Day Nine at General Conference saw a number of key happenings, most notably that deacons can now preside at sacraments in their appointments and The United Methodist Church no longer condemns homosexuality. Pictured, South Carolina’s the Rev. Karen Jones reacts to passage of legislation that will allow deacons to preside over Holy Communion in the context of their local appointments. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

General Conference ended a 40-year ban on gay clergy on Day Eight of the event, May 1. That, along with a host of items—including the green light for a new Compass retirement plan, passage of four Jurisdictional Study Committee petitions, the final regionalism petition and elections—wrapped up an often-emotional day of church business. Pictured, Jesi Lipp, a lay delegate from the Great Plains Conference, reacts May 1 after General Conference voted to remove the ban. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

General Conference Day 7 brought a silent protest against the violence in Palestine as well as full communion with Episcopal Church, passage of a new base rate for apportionments, Social Principles changes and more. (Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News)

Has your church decided to stay UMC? An editorial inviting you to let the Advocate know. By Jessica Brodie.

This is a time that we can pray diligently and stay alert with our eyes wide open in gratitude. A column by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.

We genuinely appreciate the openness of the conference trustees in providing the dollar amount and breakdown of the funds received from the 113 churches that separated from the UMCSC.