General Conference 2004

Pittsburgh, PA

Daily Wrap-up for April 27, 2004

United Methodist News Service Pittsburgh News Room

April 27 Daily wrap-up: Assembly begins with worship, bishops' address

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'

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

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

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

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

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

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.