Liberian President,
Bush to address
2008 UMC
General Conference

President Bush.

President Johnson-Sirleaf.

TAMPA (Florida) - The Commission on the General Conference is inviting the President of the United States and the President of Liberia - both United Methodists - to address the denomination's 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.


The Rev Gail Murphy-Geiss, Chairman of the commission, said: "It would be fitting to hear from President Bush as we are meeting in his native Texas. President Johnson-Sirleaf is an extraordinary woman leading the effort to rebuild a country ravaged by war."


The 2008 General Conference will meet from April 23 to May 2. About 1,000 delegates from the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia meet every four years to decide issues of church law and polity.


President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, are members of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, where both taught Sunday school before his election. He is the third Methodist to serve as US president. The others were William McKinley (1897-1901) and Rutherford Hayes (1877-1881).


Ms Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is an active member of First United Methodist Church in Monrovia, Liberia. The United Methodist Church has been active in Liberia since 1822 and is the largest Protestant denomination in the West African nation. - United Methodist News Service.