General Conference underway in Texas

Almost 1,000 United Methodists — including an ASU student — are meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, to set the policy and direction of The United Methodist Church for the next four years.

The 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church got underway on Wednesday, April 23. Wesley is a ministry of The United Methodist Church.

General Conference is the church's top legislative assembly, which meets every four years.

Over the next week and a half, 992 delegates will consider proposals to revise the church's rules and policies found in the Book of Discipline and to change and add new resolutions stating the church's position on various issues. General Conference is the only body that can officially speak for the 11.5 million-member United Methodist Church.

Among this year's delegates is ASU economics junior Devin Mauney, who is one of two delegates representing the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, the church's regional division that covers Arizona, southern Nevada and a small portion of southeastern California.

To learn more about General Conference, see a webcast of the proceedings and track legislation, visit GC2008.umc.org.