving measure, the assembly met 10 days, including Sunday as a work day.

The loss of the day of rest took its toll on the conference, however, and delegates voted to reinstate that day for the next assembly in 2012.

Delegates created a 24-member standing committee on faith and order to help bishops and the church reflect on matters of faith, doctrinal teaching, order and discipline. The group also will provide study materials upon the request of the bishops, the Connectional Table or General Conference.

The conference called for a continuation of a study authorized by the 2004 assembly on the church's ordering of ministry. The 28-member study group is to address the ordering of ministry, the separation of ordination and conference membership, and the streamlining of the ordained ministry candidacy process.

Delegates approved the creation of a hymnal revision committee and authorized it to bring a proposed hymnal to the 2012 General Conference. An additional group will investigate the possibility of an Africana hymnal that incorporates music and liturgy from Africa––as well as Caribbean, African-American and other traditions with African roots.

Constitutional amendments

General Conference passed a number of amendments to the church's constitution, which now await action from annual (regional) conferences. All constitutional amendments approved by a two-thirds vote of General Conference must be ratified by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate number of voting annual members.

Delegates passed a constitutional amendment that reduces from two to one the number of years a person must be a professing member of a local church before he or she can be a member of an annual conference.

Annual conferences also will vote on proposals that provide for newly created conferences to be represented at general, jurisdictional or regional conferences on a non-proportional basis. The issue arose after the Côte d’Ivoire Conference was assigned two delegates for the 2008 General Conference.

One amendment would enable deacons, associate members and provisional members to join ordained ministerial members in full connection in voting for delegates to General and jurisdictional conferences. To vote, local pastors must have completed the Course of Study or master of divinity degree and have served under appointment for two consecutive years immediately preceding an election. Only ordained members in full connection with an annual conference may be delegates.

If annual conferences ratify another amendment, then local churches, jurisdictional and General Conference, “organizations, groups, committees, councils, boards and agencies” will have to adopt ethics and conflict-of-interest policies. These policies will apply to both members and employees to help them “embody and live out our Christian values.”

Another constitutional amendment would make it clear all persons shall be eligible to attend worship services and, upon taking vows, become church members.

Judicial Council

The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe is the new president of the Judicial Council, becoming the first woman to lead the denomination's nine-member "supreme court." The other new leaders are Jon R. Gray, vice president, and the Rev. Belton Joyner, secretary.

Henry-Crowe is dean of Cannon Chapel and religious life at Emory University. Gray returned to private law practice in Kansas City, Mo., last fall after 20 years as a family court judge. Joyner, a retired member of the North Carolina Conference, is serving as an interim district superintendent. Angela Brown of California-Nevada, Ruben Reyes of the Philippines, the Rev. Kathi Austin-Mahle of Minnesota and the Rev. Bill Lawrence of North Texas also were elected as new members. Beth Capen, New York Conference, and the Rev. Dennis Blackwell, Greater New Jersey, will complete their eight-year terms in 2012.

Social action

Delegates urged U.S. lawmakers to ensure that immigration laws don’t tear families apart, and they advocated for "full protection of all workers."

General Conference voted 416-384 for the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and the Women’s Division of the Board of Global Ministries to continue as members in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

The assembly added a statement on abortion to the Social Principles offering "ministries to reduce unintended pregnancies" and to assist the ministry of crisis pregnancy and support centers that help women "find feasible alternatives to abortion."

Stating that Israel continues to violate international law by building a wall on Palestinian land, the conference called upon Israelis and Palestinians to uphold U.N. resolutions and International Court of Justice rulings.

Delegates called on United Methodists to divest funds from companies that support the government of Sudan in order to end the genocide in that area.

The conference asked the Board of Church and Society to identify and publish on its Web site educational resources on stem-cell research. The resolution encourages pastors to use the resources to become informed about the use of embryonic stem cells for medical research and to offer these resources for study in local churches.

Noting that more than 400 people have been put to death in Texas since 1982, the assembly asked the Texas legislature to end executions.

The body encouraged the implementation of the universal school lunch program and also called for equal rights of men with regard to parental leave and child custody.

On the 100th anniversary of the Social Creed, delegates decided that a proposed new creed would serve the church better as a "companion litany." It has been set to music.

Other items

General Conference approved a full communion agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in which each church recognizes the other’s ministry and mission, the authenticity of the other’s baptism and Eucharist, and the interchangeability of ordained ministers. The ELCA’s assembly will act on the agreement in 2009.

Delegates learned that church members raised $3 million to restore churches damaged by Hurricane Katrina. More than $60 million was given through the United Methodist Committee on Relief for humanitarian aid in the Gulf Coast.

The 40th anniversary of the founding of the denomination also marked the 40th anniversary of the dissolution of the Central Jurisdiction, a racially based structure, and the formation of the Commission on Religion and Race. The assembly also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Advance and the 100th anniversary of ministry to Methodist men, the Social Creed and the Board of Pension and Health Benefits.

Several health and wellness petitions sponsored by the pension board were adopted.

The assembly increased the retirement age of bishops from 66 to 68 and the retirement age of other ordained clergy from 70 to 72.

Concerned about finances, delegates approved a plan that will result in one less bishop in four of the five U.S. jurisdictions, beginning in 2012. The savings will be used to fund new episcopal areas elsewhere. The action will not affect the Southeastern Jurisdiction, which already elects one less bishop than the present formula allows.

Pastors or district superintendents may now ask the bishop to give sacramental authority to a deacon if an elder is not present. That right is confined to the location of a deacon’s primary appointment. In areas where it would take a great deal of time to deliver the sacraments to people, a layperson is given the right to deliver the Communion elements.

People who join United Methodist churches henceforth will promise to be faithful in "their witness" as well as in their "prayers, their presence, their gifts and their service."

Final session

The final gavel came down May 2 at 11:15 p.m., followed by worship, which ended shortly before midnight.

The next General Conference will be in 2012 in Tampa, Fla.

*Peck, a four-time editor of the Daily Christian Advocate, served as an editor for United Methodist News Service during the 2008 General Conference—his 11th assembly.