What’s Happening on Tuesday, May 1

Every morning the Committee on Agenda and Calendar meets at 6:30 a.m. with the presiding bishops for the day, and the chairs of the legislative committees. Here are some notes from that meeting:

  • Presiding Officers for the Day
    Bishop Patrick Streiff
    Bishop Minerva Carcano
    Bishop Charlene Kammerer
  • There will be a presentation from the Board of Pensions in the morning session.
  • As of this morning there are 143 calendar items that were or are eligible for consideration by the body. So far the General Conference has dealt with 11.
  • As of this morning, 35 calendar items have received the required 20 signatures to be pulled from the consent/not considered calendar.
  • The Committee on Calendar and Agenda is assuming that restructuring issues will likely be considered on Wednesday, which is the soonest they can be considered without a suspension of the rules.
  • Issues around divestiture and the United Methodist Church’s relationship with Israel/Palestine will be presented in a single block at a time to be determined.
  • The issue of the ending of guaranteed clergy appointments received enough votes in committee to be placed on a consent calendar (a group of petitions passed en masse by the conference without debate). As of this morning no one had pulled this from the consent calendar.
  • Issues thatmaybe considered today include:
  • Changing the name of “lay speaker” to “lay servant.
  • Issues on the timing and size of the General Conference
  • Issues related to ministry in the Central Conferences
  • Changes to the Preamble of the Social Principles
  • Changes in the qualifications for ordination related to sexual practices
  • Changes to the structure of United Methodist Wome
  • The addition of language that specifically identifies the pastor as the primary determiner of eligibility for church membership.
  • Changes to the responsibilities of the PPRC/SPRC


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
Faith Stories
Ophelia Hu Kinney. Photo courtesy of the author.

Affirmation at last: Remembering the Rev. Dr. Rick Huskey

The physician and justice advocate mobilized the pain of exclusion to blaze a trail for LGBTQ United Methodists.
General Church
Ben Smith. Photo courtesy of the author.

We need a new table where all are welcome

Young adult leader says United Methodist systems function to protect power, are resistant to change and preserve a table that was not built with everyone in mind.
Church Leadership
The Rev. Myung Sun Han. Photo courtesy of the author.

‘Not-so-obvious introvert’ on church’s new vision

Words such as “boldly,” “joyfully” and “courageously” are rooted in an extroverted ideal, but pastor offers another way to view the vision statement.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved