General Conference is over, but you wouldn’t know it here in our newsroom. We’re still carried along by the momentum, and still churning out stories from the big quadrennial event. There just isn’t enough room on our pages for all that’s happened, so you’ll keep hearing about it for a while.
We have some late-in-GC happenings, including the wrap-up on how much money was raised through the auction of a basketball that Bishop Bickerton used in his Nothing But Nets presentation. William Gates Sr. (yes, Mr. Microsoft’s dad) even stopped by and chipped in a matching gift. Proving that the UMC can get good stuff done even during all the sitting, and sitting, and sitting...
Our print edition is catching up with our online stories: the “silent witness” by those advocating for full inclusion of LGBT persons in the church (you didn’t think we’d ignore it, did you? It’s the only thing the secular media bothered to report!), and Rebekah Miles’ commentary on the consequences of sleep deprivation at General Conference (we give a hearty “amen” to that one, Beka!) Plus, a commentary by delegate Ken Carter on why Robert’s Rules of Order may not provide the best framework for holy conferencing.
Plenty of other stuff happened, too. Did you know the UMC is only a few Lutherans’ votes away from being in full communion with the ELCA? A UMNS report will let you know more about what that means for the two denominations. Plus, Bill Fentum gives a reader’s digest version of GC decisions and Mary Jacobs compiles the best sermon snippets (to help us see why Amy Forbus declared General Conference “the land of standing ovation sermons”).
Bill Fentum, Mary Jacobs and I teamed up to cover the 10-day General Conference, and even with lots of help from UMNS, it was exhausting. Actually, I was there longer than that, since I also covered the Council of Bishops before GC began. And our sales director Richard Hearne and fellow news staffer Amy Forbus hung in there as delegates. Hope you’ve been reading the Reporter blog and getting Amy's perspective.
So what we have here for you this week is an “all General Conference, all the time” issue, starting with Mary Jacobs’ report on the first-ever Young Persons' Address, delivered by six speakers during the opening days of General Conference.
Bill Fentum covered the Laity Address and also reports on the election of five new members of the Judicial Council. I’ve got a story on a panel of transgender United Methodists, including the Rev. Drew Phoenix, who spoke at an Affirmation luncheon held off-site during General Conference.
A lot of buzz around the General Conference surrounded the distribution of free cell phones to African and Filipino delegates by the Reform and Renewal Coalition. Some cried foul, seeing the gifts as an attempt to buy votes. UMNS’ Linda Green has that story, with a photo by Mary Jacobs.
You’ll find many other highlights from the General Conference - and we’ll be sending along stories for weeks.
We are in the midst of covering the 2008 General Conference, and it’s exciting yet wearying. Several of us have wondered aloud how the poor delegates—who are likely even more tired than we journalists-are able to make clear-headed decisions! Still, we press on . . .
The United Methodist Reporter is collaborating with the United Methodist News Service on covering General Conference—a historic first! Divide and conquer—that’s my motto. We are divvying up assignments so you’ll see our bylines posted on UMNS as well as in the Reporter.
The buzzword around General Conference so far is HOPE. Our cover story on the opening worship tells how bishops are focusing on the power of resurrection hope in the life of a Christian.
I’ve also been covering the Council of Bishops (in my spare time) and have Bishop Huie’s final address as the outgoing council president as well as a few news pieces.
Mary Jacobs reports on the Global AIDS Fund Committee’s briefing on HIV-AIDS here in Fort Worth, and Bill Fentum brings a story about the Missions Initiative Summit, featuring megachurch pastor Mike Slaughter as keynote speaker. Mary also went to hear civil-rights legend Joseph Lowery speak at a Dallas church.
Besides all that, we participated last week in the Associated Church Press convention, where the Reporter took home seven—count ‘em, seven—awards, including four awards of excellence for writing and design. What a week.
You’ll also find some fun author Q&As, book reviews and other features in the May 2 edition.
