Is There Room for Traditionalists? By Thomas Lambrecht July/August 2024 The 2020/2024 General Conference has just concluded its ten-day run in Charlotte, North Carolina. A summary of some of the actions taken by the conference are available in last week’s Perspective,...

Marriage Decision Provokes Delegates By Sam Hodges and Jim Patterson African delegates and one African bishop joined in a demonstration after General Conference delegates voted to revise the church’s position on marriage, for the first time approving same-sex couples...

Disaffiliation Ends By Heather Hahn July/August 2024 The United Methodist Church’s focus on disaffiliation has come to an end and a new push for regionalization is just beginning. By a vote of 516 to 203, General Conference delegates supported the end of a...

Ukranian Delegate Glad to be United Methodist By Sam Hodges The Rev. Yulia Starodubets came to the United Methodist General Conference from Ukraine, which is more than two years into a grinding war with Russia. Because commercial air travel in her country remains...

Reduced Budget Passed By Heather Hahn General Conference delegates on May 3 approved a denominational budget with a bottom line that will vary by about $20 million, depending on giving collection rates over the next two years. But no matter what happens, the total...

Eurasia Granted Disaffiliation, Liberia Denied By Sam Hodges, UM News July/August 2024 Early in its Charlotte deliberations, the Standing Committee on Central Conference matters nearly overwhelmingly approved a petition enabling four Eurasian annual conferences to...