All News

First service recalls Jesus' seaside ministry

4/24/2012

The 2012 United Methodist General Conference was washed in the sights and sounds of water as delegates from around the world began 10 days of work with a worship service that invited them to discipleship by the sea.

Call for 'resurrection revolution'

4/25/2012

Five African teenage refugees who survived a massacre and committed to a new life in Christ as they were baptized in a chilly New Hampshire river are part of what United Methodist Bishop Peter Weaver calls a “resurrection revolution.”

A message of healing

4/27/2012

The ability of Christ’s love to heal a person’s soul could have a profound impact on the Church.

Starting along the path of repentance

4/28/2012

If United Methodists are serious about repenting for past injustices, they must prepare for a long and painful journey.

The Work Begins

4/26/2012

The Rev. Adam Hamilton cites statistics suggesting the church has a limited future if it doesn’t make significant changes.

Hard-working North Georgia delegation prepares for home stretch

5/3/2012

They spent the past 10 months preparing for the big event, attending numerous meetings and devoting many nights and weekends to reading hundreds of pages of petitions and supporting documents.

GC scrambles for last-minute restructuring plan after 'Plan UMC' is tossed

5/4/2012

The 2012 United Methodist General Conference spent the last hours of its last day May 4 scrambling to downsize agency boards, after the denomination’s top court ruled the “Plan UMC” restructuring legislation unconstitutional.

Bishop Watson maintains calm while overseeing lively debate

5/2/2012

Bishop Watson was called upon to preside over the morning session of the 2012 General Conference as it tackled the hotly-contested issue of restructuring the church.

General Conference ends guaranteed appointments

5/1/2012

Many delegates were surprised and even shocked by how quickly a far-reaching proposal breezed by General Conference.

Debate on rules, holy conferencing, follow major addresses

4/25/2012

After a morning of major addresses and after a lengthy session establishing rules for legislative processes, delegates broke into 13 legislative committees to elect officers.

Conference trims budget and apportionments

5/4/2012

General Conference 2012 approved a budget of $603.1 million for seven general church funds during the 2013-2016 period; that total is 6.03 percent less than the amount apportioned for the 2009-2012 quadrennium –– the first time the assembly has accepted a lower budget than the amount set for the preceding four-year period.

Committee works late, but can't settle on plan

4/30/2012

Expect to see proposals to consolidate United Methodist general agencies come before the 2012 General Conference floor this week.

North Georgia delegates react to end of guaranteed appointments

5/1/2012

“I’m not surprised. I support the petition as amended, but it should have been debated on the floor.”

General Conference 2012 officially begins

4/24/2012

Nearly 1,000 United Methodist delegates gathered April 24 beside Tampa Bay for a 10-day conference to consider 1,200 petitions that will determine the manner in which the 12.1-million-member denomination orders its ministry, structures its agencies and addresses social justice issue for the next four years.

Covenant for a worldwide church debuts

4/26/2012

For the first time, more than 39 percent of the delegates are church members who live and worship outside the U.S.

Holy conversations have unintended effect

4/27/2012

Delegates had to walk between rows of demonstrators who quietly lined the hall and steps.

GC delegates give thumbs-up to restructuring plan

5/2/2012

The 2012 General Conference approved a modest realignment of the 13 general agencies.

Delegates reject changes to stance on homosexuality

5/3/2012

At the end of an emotional legislative session focused on the topic of homosexuality, supporters of full inclusion moved from the outskirts of the plenary to the center and stayed there for more than five hours.

Split views on Palestinian support

4/28/2012

Two advocacy groups focused on improving life for Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Territories.

Repentance outcome to be watched

4/27/2012

A woman looks for answers that pave the way toward a church that’s more welcoming of Native Americans.

Do We Understand How the Church Works?

4/24/2012

A serious knowledge gap exists in what United Methodists know about the official positions their denomination takes and even how it’s structured, say a number of church leaders. A recent survey by United Methodist Communications supports their concerns.

