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United Methodist church busses line the drive to the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home during it 100th anniversary celebration. Photo by Thomas Routzong. Photo #08-0855. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0852, 5/9/08.
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Dr. Edward Dinkins Jr. (center), president of the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home from 1983 to 1995, removes the 25-year-old time capsule from the Children’s Home’s bell tower during the home’s centennial celebration. Photo by Steven Skelley. Photo #08-0854. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0852, 5/9/08.
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Florida United Methodist Children’s Home staff members Anita Barnett Campbell, director of planned giving and major gifts, and Wil Simpson, coordinator of educational services, greet visitors attending the Children’s Home’s centennial celebration in clothing typical of what was worn in 1908, the year the home was founded by the Florida Conference. Photo by Thomas Routzong. Photo #08-0853. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0852, 5/9/08.
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The president of the United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church, Saurimo, in the East Angola Conference helps ties a head scarf for Mary Gestrich, a member of a Florida Conference team that traveled to Angola in January. Photo by the Rev. Dr. Larry Rankin. Photo #08-0852. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0851, 5/9/08.
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Icel Rodriguez, associate director of the Florida Conference’s Global Mission and Justice Ministries, and her husband, the Rev. Armando Rodriguez, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Lakeland, thank the conference for its support during the 2007 Florida Annual Conference Event, after being commissioned to serve as persons-in-mission in East Angola. The two will leave for Angola in the summer of 2009. Photo by Greg Moore. Photo #08-0851. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0851, 5/9/08.
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Children from First United Methodist Church, Saurimo, in the East Angola Conference get to know Florida Conference United Methodists who traveled to Angola in January. Saurimo is the provincial capital of Lunda Sul, Angola. Photo by the Rev. Dr. Larry Rankin. Photo #08-0850. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0851, 5/9/08.
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Bishop Thomas Bickerton holds a basketball, signed by United Methodist bishops at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. The basketball was auctioned to benefit the Nothing But Nets campaign against malaria, raising $429,030. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #08-0849. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0850, 5/8/08.
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Florida Conference delegates pour over petitions in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate during the afternoon plenary session April 30 of the 2008 General Conference. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0848. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0850, 5/8/08.
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Gay rights supporters react tearfully to an April 30 vote at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, retaining the church's position that the practice of homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching." The assembly, held once every four years, is meeting through May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey. Photo #08-0847. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0850, 5/8/08.
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Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia, addresses the 2008 United Methodist General Conference on April 29 in Fort Worth, Texas. Sirleaf is a United Methodist and the first female head of state in Africa. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #08-0846. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0850, 5/8/08.
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The Africa University traveling choir performs during the April 29 Bridges of Unity ecumenical awards banquet at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #08-0845. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0850, 5/8/08.
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Delegates to the 2008 General Conference spent long days and nights in the arena of the Forth Worth Convention Center debating and praying over more than 1,500 petitions to amend The United Methodist Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0844. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0850, 5/8/08.
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Tropical Storm Nargis over Myanmar May 3. Photo courtesy of National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Photo #08-0843. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0849, 5/8/08.
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The Rev. Matt Berryman, senior pastor at Avondale United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, leads communion at the “Passionate Worship: Divine Inbreaking” event April 11-12 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville. The event focused on the passionate worship practice of The Methodist Way and was repeated several days later at United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach. Photo by Erik J. Alsgaard. Photo #08-0842. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0848, 5/7/08.
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Using a “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme, Kalon Stiggins, worship director at Community of Faith United Methodist Church in Davenport, shares tips and strategies on creating worship services that give people the opportunity to experience God. The focus was passionate worship, one of the five practices of The Methodist Way. The class was taught as part of a series of workshops on the five practices held a day before the 2007 Florida Annual Conference Event began. Photo by Greg Moore. Photo #08-0841. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0848, 5/7/08.
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The Rev. Jorge Acevedo (right), senior pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral, and Bill Walker, lay leader of the Florida Conference, confer during a plenary session of the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0840. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0847, 5/6/08.
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The Rev. Debbie McLeod (center), a member of the Florida Conference delegation and superintendent of the conference’s South East District, prays amidst the sea of delegates and gay rights advocates calmly protesting the April 30 vote to retain the current language on homosexuality in The United Methodist Social Principles. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0839. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0846, 5/5/08.
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Observers hug each other as they stand to protest an April 30 vote regarding homosexual rights in the church during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey. Photo #08-0838. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0846, 5/5/08.
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Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker recognizes a speaker during deliberations on whether to retain the current language on homosexuality in The United Methodist Social Principles. Whitaker presided over the three-hour debate, which took place during the afternoon plenary session April 30 of the 2008 General Conference. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0837. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0846, 5/5/08.
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The Rev. Sue Haupert-Johnson, pastor at First United Methodist Church in Cape Coral, and John “Jad” Denmark, a lay delegate from Anona United Methodist Church in Largo, discuss the business at hand during a plenary session of the 2008 General Conference. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0836. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0845, 5/4/08.
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Allison Mitchell, a lay delegate from First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach, votes on a petition during a General Conference plenary session May 2. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0835. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0845, 5/4/08.
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The Rev. Debbie McLeod, superintendent of the Florida Conference’s South East District, and Rodney Akers, a lay delegate from First United Methodist Church of Seffner, discuss legislation included in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate during a plenary session May 2, the last day of the General Conference. Photo #08-0834. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0845, 5/4/08.
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The Rev. Clarke Campbell-Evans, senior pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Tallahassee, consults his Daily Christian Advocate regarding a petition being discussed during a plenary session of the General Conference. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0833. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0845, 5/4/08.
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Judith Pierre-Okerson (left), a lay delegate from Norland United Methodist Church in Miami, the Rev. Dr. Geraldine McClellan (center), superintendent of the Florida Conference’s North Central District, and Disney Weaver, a lay delegate from First United Methodist Church of Haines City, listen intently during a plenary session of General Conference April 30 to discussion of a petition opposing homophobia and heterosexism that said the church opposes “all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation.” The petition was approved. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0832. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0845, 5/4/08.
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Mickey Wilson (left), treasurer of the Florida Conference, and the Rev. Phil Roughton, senior pastor at Christ Church United Methodist in Ft. Lauderdale, confer during a plenary session April 30 of the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0831. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0844, 5/4/08.
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Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker of the Florida Conference chairs the plenary session dealing with the issue of homosexuality April 30 during the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0830. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0843, 5/1/08.
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John “Jad” Denmark, a lay member from Anona United Methodist Church in Largo and one of 26 Florida Conference delegates to the 2008 General Conference, makes an amendment in the plenary session debate on the issue of homosexuality April 30. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0829. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0843, 5/1/08.
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Florida Conference delegates, the Rev. Dr. Anne Burkholder, director of Connectional Ministries for the Florida Conference, and the Rev. Debbie McLeod, superintendent of the South East District, stand in solidarity following the vote on homosexuality April 30 during the 2008 General Conference. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #08-0828. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0843, 5/1/08.
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The Quéssua complex was a thriving spiritual and missionary center for The United Methodist Church in Angola before the country's civil war, but it also provided education for many Angolans. Many of Angola's leaders are considered “sons of Quéssua” because they were educated at the United Methodist schools. Today, the United Methodist church and School of Theology at Quéssua have been rebuilt, thanks in part to funds from Florida United Methodists through offerings collected during annual conference events. File photo #07-0571. Photo by Armando Rodriquez. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0659/April 19, 2007. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0842.
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The Rev. Carlos Tchihuto, left, and Ana Ingles, right, speak with the aid of a translator, center, to the Florida Conference delegation to the 2008 General Conference at a breakfast meeting May 1 in Fort Worth. Tchihuto and Ingles thanked the conference for their support of ministry and mission in East Angola. Photo by Erik Alsgaard. Photo #08-0827. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0842, 5/1/08.
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The Rev. Jorge Acevedo (right), senior pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral, and co-leader of the Florida Conference delegation, considers the discussion during a meeting of his legislative committee, which dealt with issues related to discipleship. Photo by Erik Alsgaard. Photo #08-0826. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0841, 4/28/08.
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Jad Denmark (left), a lay delegate from Anona United Methodist Church in Largo, talks intently with another member of the legislative committee on which they both served, which dealt with human sexuality. Delegates began voting on recommendations from the committees April 28 and will continue until the end of General Conference May 2. Photo by Erik Alsgaard. Photo #08-0825. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0841, 4/28/08.
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The Rev. Bob Bushong, pastor at First United Methodist Church, Winter Park, and Jeannie Jacques, a lay delegate from St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Lakeland, work together in the Faith and Order legislative committee. Photo by Erik Alsgaard. Photo #08-0824. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0841, 4/28/08.
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Lorenza Andrade-Smith, a seminarian at St. Paul School of Theology, takes part in a rally for immigrants’ rights during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey. Photo #08-0823. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0839, 4/25/08.
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Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker speaks at a rally for immigrants’ rights outside the Fort Worth Convention Center. Rally participants were encouraged to take immediate action on immigration reform by calling their congressional representatives and local churches to oppose H.R. 4088, the SAVE Act, a bill focused on strict enforcement of immigration laws. More than 1,000 United Methodist delegates, including 26 from Florida, are at the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, until May 2. Photo by Erik Alsgaard. Photo #08-0822. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0839, 4/25/08.
