Assembly will hold appreciation service for black members

News media contact: Tim Tanton · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn.

This report is a sidebar to UMNS story #505

When United Methodists gather for their top legislative assembly next spring, they will hold a service of appreciation for African Americans who remained with the denomination during the segregation era.

The service will be conducted by the denomination's Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and Black Methodists for Church Renewal.

In 2000, the General Conference held a service of repentance and reconciliation, in which the church officially apologized for racism that led to the creation of three historically African-American Methodist denominations. After that service, however, many United Methodists said that a similar act might be performed for the black members who stayed in the predominantly white denomination.

The service of appreciation was one of many items discussed by the Commission on General Conference during its Oct. 16-18 meeting in Pittsburgh, site of the 2004 assembly.

In other action, the commission:

  • Agreed to ask the General Conference to end the practice of allowing individuals and local churches to petition the assembly directly, starting in 2008. (See main story.)
  • Agreed to provide an orientation session for all delegates before the April 27 morning worship service, while other orientation sessions may still be held for youth, women, or members of ethnic minority groups.
  • Learned that the rules committee will continue its plan to ask the delegates to allow bishops to serve as chairs of legislative committees with vice chairs to report actions to plenary sessions.
  • Planned for daily Bible study and time with prayer partners for meditation before voting on controversial issues.
  • Learned that the Rev. Barbara Day Miller, music director for the conference, has invited more than 50 musical groups, including liturgical dance teams, drum corps, college, seminary and children choirs, and a choral group from Mytischi Church in Moscow. The groups will participate in morning worship, sing during breaks and perform in the food court.
  • Limited the exhibition area to the 14 general agencies and United Methodist youth.
  • Heard from Marvin Cropsey, editor of the Daily Christian Advocate, that the advance edition will be available in English, French, and Portuguese.
  • Learned that no replies have been received to speaking invitations issued to President George W. Bush or Laura Bush and to Boris Trajkovski, president of Macedonia.
  • Planned for optional communion services during the noon hour each day.
  • Agreed to provide J. Allen Gross, chairman of the host committee for the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, a book on hosting responsibilities with the understanding that similar volumes will be available to future host committees.

# # #

*Peck is a retired clergy member of the New York Annual Conference, four-time editor of the Daily Christian Advocate and editor of the 2000 Book of Resolutions.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Church Leadership
Dr. Katelin Hansen. Photo by Maxine Moore, courtesy of the author.

Deaconesses are still here – let’s invest in them too!

A distinctly separate order from deacons, deaconesses and home missioners serve in a wide variety of full-time lay ministries for the church.
General Conference
The Rev. Andy Call, chair of the General Conference commission, helps lead Holy Communion during opening worship Nov. 19 at the General Conference commission’s meeting in Charlotte, N.C. Sitting beside Call are Monalisa Tui'tahi (left), the commission’s vice chair, and the Rev. Aleze M. Fulbright (right), the new General Conference secretary. During the meeting, the commission began preparations for the next gathering of The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly, scheduled in 2028. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

General Conference leaders start afresh

With mostly new membership, the group that plans The United Methodist Church’s big legislative assembly hopes to turn the page on past mistakes and act with more transparency.
Bishops
Bishop Tracy S. Malone, who leads the Indiana Conference, delivers her first address as Council of Bishops president during the bishops’ meeting Nov. 4 at Epworth by the Sea Conference Center in St. Simons Island, Ga. She spoke of her hope for The United Methodist Church in moving toward a more inclusive future. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

Bishops urged to perceive God’s ‘new thing’

Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone preached of God’s deliverance on the eve of the U.S. presidential election. She sees God at work as The United Methodist Church begins a new chapter.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2024 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved