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Pre-General Conference News Briefing set for January ‘04


By United Methodist News Service
2/25/2003

Religion journalists and church media representatives are invited to attend a news briefing Jan. 29-31, 2004, on the pressing legislative concerns to be considered by the United Methodist Church's governing body next year.

The 2004 Pre-General Conference News Briefing will be held at the Ramada Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. The city will also host the General Conference, the denomination's highest legislative body, April 27-May 7, 2004.

General Conference, which comprises 1,000 lay and clergy delegates from around the world, meets every four years to set policy and direction for the 9 million-member denomination, the second-largest Protestant body in the United States.

Presenters at the briefing will answer journalists' questions on issues facing the conference, including: the role of youth and young adults in the future church; the meaning and nature of Holy Communion; and possible church pronouncements on contemporary social issues such as war and terrorism.

Registration information will be mailed to media representatives this summer. For more details, contact Tim Tanton at United Methodist News Service, (615) 742-5470 or [email protected].

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