"A Future With Hope" was the theme for the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church that met in Fort Worth, TX between April 23 and May 2. Our hope in Christ envisions "One Family Tree" that thrives as persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This blog records of the work of the Common Witness Coalition and Soulforce at the 2008 General Conference.

The Wedding

The Marriage of Susan Laurie and Julie Bruno
"Sue and I celebrate with you our covenant of love and partnership. God has been a part of our relationship for over 25 years. Our faith grounds us and our church family grounds us. Reconciling is our church family..."

General Conference Witness

The Plenary Witness
"The communion table at the center of our worship life has been shrouded as a reminder that the body is broken..."


Witness on the Plenary Floor from Reconciling Ministries Network on Vimeo.

Walking Over The Wounded
"Yesterday the General Conference walked over gay and lesbian people. Today you will have to do it again..."

Decision 1032 Remains in Effect
The General Conference rejected petition 80088 and Decision 1032 remains in force in The United Methodist Church. The Decision had affirmed a local pastor's right to deny a gay man membership in his congregation...

Organized Prayer Actions Outside Legislative Sessions
After the Young Adult Rally, MoSAIC and OnFire led the crowd into the Fort Worth Convention Center to conduct organized prayer actions outside of legislative sessions...

Civil Rights Leaders Speak Out

Methodist Civil Rights Leaders Address General Conference
The panelists wrestled with the connections between the "isms": racism, anti-semitism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, agism, able-ism, etc.  "They all come from the same kind of place," Caldwell reflected, saying that we will not get rid of heterosexism until the root of all the "isms" is unearthed...

Young Adults Speak Out

Young Adult March and Rally
"I have so many friends that will not come to church with me because they believe the church does not want them and God does not want them..."

Young Adults Speak Out
"Young people have chosen a future of hope. Hope is that all people will be welcome in our church..."

Transgender Christians Speak Out

Transgender Press Conference
"I spent the first 46 years of my life homeless...I'm talking about a kind of homelessness born of a disconnect between my internal spiritual self and my external physical self. I was born transgender..."

Legislation

Legislative Outcome and Legislative Strategy
"Efforts to move the UMC toward fuller inclusion of LGBT persons through revisions in the section on Human Sexuality in the Social Principles were defeated. In fact, the language that was adopted represents a move in a more exclusionary direction..."

Media Coverage

• Same-sex couple says 'I do' outside church assembly
• 'Christian conferencing' follows demonstration
• Demonstrators call church's 'anti-gay' policies sinful
• United Methodists uphold homosexuality stance
• Rally urges inclusion regardless of sexual identity
• Delegates seek General Conference ethics panel
• Doubts arise following gifts of cell phones
• Transgender United Methodists share stories

All News Stories and Press Releases

Event Coverage

Complete Schedule
Complete schedule with links to covered events

Issues

Pre-General Conference Flashnet Topics
Membership; Ordination, Sexual Orientation; Ordination, Gender Identity; Marriage; Holy Conferencing/Funding Ban; Global Restructuring; Family; Judicial Council Elections; Youth and Young Adults; Unity