Candler's Jan Love elected to key role in University Senate

4/30/2012

Jan Love, the Rev. Kasap Owan, the Rev. William J. Abraham and the Rev. Bill T. Arnold were elected to the University Senate during the April 30 morning session of the 2012 United Methodist General Conference.

Day 9 wrapup: Delegates reject call for divestment; affirm opposition to settlements

5/2/2012

Delegates at the 2012 General Conference in Tampa received two petitions Wednesday with minority reports on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

United Methodist Women gain autonomy in landslide vote

5/1/2012

General Conference made United Methodist Women an autonomous organization.

Lay speakers urge 'transformation'

4/25/2012

Inner City United Methodist Church in Harare, Zimbabwe, doesn’t have enough seats for all of the worshippers who gather each Sunday, said Betty Spiwe Katiyo, the first person from Africa to speak in a Laity Address at The United Methodist Church’s worldwide gathering.

500 protest private prison industry

4/28/2012

The costs of keeping someone in a private prison are $122 per bed or $1.7 million a year.

North Georgia delegates share optimism for future

5/4/2012

For two weeks, they gathered to address the challenges and obstacles facing the church and to set a course moving forward. They shared their hopes, aspirations and solutions while dealing with some daunting realities.

Digital Lounge: Rev. Alan Morrison

4/26/2012

GC 2012 Business Manager and Lead Meeting Planner takes us behind the scenes of General Conference.

After prayer, gay rights protest ends -- for now

5/3/2012

A gay rights protest on the General Conference floor Thursday ended after bishops agreed to let an openly gay pastor offer a prayer.

Proposal to add set-aside bishop is rejected

4/30/2012

After a day of non-legislative activities, delegates to the United Methodist General Conference returned to the Tampa Convention Center April 30 to begin five days of processing some of the 1,200 petitions that wove their way through legislative committees.

General Conference Offerings for Mission and Ministries

5/4/2012

United Methodist delegates and guests at their legislating General Conference gave more than $27,000 for missionary support and other ministries during the almost two-week meeting of the church’s General Conference in Tampa.

Faith communities can overcome AIDS epidemic

4/26/2012

Walk into a Methodist Church in South Africa and you might see a poster reading: "The Church Has AIDS.”

An evening to celebrate global accomplishments

4/30/2012

General Conference delegates heard a varied and far-reaching update on the mission and ministry of The

United Methodist Church April 29, concentrating on the Four Areas of Focus approved four years ago.

Congo siblings capture hearts in Tampa

5/2/2012

The Kamana 5 Singers from the Democratic Republic of Congo sing during worship at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla.

Finding lost native history

4/27/2012

The memorial’s series of plaques detail the violent removal of the native people who once lived here.

Pan-Methodists find good reason to celebrate together

5/1/2012

After several hundred years of separation, members of six Pan-Methodist denominations have committed to ministry together.

Passing the gavel

4/28/2012

The Council of Bishops reflected on their impact and celebrated new leadership.

Modified pension plan wins approval of wide majority

5/3/2012

United Methodist clergy in the U.S. will continue to participate in a retirement program that includes a monthly pension payment.

Marcia McFee worship director for General Conference

4/24/2012

Coordinating worship and music for General Conference is much more than choosing a few hymns, tying the lectionary to the sermon and rehearsing the choir anthem. It takes months — no, make that years — to ensure worship is inspiring, interactive, international and inclusive.

Imagine No Malaria showcases success

4/25/2012

On World Malaria Day 2012, Imagine No Malaria, a global health ministry of The United Methodist Church, is celebrating progress against the mosquito-borne disease and calling for a renewed commitment to end preventable deaths from malaria.

Bishops urged to bring peace to GC2012

4/20/2012

United Methodist bishops on April 18 heard a challenge to embody the peace of Christ to the 2012 General Conference, to an anxious denomination and to the greater world.Charlotte (N.C.) Area Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster delivered that call during his final address to the Council of Bishops as that body’s president.

Delegates to weigh options in developing an affordable pension plan

2/19/2012

A choice between two pension plans looms for delegates at the 2012 General Conference. Both options presented by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits will reduce the cost more than 15 percent in aggregate across all annual conferences.

Commentary: General Conference to weigh merits of adopting a New Method

2/5/2012

Every General Conference has its conversation about the structure of United Methodism. The very name “Methodist” was born out of the clear and concise way the Wesleys carried on their early ministries. The strength of our organizational structure and our constant attention to it has served us well. Proposals for sweeping changes to our current organization will be debated at the upcoming Conference in Tampa.

North Georgia seeks more representative system of allocating delegates

3/4/2012

Fair representation has been one of the core values in this nation from the beginning. United Methodists also value fair representation and inclusivity. Illustrations of such commitment have been evident in the past three general conferences.

Jonathan Holston Endorsed as Episcopal Nominee

4/18/2012

During the October 8th North Georgia General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation meeting, Jonathan Holston, senior pastor of St. James UMC in Atlanta, was nominated to become the conference's Episcopal nominee.

2012 General Conference e-news email updates

4/19/2012

Over the next two weeks, between April 24 and May 4, nearly a thousand delegates and an estimated 2,500 visitors will gather at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. for the 2012 United Methodist General Conference Session.

Information Related to General Conference

4/19/2012

A variety of resources are available.

United Methodists Worldwide to Pray for General Conference 2012

10/26/2011

When delegates to General Conference 2012 meet in Tampa next April, United Methodists around the world will be able to join them in an unprecedented concert of prayer, seeking God’s will for their decisions.

Q&A with Marge Kimbrough

5/4/2012

"We need to work harder to bring people into the church and let the Spirit transform lives."

Q&A with Dick Williamson

5/4/2012

"No doubt about it, it was the best of any of the five General Conferences I have attended."

Q&A with Dianne Spencer

5/4/2012

"We need to get more youth to the table. They are the future and we need to raise them up."

Photo Gallery

4/20/2012

Experience General Conference via photos from The United Methodist News Service

North Georgia delegates react to end of guaranteed appointments

5/1/2012

“I’m not surprised. I support the petition as amended, but it should have been debated on the floor.”

2012 North Georgia General Conference Delegation

4/24/2012

Delegate photos and names.

Delegate Resource Materials

4/19/2012

2012 Delegation Handbook for General and Jurisdictional Conferences, and supplemental materials.

Legislation Tracking

4/20/2012

Find up-to-date tracking of any legislation being discussed at GC2012.

Day 11: Repeatable Quotes Overheard at General Conference

4/28/2012

“We have reviewed the plan to determine whether any part, portion or all of Plan UMC can be saved and conclude that it cannot.”

Communications Office

4/18/2012

Questions, comments, and press-related questions and inquiries should be directed to the Conference Communications Office and the North Georgia Conference Spokesperson.

4/24/2012

Please visit the official United Methodist Church's General Conference website at www.umc.org.

First service recalls Jesus' seaside ministry

4/24/2012

The 2012 United Methodist General Conference was washed in the sights and sounds of water as delegates from around the world began 10 days of work with a worship service that invited them to discipleship by the sea.

Call for 'resurrection revolution'

4/25/2012

Five African teenage refugees who survived a massacre and committed to a new life in Christ as they were baptized in a chilly New Hampshire river are part of what United Methodist Bishop Peter Weaver calls a “resurrection revolution.”

A message of healing

4/27/2012

The ability of Christ’s love to heal a person’s soul could have a profound impact on the Church.

Starting along the path of repentance

4/28/2012

If United Methodists are serious about repenting for past injustices, they must prepare for a long and painful journey.

The Work Begins

4/26/2012

The Rev. Adam Hamilton cites statistics suggesting the church has a limited future if it doesn’t make significant changes.