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Members of Covenant United Methodist Church in Port Orange gather before the opening worship service of the 2008 General Conference to pray for the Florida Conference delegate to the quadrennial assembly. The group began praying and fasting for all conference delegates and the work of the conference weeks before it began. They attended General Conference as “prayer delegates” to continue that ministry. Photo by Erik Alsgaard. Photo #08-0821. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0838, 4/24/08.
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Bill Walker, Florida Conference lay leader and head of the Florida Conference’s delegation to the 2008 General Conference (left), speaks with Paul Pollock before the quadrennial assembly’s opening worship service. Pollock and members of his church, Covenant United Methodist Church in Port Orange, attended the conference for the sole purpose of praying for and showing their support of the delegates and the work of the assembly. Photo by Erik Alsgaard. Photo #08-0820. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0838, 4/24/08.
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United Methodist Bishops Jack M. Tuell (left) and William B. Oden serve Holy Communion during opening worship at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #08-0819. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0837, 4/24/08.
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Bishop Janice Huie (right), president of the Council of Bishops, leads participants in the opening worship service at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey. Photo #08-0818. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0837, 4/24/08.
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Tina Cannon, a liturgical dancer from New Life Community United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, helps lead worship through dance, illustrating how people in all stages of their spiritual journey thirst for the living water — the word of God. The dance was part of the plenary session on the second part of worship, the Word, at the “Passionate Worship: Divine Inbreaking” event at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville April 11-12. Photo by Erik J. Aslgaard. Photo #08-0817. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0836, 4/23/08.
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Wearing a T-shirt reflecting the main point of the day, the Rev. Roy Terry leads a plenary session on the gathering, the second of four parts of a worship service, at the “Passionate Worship: Divine Inbreaking” event at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville April 11-12. Terry is pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Naples, a congregation that has been called “radical liturgical” and “emergent” in books, articles and television programs. Photo by Erik J. Aslgaard. Photo #08-0816. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0836, 4/23/08.
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Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker makes a point during his opening reflection at the “Passionate Worship: Divine Inbreaking” conferencewide event at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville April 11-12. The session focused on the first of the five practices of The Methodist Way. Future events will help churches incorporate the other practices. Photo by Erik J. Aslgaard. Photo #08-0815. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0836, 4/23/08.
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Participants at the “Passionate Worship: Divine Inbreaking” event at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville April 11-12 raise their arms in response to the Rev. Matt Berryman’s invocation, “The Lord be with you,” as part of the great thanksgiving liturgy during communion. Berryman is senior pastor at Avondale United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. Photo by Erik J. Aslgaard. Photo #08-0814. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0836, 4/23/08.
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Sending a petition to the 2008 General Conference calling for divestment from Caterpillar has achieved positive results, said Jim Winkler, top executive of the church’s social action agency. Winkler, shown here in a file photo, announced April 17 that the petition is being withdrawn. A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert. Photo #08-0813. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0835, 4/22/08.
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United Methodist Bishop Joel N. Martinez presides over a session of the denomination’s 2004 General Conference in Pittsburgh. One of 69 active bishops will preside over each plenary session of the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, but may not vote on any proposal. A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin. Photo #08-0812. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0833.
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Delegates to the United Methodist Church’s 2004 General Conference consider legislation from their seats in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin. Photo #08-0811. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0833.
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The Fort Worth (Texas) Convention Center spans 14 city blocks in the heart of downtown, providing nearly 255,000 square feet of exhibit space, 59,000 square feet of meeting space and a 13,500-seat arena. Nearly 2,000 delegates and other United Methodists from throughout the world will gather April 23-May 2 at the convention center for the denomination's quadrennial legislative conference. A UMNS photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau. File Photo #08-0761. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0801/Feb. 21, 2008. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0833.
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Both the prayer chapel (background, left) and labyrinth at the Florida Conference Life Enrichment Center in Fruitland Park, near Leesburg, offer opportunities for spiritual reflection. File photo #08-0810. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0832, 4/17/08.
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The nametags of about 120 volunteers hang on pegs in a room at Community United Methodist Church in Holiday. That’s how many people it took each day to run the weeklong Fresh Start day camp offered last summer at the church. Approximately 90 children participated. Organizers say cooperation from the community crossed denominational, neighborhood and socioeconomic boundaries. Photo by Caryl Kelley. Photo #08-0809. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0831, 4/16/08.
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Children participate in the Fresh Start day camp offered last summer at Community United Methodist Church in Holiday. It was a communitywide effort undertaken after the local Coalition for the Homeless — of which the church’s pastor, the Rev. Dan Campbell, is a participant — surveyed the community and found 55 percent of the 2,200 people who are homeless in the area are younger than 18. In addition to getting breakfast, lunch and two snacks, the children participated in such "fiesta"-themed activities as hot Bible adventures, cactus crafts, “grande” games, and chapel time with music and stories. Photo by Caryl Kelley. File photo #07-0655. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0726/Aug. 22, 2007. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0831, 4/16/08.
