Megan Bartlett (left) and her sister, Hannah, read the scripture for the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Megan and Hannah are the daughters of the Rev. Laura Jaquith Bartlett, Worship and Music Director, General Conference 2016. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

A members of the Tamba Marimba Ensemble performs prior to the May 14 morning worship at the United Methodist 2016 General Conferene in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Badfield, UMNS.

Members of the Tamba Marimba Ensemble perform prior to the May 14 morning worship at the United Methodist 2016 General Conferene in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Badfield, UMNS.

A member of the Tamba Marimba Ensemble performs prior to the May 14 morning worship at the United Methodist 2016 General Conferene in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Badfield, UMNS.

Joy Martin makes prayer beads May 12 during the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Volunteers make prayer beads May 12 during the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Members of the Worship in Motion dance ensemble process during the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. The group is from Federal Way United Methodist Church in Auburn, Washington. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Supporters gather around Susan Laurie (center) during a service of Holy Communion on May 10, the first day of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Laurie, a lesbian, was ordained in an unauthorized service in the lobby of the Oregon Convention Center. The United Methodist Church does not authorize the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals," but activists have for years demonstrated in favor of change at the quadrennial gathering of the world-wide denomination. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Megan Bartlett (left) and her sister, Hannah, read the scripture for the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Megan and Hannah are the daughters of the Rev. Laura Jaquith Bartlett, Worship and Music Director, General Conference 2016. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

A member of the Tamba Marimba Ensemble performs prior to the May 14 morning worship at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Badfield, UMNS.

Lotte Christiansen (center) and other members of the KEFAS Choir from Denmark sing on May 12 during morning worship at the United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Mr. Andrew Cannavan, Head of the Food and Environmental Protection Laboratory, tours H. E. Mr. Dikobe Ben Martins, Minister for Energy of South Africa and his delegation during visit to the Nuclear Sciences and Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf at the 57th IAEA General Conference. IAEA Seibersdorf, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Qionghua Wu / IAEA

Mr. Alexander Bychkov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy together with representatives of the European Nuclear Education Network Association at the Award Ceremony of the European Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering (EMSNE), a side event at the IAEA 57th General Conference. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 19 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Sister bishops lay hands on and pray for North Carolina Bishop Hope Morgan Ward (center) after she finished presiding over a difficult session of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. The session, which considered the controversial "Rule 44" group discernment process was marked by much debate and confusion. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Members of the Worship in Motion dance ensemble process during the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. The group is from Federal Way United Methodist Church in Auburn, Washington. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar of the Boston Episopal Area, preaches at the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

The Rev. R. DeAndre Johnson, a member of the worhip team, sings at the May 14 morning worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Ted Wilson, president of the Adventist World Church, speaks to the subject of women's ordination. 60th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in San Antonio, Texas. ©2015 North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Photo taken by Rohann Wellington/NAD

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar of the Boston Episopal Area, preaches at the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Bilateral meeting between Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at the IAEA 57th General Conference. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Members of the Worship in Motion dance ensemble process during the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. The group is from Federal Way United Methodist Church in Auburn, Washington. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Delegates to the United Methodist 2016 General in Portland, Ore., register on opening day, May 10. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Uruguay delegation headed by Ambassador Carlos Barros Oreiro at the closing session of the 57th IAEA General Conference. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 20 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar of the Boston Episopal Area, preaches at the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Delegates take a moment to pray during the May 12 debate on Rule 44 at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS..

Fred Brewington, a delegate from the New York Conference, reads scripture during morning worship on May 12 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

The Rev. Debra Tyree (left) and Sylvie Ndjungu help lead morning worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Supporters lay hands on Susan Laurie (kneeling) during an irregular ordination service on the first day of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Laurie, a lesbian, was ordained in an unauthorized service in the lobby of the Oregon Convention Center on May 10. The United Methodist Church prohibits the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals," but activists have for years demonstrated in favor of change at the quadrennial gathering of the world-wide denomination. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

The Rev. Eunice Iliya, Southern Nigeria Conference, gives the thanksgiving at the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar of the Boston Episopal Area, preaches at the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of the North Carolina Conference presides over a session of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Supporters lay hands on Susan Laurie (kneeling) during an irregular ordination service on the first day of the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Laurie, a lesbian, was ordained May 10 in an unauthorized service in the lobby of the Oregon Convention Center. The United Methodist Church does not authorize the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals," but activists have for years demonstrated in favor of change at the quadrennial gathering of the world-wide denomination. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Fifth day of the 57th IAEA General Conference. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 20 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Members of the Tamba Marimba Ensemble perform prior to the May 14 morning worship at the United Methodist 2016 General Conferene in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Badfield, UMNS.

Members of the Worship in Motion dance ensemble process during the May 14 worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. The group is from Federal Way United Methodist Church in Auburn, Washington. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Behind the Scenes at the last day of the 57th IAEA General Conference. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 20 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

IAEA 57th General Conference Reception, hosted by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Conference President, Ambassador Xolisa Mfundiso Mabhongo of South Africa. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 16 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

IAEA Marine Environmental Laboratory exhibit at the 55th General Conference. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 23 September 2011

Copyright: IAEA Imagebank

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Passengers board a MAX light rail train on May 10 that carries an advertising message from The United Methodist Church during the opening day of the denomination's 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Mr Pierre-Franck Chevet, Chairman of the French Nuclear Safety Authority, welcome delegates during his introductory remarks at the Senior Regulators Meeting. IAEA 58th General Conference, Vienna, Austria. 25 September 2014.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Signing of the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the Nubian Aquifer by representatives of Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan at the IAEA 57th General Conference. The SAP has been developed as a result of TC Project RAF8041, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme's Global Environment Facility (UNDL/GEF). IAEA Vienna, Austria, 18 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

The Rev. Debra Tyree and members of the Worship in Motion ensemble participate in the May 14 morning worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Brafield, UMNS.

IAEA Marine Environmental Laboratory exhibit at the 55th General Conference. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 23 September 2011

Copyright: IAEA Imagebank

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

The Rev. Anthony Tang, Desert Southwest Conference, gives the thanksgiving for the May 14 morning worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Following a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality, Bishop Karen Oliveto speaks to delegates who in protest 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.