Rev. Ellis Conley, center, and Jim Berner, Conference Treasurer, right, review a petition to General Conference that they will soon vote on.  Conference Lay Leader Fred Kellerman is in the back.

Rev. Dewayne Lowther, former WV Conference Secretary, and his wife Ginnie provided photo services during General Conference.  The two travel extensively to take photos of special events.

Rev. Charles Hicks, pastor at Calvary UMC, Ripley, attended General Conference on behalf of the United Methodist Fellowship of Associate Members and Local Pastors.  He also participated in a report to the Conference about the many and varied ministries of "Town and Country," predominantly rural congregations.  He said of the 36,000 UM pastors 9,275 of them minister with small churches.

Judi Kenaston, a member of the WV delegation speaks to a Legislative Committee. (UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey)

The WV Annual Conference delegation hard at work on the floor of General Conference in Ft. Worth, Texas

West Virginia Annual Conference Delegation member, Zachary Allen, addresses the Conference and is caught by the big screen.

Rev. Monty Brown, center, remains cheerful despite long hours of General Conference business.  The Conference elected the pastor of St. Marks, UMC, Charleston, as an alternate member of the Judicial Council.  Judi Kenaston, middle left, Mary Ellen Finegan, and Zachary Allen are also shown.

Bishop Lyght delivers a sermon during General Conference urging the Church to offer "fresh bread" to people who seek help. (UMNS photo by Mike DuBose)

Bishop Thomas Bickerton, Western Pennsylvania, holds a basketball signed by United Methodist bishops at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.  The basketball was auctioned to benefit the Nothing But Nets campaign against malaria, raising $429,030. (UMNS photo by Mike Dubose)

(Unless otherwise indicated, photos on this page are by Tom Burger)