General Conference 2004

General Conference Coverage United Methodist News Service Stories

Selected Reports from United Methodist News Service

Below are reports on the activities and actions of the General Conference meeting in Pittsburgh through May 7, from the United Methodist News Service.

General Conference Wrap-Up Report

Day 1, Monday, April 26, 2004:

• International Assembly Begins with Worship
• Bishops Express Hope for "Holy Conferencing"

Day 2, Tuesday, April 27, 2004:

• UMNS Daily Wrapup, April 27, 2004

Day 3, Wednesday, April 28, 2004:

• UMNS Daily Wrapup, April 28, 2004
• Delegates hear restructuring proposal
• Worship: 'Give Til It Heals'
• Laity Address Challenges

Day 4, Thursday, April 29, 2004:

• UMNS Daily Wrapup, April 29, 2004
• Delegates Consider Budget, Future
• Judicial Council Nominees
• Judicial Council issues two decisions
• University Senate Nominees

Day 5, Friday, April 30, 2004:

• UMNS Daily Wrap-up, April 30, 2004
• Global AIDS Fund Proposed - (Messer featured)
• Bishops Install New President
• African Americans Who Stayed Celebrated
• Bishop Thomas Honored
• Civil Rights Pioneer Identifies a New "Normal"

Day 6, Saturday, May 1, 2004

• UMNS Daily Wrap-up, May 1, 2004
• Judicial Council Rules; Asked For Ruling on Dammann Trial
• Worship: Follow Phillip
• Town & Country Ministry Plan Funded
• UM Young Adults Rally
• Division on Ministries with Young People Approved

Day 7, Sunday, May 2, 2004

• Service of Hope seeks to ease pain of homosexuality debate

Day 8, Monday, May 3, 2004

• Daily wrap-up: Assembly OKs Taco Bell boycott, thanks Africa University
• General Conference continues funding for Native American Ministries

Day 9, Tuesday, May 4, 2004

• Daily Wrap-up: Homosexuality stance retained; Judicial Council Elected
• Four elected to United Methodist Judicial Council
• Group holds silent demonstration for inclusion of homosexuals
• Delegates retain church’s homosexuality stance
• Delegates make no changes to church’s civil rights stance
• Religious leaders criticize Bush administration over Iraq
• Bishops say Judicial Council rulings add clarity
• General Conference Web site draws record number of visitors

Day 10, Wednesday, May 5, 2004

• Daily Wrap-up: Assembly approves financial items, structure change
• Cal-Nevada Bishop Shamana: "Love those whom God loves"
• Global AIDS Fund Approved
• Study of United Methodist men authorized
• Korean Ministry Plan Wins Continuation
• ‘Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors’ Campaign Continued
• Judicial Council rules on apportionments
• David Muldanado Elected to University Senate

Day 11, Thursday, May 6, 2004

• Daily Wrap-up: Proposal to dissolve United Methodist Church, gay-rights demonstration dominate assembly
• Budgets and Needs Balanced
• Task Force To Study Link Between Teen Sexual Identity, Suicide Risk
• Delegates keep black church initiative, create black heritage center
• Connectional Table Created to Lead General Agency Work
• Gay rights group stages ‘peaceful interruption’
• Conservatives consider ‘separation’ of United Methodist Church

Day 12, Friday, May 7, 2004

• United Methodist Church affirms its unity
• Judicial Council defers decisions, elects new officers

General Interest and Other Perspectives

• A Delegate's Diary (Western NC) (UMNS)
• Mike McCurry on General Conference (UMNS)
• Commentary: Finding sacred space between unanimity, schism (UMNS)
• Commentary: For the sake of unity (UMNS)
• Commentary: In the image of the Creator –– Native people and mascots
• At Least 20 Bishops to be Elected in July (UMNS)

Other General Conference links (external):

• General Conference 2004 Web site
• United Methodist News Service
• General Board of Global Ministries GC2004 site
• General Board of Church and Society
• General Board of Discipleship
• General Board of Pension and Health Benefits GC2004 Information
• General Council on Finance and Administration

The GC2004 site at UMC.org is not responding quickly during peak times of the day, due to a high level of interest, so the links to UMC.org below may not work well. All of the following links can be reached from the main GC2004 Web site, but are provided here for your convenience:

• About General Conference
• How General Conference Works
• Major Issues Background Paper
• Schedule
• The Legislative Process
• Track Legislation
• Western Jurisdiction Delegates List
• Media Guide to GC2004 (PDF)
• Watch GC2004 via the web (includes webcast schedule)