In the US, United Methodist Church announces date, location for thrice-postponed General Conference
United States RNS Perhaps the third time will be the charm for United Methodists awaiting a vote to officially split the denomination. The United Methodist Church has announced the dates for the next meeting of its global decision-making body after postponing its 2020 General Conference meeting three times for pandemic-related reasons. The downtown skyline of […]
In the US, United Methodist Church delays General Conference, prompting some conservatives to leave
RNS The United Methodist Church has delayed its General Conference meeting for a third time due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. In response, some conservative United Methodists have announced they will preemptively leave the denomination rather than wait for the long-anticipated meeting. Delegates to the General Conference were expected to take up a proposal to […]
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church celebrates paid-off debts at major meeting
RNS The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church opened its General Conference in the US with a worship service celebrating its paid-off debts. “We loved our church and we wanted to make sure that when we came to General Conference we would have enough money saved by making these transactions, so when we came here the […]
Four new bishops – and first biracial bishop – elected to AME Church
RNS Four new bishops were elected to the African Methodist Episcopal Church on Saturday, the final day of the denomination’s General Conference in Orlando, Florida. Four general officers and two judicial council members were also elected. Rev Francine A Brookins is the first biracial bishop to be elected, and Advocate Thabile M Ngubeni is the first […]
In the US, AME General Conference votes to form committee to study LGBTQ issues
RNS A day after its General Conference voted down a bill that would have allowed clergy to perform same-sex marriages, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, meeting in Orlando, Florida, passed a resolution on Thursday to appoint a sexual ethics discernment committee to make recommendations to the denomination about LGBTQ matters. The ad hoc committee will […]
In the US, AME Church bishops address COVID-19, critical race theory as major meeting opens
RNS The bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church opened their denomination’s major meeting – a year after it was delayed due to the coronavirus – with a call for greater worldwide access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing. “Joining our ecumenical and interfaith partners, we call on the United States government to expedite equity in […]
United Methodist bishops cancel virtual special session of General Conference
RNS United Methodist bishops have canceled a special session of the global denomination’s General Conference that was scheduled to meet on 8th May online. The bishops called the special session late last month after postponing the quadrennial meeting of the United Methodist Church’s decision-making body yet again amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. People attend the day of […]
United Methodists reschedule meeting — and decision on splitting — again
RNS The United Methodist Church has once again postponed its quadrennial meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying further a widely anticipated vote by delegates from across the globe on a proposal to split the denomination over the inclusion of LGBTQ members. The United Methodist Church General Conference now is scheduled for 29th August to 6th September, […]
Church schism: United Methodists would’ve met this week to consider a split. What are they doing instead?
EMILY MACFARLAN MILLER, of Religion News Service, reports…
United Methodist Church postpones General Conference amid coronavirus
RNS The United Methodist Church has postponed its 2020 General Conference – where delegates were expected to take up legislation to split the denomination – over concerns about the spread of COVID-19, what’s commonly referred to as the coronavirus. The quadrennial meeting of the denomination’s decision-making body was set to gather 862 delegates and other […]