General Conference 2024 Press Kit

Postponed 2020 General Conference online press kit

Resources and information to assist media in covering the postponed 2020 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.

An important media note on General Conference and The United Methodist Church:

When it comes to The United Methodist Church, there isn’t an official spokesperson that can speak on behalf of the UMC. Only the General Conference can speak for the church, and how it speaks is through the legislation passed and its documents.

Though not official speakers on behalf of the church, topical experts are available to speak to specific topics for your reporting needs.

Media interview / information requests:

Please contact United Methodist Communications' Public Information team for all media requests in connection to General Conference and The United Methodist Church.

Main media contact:

Brenda Smotherman
Associate Public Relations Director


Press Room / Newsroom schedule:

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily (4/22 - 5/3)
News briefing: 8:15 a.m. daily

Press Conference / Q&A session schedule 

 

 

Need Media Credentials? Start Here


Meet the President of the Council of Bishops

Bishop Tracy Smith Malone speaks after accepting the gavel from COB President Bishop Bickerton during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Tuesday April 30, 2024.  Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

New President of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church
(Symbolic passing of the gavel on 4/20, official start date 4/30/24)
Resident bishop for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church

She is the first Black woman elected to the position and leads more than 150 bishops in the global denomination.

Bishop Malone's Bio
COB President Bishop Bickerton passes the gavel to  Bishop Tracy Smith Malone during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Tuesday April 30, 2024.  Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

Press Center

Bishop Tracy S. Malone became the first Black woman in the history of the global denomination to ascend to the pinnacle of episcopacy leadership.

Helpful resources


GC Charlotte Skyline
Image Resources

Video footage is available for your use as downloadable files via Dropbox:
- B-roll: Scenes from the plenary floor
- Singing "A Child of God," by Mark Miller, during a May 1 celebration on the plenary floor
- Vote on May 1 Consent Calendar

United Methodist News photography is available for your reporting needs with proper crediting via their Flickr page.

UM News Flickr

Photography tips for capturing General Conference and being mindful of restirctions.

GC photo guidelines and tips

Photo passes and photography location info

A limited number of photo passes may be checked out at the press room entrance for 15-minute periods (passes may not be checked out for consecutive time blocks).

No registered media photographers may enter the floor of the session (within the blue draping). Photos must be taken from the perimeter of the delegates seating area (back, sides and front if you keep low out of eyeline). Only conference staff photographers can access the entire floor, and these photos will be made available via the UM News Flickr page.

Staff photographers can attempt to capture specific moments/images upon request. Please email [email protected] as soon as possible with specifics.

Important notice about video needs

According to the rules of the General Conference, “no electronic recording by either video or audio may be made of any portion of the General Conference unless specifically authorized by the Business Manager of the General Conference in order to maintain the integrity of all performance licenses.”

Please email [email protected] as soon as possible with your specific requests so that permissions can be pursued.

General Conference logo options

Download logos

Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority offers high resolution photography of several locations of interest within Charlotte, NC. Access requests should be directed to them at the link below.

CRVA Media Assets

Photo by Paul Jeffrey for UM News.
Legislative explainers

Get updates on the happenings of General Conference, including news on legislation.

Legislative explainer recap
Key Outcomes of the Historic 2024 (postponed 2020) General Conference: Full wrap-up video

May 3

Press conference video: GC2020 Press Conference: Final Statements from Bishop Tracy Smith Malone and the Rev. Gary Graves

May 2

Wrap-up: Delegates declare homosexuality no longer ‘incompatible’
Press conference video
: General Commission on Archives and History: Historical Decision for LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Press conference video: New Revised Social Principles passed
Press conference video: Lifting of LGBTQ ban

May 1

Wrap-up: Gay clergy ban lifted, new retirement plan approved
Press conference video
: General Commission on Archives and History: Heritage Landmarks and a new American Methodist Pilgrimage

April 30

Wrap-up: Some LGBTQ bans lifted, Episcopal communion approved
Press conference video: New Revised Social Principles - first round of approvals discussed

April 29

Wrap upAfrican bishops added; prayers after Charlotte shooting
Press conference video: United Methodist Stories - an oral history app
Press conference videoGeneral Commission on the Status and Role of Women GC Update

April 27

Wrap-upFirst revised Social Principles pass, committee work ends

April 26

Wrap-upBishop urges delegates to follow God’s lead

April 25

Wrap-upRegionalization gets go-ahead, Eurasia leaves
Press conference video: Regionalization – early proposals passed / full video or highlight reel

April 24

Wrap-up: Legislative committee work begins
Press conference video: Church budget update from GCFA

April 23

Wrap-up: After years of delay, General Conference begins

General Conference Documents
Legislative overview guides and UMC official documents

Daily Christian Advocate

The United Methodist Publishing House offers the conference legislation, reports and daily conference proceedings online in English, French, Portuguese and Kiswahili. Delegates will receive complimentary access to the website, while others - including media - may subscribe to the site.

SUBSCRIBE FOR Online ACCESS

VIEW PDF VERSION

Advance Daily Christian Advocate

The new, valid petitions, reports and updated Delegate Handbook information for the General Conference has been published in a printed 2024 Supplement to the ADCA available in English, French, Portuguese, and Kiswahili.

View the ADCA Here

Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions (2016 editions)

Free online editions of both are available from Cokesbury, the retail arm of the United Methodist Publishing House.

Book of Discipline: A fundamental book outlining the law, doctrine, administration, organizational work and procedures of The United Methodist Church. Each General Conference amends The Book of Discipline, and the actions of the General Conference are reflected in the quadrennial revision. Often referred to as The Discipline.

Book of Resolutions: The volume containing the text of all resolutions or pronouncements on issues approved by the General Conference and currently valid. The Book of Resolutions contains not only the resolutions and policy statements passed by the most recent General Conference, but also all such statements still considered to represent the position of The United Methodist Church. The text of any resolution is considered the official position of the denomination on that subject.

READ / SEARCH DOCUMENTS

topical Resources

Legislation and operations

Revised Social Principles proposed changes

The proposed Revised Social Principles reflects the United Methodist response to today’s most pressing social issues and is pending adoption at General Conference. Resources such as summaries and FAQs are available from the General Board of Church and Society.

Learn More & See proposed changes

What is Regionalization?

Explore the ways that regionalization already exists for central conferences and the opportunities it gives them, as well as the implications of enabling a greater degree of regionalization for United Methodists in the U.S.

Explainer Series

One sheet resource

Disaffiliation petitions

Eight additional proposals were submitted after the original September 2019 deadline relating to disaffiliation of annual conferences, central conferences and local churches.

Explainer

GCFA church closure by reason report - March 16, 2024

Financial Trends and Budget

The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) offers educational videos and report about pressing financial and legal issues facing the denomination. 

Data-Driven budget discernment

GCFA reports

The proposed budget for 2025-2028 represents the largest cuts for nearly all areas of ministry in the history of The United Methodist Church. Ask the UMC explains what this means for the continuing denomination.

Budget Explainer

Wespath Benefits and Investments is assuring long-term stability and affordability of benefits for those who serve.

Clergy Benefits & Pensions

Clergy Formation

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry wants to improve access for local pastors, and the Alabama-West Florida Conference wants to center the process of clergy formation in each annual conference.  

Explainer

Mission work, relief work and church revitalization

Global Ministries petitions

Education

Higher Education & Ministry petitions

Discipleship efforts

Discipleship Ministries proposals

Church history preservation

Archives and History proposal summary

Photo by xavierarnau from Getty Images Signature via Canva Pro.
Gender/ Race/ Ability/ Family/ Culture

Homosexuality

United Methodist News reporter Heather Hahn offers a recap on the homosexuality debate, as featured in the delegate orientation event.

View recap

Racial and Ability proposals

The General Commission on Race & Religion  summitted proposals regarding racial justice, disability, mental health, etc. 

View proposed legislation

Dismantling Racism

Initiative and resources

Women's Issues

United Women in Faith and The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women proposed legislative initiatives.

Prioritization petitions

Leadership, Ethics and Equity proposals

Family matters

Infertility / IVF

Adoption and Abortion

Christian-Jewish relations

Read guiding principles

Racial Ethnic ministries within The UMC

Asian-American language ministry

Korean Ministry Plan

National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry

Native American Comprehensive Plan

Pacific Islander Ministry plans

Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century

New church plants and movements

Lighthouse Churches

A lighthouse congregation / oasis congregation is a faith community geared specifically to welcome and support loyal United Methodists whose churches have closed or disaffiliated. These congregations live out a deep commitment to hospitality to help displaced United Methodists heal from the pain of losing their church.

Learn more

Offering kind hospitality

Fresh Expressions

Fresh Expressions UM is a distinctly Wesleyan Spirit-led movement of new Christian communities that serve the present age. Informal meetings can range from gatherings at pickleball courts, brew pubs, coffee shops, campgrounds, private homes and on digital platforms.

Learn more

Offering hope

April 22 preconference event

Photo by Patrick Miyaoka on Unsplash.
World issues & cultural impact

Agencies commit to net-zero goal

The United Methodist interagency commitment to just and equitable net-zero emissions is the most systematic, comprehensive, global emission reduction effort in the history of The United Methodist Church. This commitment, established in 2021, seeks to ensure that the ministries of the present support the flourishing of God’s creation for the future.

Learn More

Suggested revisions to protect God's creation

The proposed Revised Social Principles reflect an increased attention to creation care.

Learn More

Church & politics

Since the Church’s inception, Methodists have been actively involved in social and political matters in order to build a more peaceful and just world. 

Learn More

Immigration

The Church works and prays for peace.

UM Position on reform

Church & Society information

War

The Church works and prays for peace.

Church & Society information

Ways to speak about war and peace

War in Ukraine – church assistance and position

United Methodists have been active in sharing the love and hope of Christ in Ukraine.

UM presence

Ministry Work

Church planting

Activity Summary

Israel at war

The Book of Resolutions and leadership offer guidance.

Interfaith advocacy

Settlement opposition

Pathway for peace

Bishops Call for Cease Fire in Gaza

GC Know that I am God
Understanding General Conference

Primer

A primer about the UMC's meeting.

BEGINNER'S GUIDE

Brief overview video

The Recap overview

Guidebook

This comprehensive guide provides an overview of how the assembly works, a schedule for the conference, background information about The United Methodist Church, and key legislation that will be considered by the delegates of the postponed 2020 General Conference.

English | Français | Português

Schedule: All languages

View Schedule

General Conference: By the numbers

View infographic

Why is it 2020 in 2024?

Read article

Resource for understanding general conference terminology.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Access local resources from the host committee.

Local suggestions

ABOUT THE UMC

The United Methodist Church is a worldwide connection of close to 10 million members in over 100 countries including Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. United Methodists are people of God who share a common mission and values. The church and its members are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We reach out to a hurting world through a dedicated focus on mission and ministry. Our tagline "Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors." embraces who we are and how we seek to put our faith into action.

Visit UMC.org

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