GC 2004

Participants in the 2025 United Methodist Church Deacons Gathering sing during opening worship at the Upper Room Chapel in Nashville, Tenn. From left are the Rev. Shannon Howard, the Rev. Tina Marie Rees, the Rev. Sherry Brady and Candace Brady. A focus of the event was deacons’ new sacramental authority approved at last year’s General Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Deacons explore new sacramental authority

United Methodist deacons are discussing best practices now that General Conference has approved their new responsibility to preside at baptism and communion “when contextually appropriate.”

General Church

Bishop Bruce P. Blake. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Giving ‘til it heals

If he hadn’t mentioned it, no one would have noticed that Bishop Bruce Blake was wearing moccasins.

General Church

Rev. Benjamin Boni (right) and Rev. R. Randy Day announce that the million-member Protestant Methodist Church of Cote d'Ivoire is joining the United Methodist Church during a press conference at the United Methodist Church's 2004 General Conference in Pittsburgh. Boni is leader of the Cote d'Ivoire delegation to General Conference. Day is top staff executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.

Cote d’Ivoire denomination joins United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church today grew by about 1 million members.

General Church

Sermon: ‘Resurrect Your Song’

This worship experience has found expression in words of songs. Yet deeper meaning is to be discovered in the New Testament reading, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

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