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JoAnne Carroll, co-director of Carson Simpson Farm Day Camp outreach in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church, shares tips and information on running a day camp at the Day Camp Training Seminar March 8 at Pine Hills United Methodist Church and Berea Haitian Mission in Orlando. Photo by Thomas Routzong. Photo #08-0808. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0831, 4/16/08.
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Florida Conference United Methodists march to the Florida Capitol April 1 during the annual Children’s Week event. Their goal: to meet with advocacy groups and state legislators about children’s issues, specifically meal programs for children while school is in session and during the summer break and affordable housing. The conference's United Methodist Women make it a priority to have a strong contingent of representatives at the gathering each year. Photo by Erik J. Alsgaard. Photo #08-0807. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0830, 4/15/08.
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Holding a $20,000 check raised for Florida Impact through offerings collected at the recent 2008 Women’s Retreats and just presented to her by Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker, Florida Impact Director Debra Susie addresses a group of Florida Conference United Methodist Women and pastors April 1 at a church service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Tallahassee. The group was at the state’s capitol to advocate for children’s issues during the annual Children’s Week event. Photo by Erik J. Alsgaard. Photo #08-0806. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0830, 4/15/08.
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Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker recognizes the Rev. Tony Rosenburg and his congregation, Crawfordville United Methodist Church, for their efforts in partnering with other groups in their community to provide feeding programs for children during the summer school break. Whitaker made the presentation April 1 during a service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Tallahassee. After the service Whitaker and a group of more than 37 United Methodist Women and pastors headed to the state’s capitol to meet with other groups and legislators on behalf of Florida’s children during the annual Children’s Week event. Photo by Erik J. Alsgaard. Photo #08-0805. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0830, 4/15/08.
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Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker (right) greets Sen. Ken Pruitt (R-Port St. Lucie), president of the Florida Senate, April 1 during Children’s Week in Tallahassee. Whitaker and African Methodist Episcopal Bishop McKinley Young joined met with Pruitt and other legislators about children’s issues, including the need for affordable housing and meal programs. Photo by Erik J. Alsgaard. Photo #08-0804. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0830, 4/15/08.
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The Manaleni Center staff and volunteers welcome church members visiting from St. James United Methodist Church in Tampa. The church began a partnership in February 2007 with the Mukhanyo Community Development Centers, which provides day-care centers — including the Manaleni Center — for children in KwaMhlanga, South Africa, orphaned by AIDS. The organization also runs a hospice center that cares for AIDS patients. Photo courtesy of Paul Butler. Photo #08-0803. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0829, 4/11/08.
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Carli Minacci, a member of St. James Untied Methodist Church in Tampa, shares photos on her camera with children and youth at the Manaleni Center, one of five day-care centers run by the Mukhanyo Community Development Centers in KwaMhlanga, South Africa, for children orphaned by AIDS. The World Health Organization estimates 1.4 million South African children in 2005 alone were living as orphans. Of that number approximately 370,000 had lost both parents to AIDS. Photo courtesy of Paul Butler. Photo #08-0802. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0829, 4/11/08.
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The Rev. Paul Butler (center) was one of six members of St. James Untied Methodist Church in Tampa to travel to KwaMhlanga, South Africa, in February 2007 on a fact-finding mission to “check out” the work of the Mukhanyo Community Development Centers, which operates day-care centers for children orphaned by AIDS and a hospice center for AIDS patients. That visit prompted the St. James congregation and other churches interested in being part of the mission to raise more than $209,000 — money that enabled a fifth day-care center to open. Photo courtesy of Paul Butler. Photo #08-0801. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0829, 4/11/08.
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United Methodist Bishop Janice Huie listens during an April 1 press conference at the United Nations, where a global partnership to help end malaria deaths was announced. Seated next to her is Chad Amour, representing Lutheran World Relief. The global partnership will be led by The United Methodist Church and Lutheran World Relief and organized by the U.N. Foundation. A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin. Photo #08-0800. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0827, 4/8/08.
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Ted Turner (left) listens as Srgian Kerim, president of the U.N. General Assembly, speaks at an April 1 press conference at the United Nations. United Methodist Bishop Janice Huie joined Turner as he announced an expanded global partnership to help end malaria deaths. Turner, a businessman and philanthropist, founded the U.N. Foundation a decade ago. The global partnership will be led by The United Methodist Church and Lutheran World Relief and organized by the foundation. A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin. Photo #08-0799. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0827, 4/8/08.
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Since the Florida Conference Connectional Ministries office began offering training courses in April 2006 for members serving in leadership positions at their churches, more than 1,400 people have taken the online classes. Photo by Caryl Kelley. File Photo #06-334. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0468/April 8, 2006. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #0826, 4/6/08. Web photo only.
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