Photo: Gil Hanke, top staff executive of the General Commission on United Methodist Men, speak to General Conference on the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts.

TAMPA, Fla.–– UM Men had a strong presence at General Conference. They hosted an exhibit area, led an effort to package 40,000 pounds of cucumbers for distribution by local feeding agencies across Central Florida, monitored legislative committees and presented two Good Samaritan Awards during a Sunday evening celebration of denominational ministries. The commission also served as a cosponsor of a laity luncheon during the 11-day conference gathering by Tampa Bay, and Bishop James King, president of the commission, preached at a worship service.
Every one of the structure proposals considered by the assembly retained the Commission on UM Men, but changed the name of the General Commission on UM Men to UM Men to parallel UM Women.
The women’s organization was removed as a division of the General Board of Global Ministries and established as an independent organization prior to any consideration of alternative structures. So when the compromise structure was declared unconstitutional by the Judicial Council, the earlier decision making UM Women an independent agency was not changed. However, the ruling restored the Commission on UM Men to its original name.
The General Commission on UM Men will not have to change letterheads, the name on the building or various shirts and jackets. The only substantive change is a reduction in the number of board members from 25 to 20.
A full report on the conference will be included in the summer issue of UM Men magazine.