Check here for videos and links to blogs, stories and more related to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church.
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Bishop David Wilson shares a message for local congregations, including what could change — but only if congregations choose to do so. In most cases, little to nothing will change.
Read a written statement from Bishop Wilson from May 1
Delegates made decisions about the number of bishops per jurisdiction, the general church budget and some final matters related to Disciplinary language on the final day of General Conference.
| Video: Bishop Wilson's closing message | Video: Delegates share reflections on GC |
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Bishop David Wilson shares one final video from General Conference. Recorded in the closing moments, the bishop urges United Methodists to view his video and read his statement about LGBTQ legislation. |
Some of our General Conference delegates provide their thoughts about this gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, and how the atmosphere is different than previous General Conferences. |
Key issues for the day include the final piece of the revision to the Social Principles, some additional language changes related to LGBTQ+ persons, and whether to grant sacramental authority to deacons. More news links to come throughout the day.
| Bishop gives General Conference message | Video: Observers tell why they ventured to GC |
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Bishop David Wilson shares a message for local congregations related to the actions of the General Conference. He talks about what has changed for local churches and what has not. |
The Great Plains has a large number of people in Charlotte, North Carolina, to watch the proceedings. Eugenio Hernandez talks with some of them in this video. |
The General Conference voted on its consent calendar to remove restrictions on LGBTQ+ clergy fromt he Book of Discipline.
| Video: Repeal of Restrictive Language | Video: Bishop Wilson Tells of Historic Day |
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Multimedia Production Specialist Eugenio Hernandez tells the story of the historic day at General Conference with this video story featuring reaction from delegates from the Great Plains and elsewhere. |
Bishop David Wilson shares about his opportunity to lead worship Wednesday at General Conference and provides a message to the people of the Great Plains Confernece. |
The rules of the General Conference required that petitions with financial ramifications be completed by the end of the session Tuesday.
| Video: Delegates approve base rate |
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| Scott Brewer, chair of the Financial Administration Committee, explains how the General Conference addressed setting the base rate. The rate is a multiplier used to determine how much each annual conference are apportioned by The United Methodist Church. |
The schedule got bogged down in debate related to the addition of bishops to Africa. Instead of five, as planned after the 2016 General Conference, the financial realities call for adding only two at this time. The April 30 agenda will be robust, to say the least.
| Video: Addition of African Bishops | Video: Bishop Wilson's Daily Recap |
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Rev. Dr. Kalaba Chali and Rev. Amy Lippoldt explain how the General Conference navigated adding two bishops for African central conferences after more than two hours of debate. |
Bishop David Wilson provides a recap of the business of the General Conference from Monday, April 29, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He talks about the Great Plains delegation and legislation regarding Hawaii. |
Delegates spent most of the day wrapping up work in their legislative committees.
| Video: Translators and Interpreters | Video: Bishop Wilson makes history |
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The General Conference overwhelmingly approved legislation that lays the groundwork for a restructuring of the church known as regionalization. Rev. David Livingston, Rev. Dr. Mark Holland and Bishop David Wilson share their reflections. |
The atmosphere at General Conference is considerably different in 2024 than in previous years. Three Great Plains delegates — Randall Hodgkinson, Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede and Oliver Green — share their reflections in this short video. |
The first of several major pieces of legislation — this time regionalization — made its way to the plenary floor.
| Video: Regionalization vote may set tone for GC | Video: Bishop Wilson makes history |
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The General Conference overwhelmingly approved legislation that lays the groundwork for a restructuring of the church known as regionalization. Rev. David Livingston, Rev. Dr. Mark Holland and Bishop David Wilson share their reflections. |
Bishop David Wilson made history Thursday, April 25, 2024, when he became the first Native American bishop to preside over the General Conference. Three people from Oklahoma who know him well share their thoughts on the big day. |
The major events of the day included elections for legislative committees and reports on various aspects of the administration of the church.
| Video: Great Plains Surges in Committees | Video: Bishop Wilson reflects on Day 2 |
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Five Great Plains Conference delegates won offices in legislative committees. Rev. Amy Lippoldt, Rev. Dr. Kalaba Chali, Rev. Cheryl Jefferson Bell and Scott Brewer were elected as chairs. Jesi Lipp was elected as a secretary. |
Bishop David Wilson reflects on the worship, episcopal address, young persons' address, and preliminary reports about such church topics as the budget, the General Book of Discipline and regionalization. The bishop shares that he will preside Thursday morning. |
| Video: Opening Worship & Plenary | Video: Sights and Sounds from Day One |
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General Conference opens with an inspiring time of worship, led by Bishop Tom Bickerton, president of the Council of Bishops. In this video, Bishop David Wilson provides a welcome, and we hear from two reserve delegates: Rev. Ashley Prescott Barlow-Thompson and Rev. Andrew Concard. |
On the first day of General Conference, Todd Seifert, conference communications director talks with some of the folks with booths in the exhibit hall, including a man from Samaria selling art from the Holy Land, the general secretary of Archives & History, a leader from Saint Paul School of Theology, and the chair of the Great Plains Conference's Holy Land Task Force. |
