Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa of the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area preaches at the April 27 morning worship service at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Church members should bring more people to Christ, not remove people from the denomination, said Zimbabwe resident Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa during April 27 morning worship.

During the morning plenary, delegates approved a statement expanding defense of human rights as part of the first batch of revised Social Principles to come before the body.

General Conference delegates approved the restructuring of the Connectional Table so the United Methodist leadership body has a more international membership.

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Dakotas connections at General Conference April 27 and 18
 

Rev. Rebecca Trefz, Dakotas Conference speak during the plenary session at General Conference, April 27. Screenshot from livestream video.

 Rev. Rebecca Tefz, clergy delegate for the Dakotas Conference, spoke during the plenary session to note that Rev. Sara Nelson, reserve clergy delegate, and Beata Ferris, reserve lay delegate were the Dakotas Conference nominations to the Interjurisdictional Episcopacy Committee.
 

Dave Stucke and Doreen Gosmire pause for a photo outside Myers Park United Methodist Church. Photo by Rev. Kris Mutzenberger.

The Dakotas Conference communication team arrived in Charlotte on the evening of April 27. The team of Doreen Gosmire, Rev. Kris Mutzenberger, and Dave Stucke attended worship Sunday, April 28, at Myers Park United Methodist Church where they heard Rev. Magrey deVega, senior pastor at Hyde Park UMC in Tampa, Florida, preach.

Today's schedule*
*EDT—Eastern Daylight Time
View entire agenda here.  Watch the livestream.
8:00 – 9:20 a.m. —Worship Consecration of Deaconesses and Home Missioners for Lifetime Service
8:20 – 10:00 a.m.—Plenary Session
     Monitoring Report
     Administrative Committee Reports
     Consent Calendars
10:20 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. – Plenary Session
     United Women in Faith
     Voting Demonstration
     Elections
        ● Trustees of John Street Church
        ● Secretary-designate of the General Conference
        ● Commission on the General Conference
        ● General Agencies
        ● Judicial Council
        ● University Senate
        ● Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters
1:30 – 3:40 P.M. – Plenary Session
      Africa University Report
      Higher Education and Ministry Report
     Calendar Items & Conference Business 
4:00 – 6:10 P.M. – Plenary Session
     Abundant Health Initiative Report
     United Methodist Men 
     Calendar Items & Conference Business

General Conference Resources:
Dakotas Conference articles
Dakotas Conference videos
Dakotas Conference wrap-up videos: April 23, April 24, April 25, April 26
United Methodist News Service photos
Livestream archive
United Methodist Communications wrap-up videos: April 23, April 24, April 25, April 26
General Conference website