United Methodists kick off first General Conference since split

The United Methodist Church’s 2024 General Conference convened on Tuesday, bringing delegates from around the world together in Charlotte, N.C, to discuss church business. Clergy and church members will meet for 11 days to discuss potential changes to church policy and approve a new budget. This year’s meeting marks the first full convention in eight years after leaders rescheduled the 2020 convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although the conference held a special session in 2019.

Why is this meeting so important? It's the first time a general conference has convened since over 7,500 U.S.-based congregations left the UMC over a five-year period due to disagreements about homosexuality in the church. The current UMC proposed budget reflects the loss, slashed more than $20 million below the 2019 recommended budget. Delegates will discuss several legislative proposals to alter church policies on sexuality and denominational restructuring.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report in WORLD Magazine on the UMC’s schism.