Hard-working North Georgia delegation prepares for home stretch

5/3/2012

They spent the past 10 months preparing for the big event, attending numerous meetings and devoting many nights and weekends to reading hundreds of pages of petitions and supporting documents.

GC scrambles for last-minute restructuring plan after 'Plan UMC' is tossed

5/4/2012

The 2012 United Methodist General Conference spent the last hours of its last day May 4 scrambling to downsize agency boards, after the denomination’s top court ruled the “Plan UMC” restructuring legislation unconstitutional.

Bishop Watson maintains calm while overseeing lively debate

5/2/2012

Bishop Watson was called upon to preside over the morning session of the 2012 General Conference as it tackled the hotly-contested issue of restructuring the church.

General Conference ends guaranteed appointments

5/1/2012

Many delegates were surprised and even shocked by how quickly a far-reaching proposal breezed by General Conference.

Debate on rules, holy conferencing, follow major addresses

4/25/2012

After a morning of major addresses and after a lengthy session establishing rules for legislative processes, delegates broke into 13 legislative committees to elect officers.

Conference trims budget and apportionments

5/4/2012

General Conference 2012 approved a budget of $603.1 million for seven general church funds during the 2013-2016 period; that total is 6.03 percent less than the amount apportioned for the 2009-2012 quadrennium –– the first time the assembly has accepted a lower budget than the amount set for the preceding four-year period.

Committee works late, but can't settle on plan

4/30/2012

Expect to see proposals to consolidate United Methodist general agencies come before the 2012 General Conference floor this week.

North Georgia delegates react to end of guaranteed appointments

5/1/2012

“I’m not surprised. I support the petition as amended, but it should have been debated on the floor.”

General Conference 2012 officially begins

4/24/2012

Nearly 1,000 United Methodist delegates gathered April 24 beside Tampa Bay for a 10-day conference to consider 1,200 petitions that will determine the manner in which the 12.1-million-member denomination orders its ministry, structures its agencies and addresses social justice issue for the next four years.

Covenant for a worldwide church debuts

4/26/2012

For the first time, more than 39 percent of the delegates are church members who live and worship outside the U.S.

Holy conversations have unintended effect

4/27/2012

Delegates had to walk between rows of demonstrators who quietly lined the hall and steps.

GC delegates give thumbs-up to restructuring plan

5/2/2012

The 2012 General Conference approved a modest realignment of the 13 general agencies.

Delegates reject changes to stance on homosexuality

5/3/2012

At the end of an emotional legislative session focused on the topic of homosexuality, supporters of full inclusion moved from the outskirts of the plenary to the center and stayed there for more than five hours.

Split views on Palestinian support

4/28/2012

Two advocacy groups focused on improving life for Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Territories.

Repentance outcome to be watched

4/27/2012

A woman looks for answers that pave the way toward a church that’s more welcoming of Native Americans.

Do We Understand How the Church Works?

4/24/2012

A serious knowledge gap exists in what United Methodists know about the official positions their denomination takes and even how it’s structured, say a number of church leaders. A recent survey by United Methodist Communications supports their concerns.

Candler's Jan Love elected to key role in University Senate

4/30/2012

Jan Love, the Rev. Kasap Owan, the Rev. William J. Abraham and the Rev. Bill T. Arnold were elected to the University Senate during the April 30 morning session of the 2012 United Methodist General Conference.

Day 9 wrapup: Delegates reject call for divestment; affirm opposition to settlements

5/2/2012

Delegates at the 2012 General Conference in Tampa received two petitions Wednesday with minority reports on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

United Methodist Women gain autonomy in landslide vote

5/1/2012

General Conference made United Methodist Women an autonomous organization.

Lay speakers urge 'transformation'

4/25/2012

Inner City United Methodist Church in Harare, Zimbabwe, doesn’t have enough seats for all of the worshippers who gather each Sunday, said Betty Spiwe Katiyo, the first person from Africa to speak in a Laity Address at The United Methodist Church’s worldwide gathering.

500 protest private prison industry

4/28/2012

The costs of keeping someone in a private prison are $122 per bed or $1.7 million a year.

