The Rev. Gary Graves speaks to the February 23, 2019, opening session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Graves is secretary of the general conference, and made an announcement about the denomination's judicial council. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

As the Rev. Joe Harris presides over the legislative committee, the results of a vote approving the Traditional Plan as amended by 461-359 are displayed. The vote must still be approved by the plenary session on Feb. 26, the final day of the special session of the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Delegates sing during a February 23, 2019, worship service in the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano together with other keynote speaker at the GC59 side event "Atoms for Peace and Development: IAEA and the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals". IAEA Vienna, Austria, 15 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

Supporters of full inclusion for LGBTQ individuals in the life of the church cheer in the spectator section during a debate about church polity at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

United Methodist bishops and delegates gather together to pray at the front of the stage before a key vote on church policies about homosexuality on Feb. 26 during the special session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Bishop Rosemarie Wenner blesses a delegate during a worship service on February 23, 2019, during an opening session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Carlene Fogle-Miller, a delegate from Florida, asks for an investigation into vote-buying allegations during the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Her Feb. 26 motion was approved by a majority of delegates and referred to the Commission on Ethics. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Bishop Rosemarie Wenner blesses Julia Nhamajeho, a delegate from Mozambique, during a worship service on February 23, 2019, during an opening session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Delegate Shayla Jordan (at microphone) speaks in support of the One Church Plan during the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. She is surrounded by other delegates. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

A liturgical dancer waves a flag during worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Bishops process into worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Bishops process into worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Liturgical dancers wave flags during worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

A liturgical dancer waves a flag during worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Following a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality, Bishop Karen Oliveto speaks to delegates who formed a large circle in the center of the plenary floor. The action came on the last day of a Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, which strengthens penalties for LGBTQIA clergy and prohibits same sex weddings. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Opening of the PACT side event: “Building Partnerships to fight cancer in Low/Middle-income countries at the IAEA 58th General Conference. Vienna, Austria. 25 September 2014.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Delegates hold their cell phone lights high as they sing "This Little Light of Mine" during worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey observes the results from a Feb. 26 vote for the Traditional Plan, which affirms the church’s current bans on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and officiating at or hosting same-sex marriage. The vote came on the last day of the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Activists favoring an inclusive church demonstrate on February 23, 2019, outside the opening session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Police prevent a protester from entering the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, the site of the 2019 General Conference. Delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, which affirms the church’s current bans on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and officiating at or hosting same-sex marriage. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Bishop Elaine Stanovsky prays with a delegate during an February 23, 2019, worship service in the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano addresses delegates at the 59th IAEA General Conference. IAEA, Vienna, Austria, 14 September 2015.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Delegate Ian Urriola from New York State speaks during the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Delegates hold their cell phone lights high as they sing "This Little Light of Mine" during worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Delegates use electronic voting machines during a Feb. 24, 2019, plenary session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Delegate Rebecca Girrell from the New England Conference speaks during the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Delegate John Lomperis from Indiana speaks during a debate of church policies on sexuality Feb. 25 at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Bishop Jane Middleton blesses a delegate during the February 23, 2019, opening session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Middleton is a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Spectators observe a discussion of church policies on sexuality during the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

A delegate uses an electronic voting machine during a Feb. 24, 2019, plenary session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Bishop Karen Oliveto walks among bishops processing into worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Delegates use electronic devices to cast votes during the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis on Feb. 25. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Delegate Chappell Temple of Texas speaks during the debate on a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality. The vote came on the last day of a Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, which strengthens penalties for LGBTQIA clergy and prohibits same sex weddings. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

The Rev. Gary Graves reads the results of a Feb. 24, 2019, poll of legislative priorities among delegates to the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis. The conference was called to help the denomination find a way toward unity, despite deep conflicts over sexuality. The initial voting shows a preference for dealing first with pension and then with the Traditional Plan petition that would strengthen enforcement of church policies against LGBTQ individuals serving as clergy or being married in UM churches. Graves is secretary of the General Conference. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for UMNS.

IAEA 58th General Conference Closing Session. Plenary, M-Building, Vienna, Austria. 26 September 2014

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Delegate Karen Prudente speaks at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Bishop Karen Oliveto (right) shares bread with a delegate during a February 23, 2019, worship service in the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Oliveto is bishop of the Mountain Sky Area of The United Methodist Church. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Activists protest in the entry of the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, the site of the 2019 General Conference. Delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, which affirms the church’s current bans on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and officiating at or hosting same-sex marriage. Several protesters were removed by police, but no arrests were reported. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Bishops David Yemba (center), Kenneth H. Carter and Sandra Steiner Ball present the report of the Commission on a Way Forward to a Feb. 24, 2019, plenary session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Behind the Scenes at the first day of the 57th IAEA General Conference. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 16 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Delegate Gail Douglas-Boykin from the New York Conference speaks during the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis on Feb. 25. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Delegate Alex Shanks from Florida speaks during a debate of church policies on sexuality Feb. 25 at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Delegate Jeffrey Kuan of California speaks during the debate on a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality. The vote came on the last day of a Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, which strengthens penalties for LGBTQIA clergy and prohibits same sex weddings. Kuan unsuccessfully moved to add polygamy and divorce to the list of proscribed activity. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Delegate Markus Jung from Germany speaks at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis on Feb. 25. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Bishop Karen Oliveto (right) shares bread with delegate Lynne Gilbert during a February 23, 2019, worship service in the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Oliveto is bishop of the Mountain Sky Area of The United Methodist Church. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Bishop Karen Oliveto shares bread with a delegate during a February 23, 2019, worship service in the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Oliveto is bishop of the Mountain Sky Area of The United Methodist Church. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

Bishop Rosemarie Wenner blesses a delegate during a February 23, 2019, worship service in the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.

A liturgical dancer waves a flag during worship on February 24, 2019, at the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey for United Methodist News Service.