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News Summaries from 4-28-04
Assembly begins with worship, bishops' address
PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - Different voices joined in a common song as
the 2004 United Methodist General Conference officially opened with an
April 27 worship service at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. In
the afternoon's traditional Episcopal Address, Bishop Kenneth L. Carder of
the Mississippi Area told the nearly 1,000 delegates that God is calling
the church to be a sign and instrument of a new creation. But the
denomination's bishops also expressed concern about the international
delegates who didn't make it to the church's top legislative meeting
because they were denied visas by the U.S. government.
Bishops express hope for 'holy conferencing'
PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - On the eve of the United Methodist Church's 2004
General Conference, the denomination's Council of Bishops has issued a
pastoral letter expressing hope for an atmosphere of love and prayerful
Christian conferencing. The bishops pointed to issues surrounding this
General Conference that are creating a "sense of anxiety."
United Methodists cook up snacks for delegates
PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - Despite John Wesley's historic counsel that "for
studious persons, about eight ounces of animal food and 12 of vegetable in
24 hours is sufficient," delegates and visitors to the 2004 General
Conference of the United Methodist Church will enjoy sugary snacks during
breaks at the April 27-May 7 worldwide gathering.
International assembly begins with worship
PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - A common song, sung in different voices, marked the
beginning of the 2004 General Conference at the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center. Native American, African, Hispanic, Korean, Caribbean
and gospel drumbeats called the church together for its quadrennial
legislative assembly. The 998 delegates and more than 1,000 visitors
joined a mass choir and orchestra in the historic hymn "O For a Thousand
Tongues to Sing" at the April 27 "Service of Holy Communion and
Remembrance."
Bishops say God is calling church to a new future
PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - The bishops of the United Methodist Church believe God
is calling the people of the church to a new future and a new creation.
"The promise of a new creation provides the foundation and vision for the
church's mission in this new millennium," said Bishop Kenneth L. Carder of
the Mississippi Area, speaking on behalf of the Council of Bishops. Carder
presented the traditional Episcopal Address on April 27, the opening day
of the denomination's General Conference.
United Methodist Bishops Charge Racism in Visa
Denials
PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - The U.S. government's denial of visas for some United
Methodists from Africa and the Philippines is both racist and unjust,
according to the denomination's Council of Bishops. During an April 27
press conference here, the bishops expressed concern about factors that
prohibited international delegates from attending the 2004 United
Methodist General Conference because of visa problems.
Bishops set plan to expand ministries with
children, poor
PITTSBURGH (UMNS)--The United Methodist Church's bishops want to expand
efforts to help children and the poor. During the denomination's 2004
General Conference, the bishops said they may merge the critical points of
the Episcopal Address with "Our Shared Dream: The Beloved Community," a
paper the body adopted last November. The Council of Bishops anticipates
that merging these two documents would create a new episcopal initiative
for 2005-08.
Full version stories along with photos, audio reports and video reports
can be found at http://umns.umc.org.
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