North Georgia delegates share optimism for future

5/4/2012

For two weeks, they gathered to address the challenges and obstacles facing the church and to set a course moving forward. They shared their hopes, aspirations and solutions while dealing with some daunting realities.

Digital Lounge: Rev. Alan Morrison

4/26/2012

GC 2012 Business Manager and Lead Meeting Planner takes us behind the scenes of General Conference.

After prayer, gay rights protest ends -- for now

5/3/2012

A gay rights protest on the General Conference floor Thursday ended after bishops agreed to let an openly gay pastor offer a prayer.

Proposal to add set-aside bishop is rejected

4/30/2012

After a day of non-legislative activities, delegates to the United Methodist General Conference returned to the Tampa Convention Center April 30 to begin five days of processing some of the 1,200 petitions that wove their way through legislative committees.

General Conference Offerings for Mission and Ministries

5/4/2012

United Methodist delegates and guests at their legislating General Conference gave more than $27,000 for missionary support and other ministries during the almost two-week meeting of the church’s General Conference in Tampa.

Faith communities can overcome AIDS epidemic

4/26/2012

Walk into a Methodist Church in South Africa and you might see a poster reading: "The Church Has AIDS.”

An evening to celebrate global accomplishments

4/30/2012

General Conference delegates heard a varied and far-reaching update on the mission and ministry of The

United Methodist Church April 29, concentrating on the Four Areas of Focus approved four years ago.

Congo siblings capture hearts in Tampa

5/2/2012

The Kamana 5 Singers from the Democratic Republic of Congo sing during worship at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla.

Finding lost native history

4/27/2012

The memorial’s series of plaques detail the violent removal of the native people who once lived here.

Pan-Methodists find good reason to celebrate together

5/1/2012

After several hundred years of separation, members of six Pan-Methodist denominations have committed to ministry together.

Passing the gavel

4/28/2012

The Council of Bishops reflected on their impact and celebrated new leadership.

Modified pension plan wins approval of wide majority

5/3/2012

United Methodist clergy in the U.S. will continue to participate in a retirement program that includes a monthly pension payment.

Marcia McFee worship director for General Conference

4/24/2012

Coordinating worship and music for General Conference is much more than choosing a few hymns, tying the lectionary to the sermon and rehearsing the choir anthem. It takes months — no, make that years — to ensure worship is inspiring, interactive, international and inclusive.

Imagine No Malaria showcases success

4/25/2012

On World Malaria Day 2012, Imagine No Malaria, a global health ministry of The United Methodist Church, is celebrating progress against the mosquito-borne disease and calling for a renewed commitment to end preventable deaths from malaria.

Bishops urged to bring peace to GC2012

4/20/2012

United Methodist bishops on April 18 heard a challenge to embody the peace of Christ to the 2012 General Conference, to an anxious denomination and to the greater world.Charlotte (N.C.) Area Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster delivered that call during his final address to the Council of Bishops as that body’s president.

Delegates to weigh options in developing an affordable pension plan

2/19/2012

A choice between two pension plans looms for delegates at the 2012 General Conference. Both options presented by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits will reduce the cost more than 15 percent in aggregate across all annual conferences.

Commentary: General Conference to weigh merits of adopting a New Method

2/5/2012

Every General Conference has its conversation about the structure of United Methodism. The very name “Methodist” was born out of the clear and concise way the Wesleys carried on their early ministries. The strength of our organizational structure and our constant attention to it has served us well. Proposals for sweeping changes to our current organization will be debated at the upcoming Conference in Tampa.

“We have reviewed the plan to determine whether any part, portion or all of Plan UMC can be saved and conclude that it cannot.”

Communications Office

4/18/2012

Questions, comments, and press-related questions and inquiries should be directed to the Conference Communications Office and the North Georgia Conference Spokesperson.

4/24/2012

Please visit the official United Methodist Church's General Conference website at www.umc.org.