Delegates gather together to pray at the front of the stage before a key vote on church policies about homosexuality on February 26, 2019, during the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

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.

Methodists in support of immigration reform rally at the Convention Center Plaza outside the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. The rally drew United Methodists and representatives of affiliated Methodist churches. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Delegate Kimberly Woods of the Illinois Great Rivers conference joins in singing at the conclusion of the episcopal address at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer delivers the episcopal address during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano congratulates GC57 President, Ambassador Xolisa Mfundiso Mabhongo of South Africa 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 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 58th General Conference Closing Session. Plenary, M-Building, Vienna, Austria. 26 September 2014

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Kansas, speaks during the debate on 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.

Bishop Ivan Abrahams gives the sermon May 17 during morning worship at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Abrahams is general secretary of the World Methodist Council. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Methodists in support of immigration reform rally at the Convention Center Plaza outside the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. The rally drew United Methodists and representatives of affiliated Methodist churches. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

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

Stephan Sparks, a delegate from the Mississippi Conference, speaks during the debate on 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.

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

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

The Rev. Gary Graves of the Kentucky Conference, and his wife Jennifer, are recognized following his election as the incoming Secretary of the General Conference at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Methodists in support of immigration reform march down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard outside the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. The rally drew United Methodists and representatives of affiliated Methodist churches. Photo by Mike DuBose, 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

Bishop Minerva Carcaño addresses a rally of Methodists in support of immigration reformat the Convention Center Plaza outside the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Following a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality, delegate Ian Urriola from New York State speaks to other 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.

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Bishop Gregory Palmer sings as he presides over a February 26, 2019, session of the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS.

Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) Briefing for Member States at IAEA 53rd General Conference.

Vienna International Centre

(Vienna, Austria, 16 September 2009)

Copyright: IAEA Imagebank

Photo Credit: Dean Calma/IAEA

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

Bishop Gregory Palmer 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.

The Rev. Laura Jaquith Barlett (second from right) sings at morning worship service at the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Bartlett is the worship and music director for the conference. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano congratulates GC57 President, Ambassador Xolisa Mfundiso Mabhongo of South Africa at the closing session of the 57th IAEA General Conference. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 20 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

Members of the KEFAS Choir from Denmark wave wind socks in the shape of salmon during the 2016 General Conference Climate Vigil at 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

Bilateral meeting between H.E. Mr. J. Laajava, Facilitator for the conference on the Establishment of a Nuclear Weapons Free-Zone in the Middle East (NWFZME), and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at the IAEA 57th General Conference. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 16 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

53rd IAEA General Conference

Vienna International Centre

(Vienna, Austria, 13 September 2009)

Copyright: IAEA Imagebank

Photo Credit: Dean Calma/IAEA

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Following a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality, several dozen delegates 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.

Following a February 26, 2019, vote to strengthen church policies about homosexuality, delegate Ian Urriola from New York State speaks to other 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.

Timothy Riss, a delegate from the New York Conference, speaks during the debate on 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.

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.

April Mercado of United Methodist Communications describes the effects of climate change on the Philippines 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

The Rev. Oscar Bolioli and Maria Cristina Ferrou accept the Council of Bishops Ecumenical Award from Bishop Mary Ann Swenson on behalf of the Rev. Mortimer Arias of Uraguay while the Rev. Don Messer applauds. The award was presented during the May 17 morning worship of the United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Oreg. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Gray Southern, a delegate from the North Carolina Conference, speaks during the debate on 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.

Scott Johnson, lay leader of the Upper New York Conference, and Holly Neal, lay leader of the Tennesse Conference, speak at a May 13 press conference. Earlier that day they participated in the laity address to United Methodist 2016 General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Maile Bradfield, UMNS.

Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) Briefing for Member States at IAEA 53rd General Conference.

Vienna International Centre

(Vienna, Austria, 16 September 2009)

Copyright: IAEA Imagebank

Photo Credit: Dean Calma/IAEA

Bishop Beverly Shamana (right) shares Holy Communion with the Rev. Michael Johnson during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Officiating with Shamana is the Rev. Tom Lank. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Delegates and Member States head for home at the last day of the 57th IAEA General Conference. M-Building, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria. 20 September 2013.

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

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

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Signing of the agreement between PACT and Nigeria represented by H. E. Hajiya Turai Yar'Adua, First Lady of Nigeria and Mr. Werner Burkart, IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Sciences and Applications.

IAEA 53rd General Conference.

Vienna International Centre

(Vienna, Austria, 16 September 2009)

Copyright: IAEA Imagebank

Photo Credit: Dean Calma/IAEA

Bishop Minerva Carcaño addresses a rally of Methodists in support of immigration reform rally at the Convention Center Plaza outside the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. The rally drew United Methodists and representatives of affiliated Methodist churches. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS