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

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.

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.

Members of the I.M.A.G.E. choir from Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., sing during morning worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

North Carolina Bishop Hope Morgan Ward presides over debate on "Rule 44," a process for small group discernment, at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Following a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies against homosexuality, a St. Louis Police officer pushes back a protestor to prevent him from entering the St. Louis convention center that hosted the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, which strengthens penalties for LGBTQIA clergy and prohibits same sex weddings. Several protestors were removed by police, but no arrests were reported. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

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

The Rev. Eunice Iliya of the Southern Nigeria Conference helps lead morning worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Scott Johnson of the Upper New York Conference helps deliver the laity address on May 13 during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward watches as votes are tallied showing the defeat of "Rule 44," a process for small group discernment, at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

The Rev. Terri Rae Chattin, a clergy delegate from the Baltimore-Washington Conference, speaks to the United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore., on May 12. Chattin spoke in favor of Rule 44, which would have introduced small group discussions for sensitive issues. The proposed rule was not approved. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

First day of the 57th IAEA General Conference. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 16 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward (right) presides over debate on "Rule 44," a process for small group discernment, at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Assisting her is the Rev. L. Fitzgerald Reist, secretary of the General Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, 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.

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

Peter Cibuabua of the Central Congo Conference helps deliver the young people's address during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Bishop Bruce R. Ough reports on the work of the Connectional Table on May 13 during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Chelsea Spyres of the Peninsula-Deleware Conference helps deliver the young people's address during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Members of the Trinity Brass Quintet from Frederick, Md., play during worship on May 13 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Moses Kumar, top executive of the General Council on Finance and Admistration, speaks at a May 13 press conference following his report to the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

The Rev. Edwin Julius Jeblar Momoh, a clegy delegate from the Sierra Leone Conference, speaks to the United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore., on May 12. Momoh spoke against adoption of Rule 44, which would have introduced small group discussions for sensitive issues. The proposed rule was not approved. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Resident Representative of Cuba, Ambassador Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera address delegates and member states at the 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

Warren Harper of the Virginia Conference helps deliver the laity address on May 13 during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

The Rev. David Wilson of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference reads scripture during morning worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

The Rev. Gere Reist, Secretary of the General Conference, speaks to delegates during the May 14 plenary session of the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Annual Council 2019

Ron Kelly, senior pastor of Village Seventh-day Adventist Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA, gave the morning devotional during the last day of Annual Council 2019 in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.

(Photo: Brent Hardinge / GC Communication)

Courtney Fowler of the Great Plains Conference helps deliver the laity address on May 13 during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Members of the larger Methodist family greet the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. The guests were representatives from affiliated and concordat churches. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Following a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality, the Rev. Becca Girrell (right), a delegate from the New England Annual Conference, and others formed a large circle in protest 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.

Day 4 at the IAEA 60th General Conference. Plenary, IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 26 September 2016

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Brian Hammons of the Missouri Conference helps deliver the laity address on May 13 during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson (left) interprets Bishop Gregory V. Palmer's episcopal address into American Sign Language at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Delegate Marie Kuch-Stanovsky from the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference speaks during 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.

Behind the Scenes at the 57th IAEA General Conference. IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Mary Thompson with Worship in Motion from Federal Way United Methodist Church in Auburn, Wash., brings the star of Bethlehem to morning worship at 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Courtesy meeting between DG Amano and the Ministers of Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan before the signing of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System Strategic Action Programme.

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

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

United Methodist Bishop Robert Hoshibata meets with protestors upset about a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies against homosexuality. Activists protested in the entry of the St. Louis convention center that hosted the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, which strengthens penalties for LGBTQIA clergy and prohibits same sex weddings. Several protestors were removed by police, but no arrests were reported. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Ryan Saul holds a lantern lit by a solar-powered lamp during the General Conference Climate Vigil at the Oregon Convention Center Plaza in Portland. The vigil was held to call attention to climate change during the meeting of The United Methodist Church's top legislative body. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

A delegate holds her voting device aloft as she contemplates a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen denominational 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. Amy Valdez Barker reports on the work of the Connectional Table during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

A St. Louis police officer prevents gay rights protesters from entering a turnstile barricade in the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, site of the 2019 United Methodist General Conference, where delegates passed legislation that strengthens the church’s rules against same-sex marriage and gay clergy. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, 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 Cynthia Fierro Harvey, Louisiana Episcopal Area, presides over the May 14 plenary session of the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Behind the Scenes at the 57th IAEA General Conference. IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 17 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

On 16 September 2013, Cuba and Malta deposited their respective instrument of ratification of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) to IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, during a Treaty Event held in the margins of the 57th IAEA General Conference. On the same day, Malta additionally deposited its instrument of accession to the IAEA's Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 16 September 2013

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano enjoys a taste of local coffee and dates from United Arab Emirates Exhibit at the IAEA 58th General Conference. IAEA Vienna, Austria. 23 September 2014.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA