Bishop James Swanson, Jr., Mississippi Episcopal Area, preaches on May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Delegates pray following the statement from Bishop Bruce R. Ough about sexuality and the church from the denomination's Council of Bishops on May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

IAEA 60th General Conference Closing Session. Plenary, M-Building, Vienna, Austria. 30 September 2016.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Deaconesses and home missioners stand following commissioning during the May 16 worship service of the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

IAEA 60th General Conference Closing Session. Plenary, M-Building, Vienna, Austria. 30 September 2016.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Sahel Reception at the IAEA 57th General Conference. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 18 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Bishop Bruce R. Ough reads a statement about sexuality and the church from the denomination's Council of Bishops on May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

This year’s annual meeting aims to accelerate the sharing of stories of excellence among UBCM’s members. Delegates will be provided with first-hand accounts of local success stories from large, mid-sized and small communities.

Members of the Christ Deaf Choir from Christ United Methodist Church, Baltimore, Maryland, perform at a May 20 worship service during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Ann Jacob of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference is hugged by fellow young people after reading a statement on church unity adopted by the Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly. She presented the statement adopted in July 2015 during the afternoon plenary on May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference May 18 in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS

The Rev. Mande Muyombo helps lead opening worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, side event at the IAEA 58th General Conference. Vienna, Austria. 24 September 2014.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Exhibits at the IAEA 57th General Conference. IAEA Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Exhibits at the IAEA 57th General Conference. IAEA Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

The Rev. Pamela Lightsey leads advocates from the Black Lives Matter movement as they disrupt the proceedings of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Members of the Martin Methodist College Chamber Choir from Pulaski, Tenn., sing during morning worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Harriett Olson of United Methodist Women addresses the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

General Debate afternoon session at the IAEA 58th General Conference. Plenary, M-Building, Vienna, Austria. 25 September 2014.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Lonnie Chafin, Northern Illinois Conference, speaks on the GCFA budget May 20 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

“Nuclear Olympiad and Developing a Youth Talent Pipeline”, a GC side event co-hosted by the Department of Management and Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications at the IAEA 59th General Conference. Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2015.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky preaches during a May 20 worship service at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Music leaders sing during opening worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. From left are: Missy Wise, DeAndre Johnson and Brielle Ocot. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

IAEA 60th General Conference Closing Session. Plenary, M-Building, Vienna, Austria. 30 September 2016.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Activists march on May 16 around the Oregon Convention Center, the site of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Demonstrators were demanding that the church be more inclusive of LGBTQ people. Photo by Maile Bradifled, UMNS.

The Rev. Debra Tryee celebrates UMCOR's 75th anniversary during the May 18 worship service at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

The Rev. Fred Day, head of General Commission on Archives and History, celebrates the 200th anniversary of the founding of the African Methodist Episcopal Church during the May 17 worship of the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Bishop John Yambasu gives the sermon during morning worship May 19 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Jeremy Rosado sings "Able" during a celebration of The United Methodist Church's Imagine No Malaria campaign May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Bishop Sally Dyck, Chicago Episcopal Area, presides over the May 20 plenary session of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Behind her are Bishops Gregory Palmer and Janice Riggle Huie. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

57th General Conference President, H.E. Mr. Xolisa Mfundiso Mabhongo of South Africa welcomes delegates and Member States at the opening of the first day of the 57th IAEA General Conference. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 16 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata, Phoenix Episcopal Area, holds up a bag of gummi bears following a Vital Connections Moment during the May 19 plenary session of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Bilateral meeting between Mr. Gunther Oettinger, Commissioner for Energy, European Commission, and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at the IAEA 57th General Conference. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Donald House Sr. watches from the podium May 17 as the vote comes in to refer the proposed creation of a new committee on church growth to the United Methodist Judicial Council for a ruling on its constitutionality during the denomination's 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. House's plan would have removed $20 million from general church ministries and reallocated the money to a new committee on U.S. church growth. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Bishop Grant Hagiya of the Greater Northwest Area addresses the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Hagiya introduced a report on the denomination's Four Areas of Focus ministry priorities. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

IAEA 60th General Conference. Plenary, IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 26 September 2016

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

IAEA 59th General Conference Closing Session. Plenary, M-Building, Vienna, Austria. 18 September 2015.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

“Nuclear Olympiad and Developing a Youth Talent Pipeline”, a GC side event co-hosted by the Department of Management and Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications at the IAEA 59th General Conference. Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2015.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

“Nuclear Olympiad and Developing a Youth Talent Pipeline”, a GC side event co-hosted by the Department of Management and Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications at the IAEA 59th General Conference. Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2015.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at a reception given by the Royal Thai Embassy of Vienna hosted by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand at the IAEA 58th General Conference. Vienna, Austria. 24 September 2014.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

IAEA 57th General Conference Scientific Forum: On The Blue Planet – Nuclear Applications for a Sustainable Marine Environment. IAEA Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Brandon Gebka / IAEA

Ruth Pierre Jean Pierre gets a hug from her sister shortly after being consecrated a deaconess during a May 16 worship service at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Exhibits at the IAEA 57th General Conference. IAEA Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

The Rev. Jeremy Troxler, delegate from the Western North Carolina Conference, makes a motion May 18 to refer certain items to the judicial Council during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Krystl Johnson, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, and the Rev. Charles Boayue, Detroit Conference, presents a petition from the Global Ministries legislative committee at the 2016 United Methodist Church in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

In-Yong Lee helps lead closing worship May 20 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

The Rev. Gary Henderson helps celebrate the Imagine No Malaria campaign May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Henderson is executive director of the United Methodist Global Health Initiative.Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Jeremy Rosado sings "Able" during a celebration of The United Methodist Church's Imagine No Malaria campaign May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Jeremy Rosado sings "Able" during a celebration of The United Methodist Church's Imagine No Malaria campaign May 18 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

IAEA 60th General Conference Closing Session. Plenary, M-Building, Vienna, Austria. 30 September 2016.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Activists march on May 16 around the Oregon Convention Center, the site of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Demonstrators were demanding that the church be more inclusive of LGBTQ people. Photo by Maile Bradifled, UMNS.