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Moved to Tears
Missionary S. Lee wipes away a tear after being commissioned to be a missionary during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday May 2, 2024. (Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.)
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Bishop Commisions Missionaries
Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella commissions Eric Kalumba as a missionary during the May 2 morning worship of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Assisting are Grace Choi and Roland Fernandes. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News)
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Morning Presider
Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai presides during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday May 2, 2024. (Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News)
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Communion Service
Bishop Delores J. Williamston, the bishop of Louisiana, breaks bread during a May 2 lunchtime communion service at the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News)
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Anointing
The Rev. John Cannon, a reserve clergy delegate from Louisiana, uses oil to anoint participants in a May 2 lunchtime communion service at the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News)
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ASL interpretation
Lara Wagner provides American Sign Language interpretation during General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News)
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Marriage Revision
Bishop David Graves of the Alabama-West Florida Area presides over a debate about the United Methodist Church’s stance on marriage during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Delegates affirmed “marriage as a sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith into union with one another and into deeper relationship with God and the religious community.” (Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News)
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Paul Jeffrey Paul Jeffrey/UM News
Debate over Marriage
The Rev. Jerry Kulah, a clergy delegate from Liberia, holds up a Bible as he speaks on the floor of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Kulah spoke in opposition to a revision of the denomination's Social Principles. The gathering approved the document with one minor revision on a definition of marriage. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News)
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Celebration at General Conference
The Rev. Kimberly Scott and others celebrate outside the Charlotte Convention Center on May 2 following a decision by the 2024 United Methodist General Conference to approve a revision of the denomination's Social Principles. The newly approved document eliminates a statement that the practice of homosexuality was incompatible with church teaching. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News)
New missionaries were commissioned and the final part of the Revised Social Principles was adopted by delegates on Day 9 of the United Methodist General Conference.