"The addition of Ivory Coast will further internationalize the United Methodist Church and dramatically empower the Africans." -- Executive Director of UMAction Mark Tooley

Contact: Loralei Coyle, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@TheIRD.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org; both with the Institute on Religion and Democracy

FT. WORTH, Texas, May 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- The United Methodist General Conference, the Church's governing body, completed steps this week to formally admit the Methodist Church of Ivory Coast into full status as part of the United Methodist Church. The move was a formality, as Ivory Coast had essentially been admitted in 2004, but with only two voting delegates. The formal admission will enable Ivory Coast to produce a much larger representation at the 2012 General Conference.

According to United Methodist Communications, with 677,355 members, the Ivory Coast Conference becomes by far the largest in The United Methodist Church. By comparison, Virginia, the largest regional conference in the United States, has 341,264 lay members.

Mark Tooley, Executive Director of IRD's UMAction Committee, commented:

"We celebrate the final acceptance of Ivory Coast into the United Methodist Church. With almost 700,000 Methodists, Ivory Coast could potentially send seventy delegates to the next General Conference of the church.

"The addition of Côte d'Ivoire will further internationalize the United Methodist Church and dramatically empower the Africans.

"The Ivorians, along with other Africans and American evangelicals, favor traditional church teachings and will bring refreshing renewal to our church.

"The growth of vibrant Methodism in Côte d'Ivoire is a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit."

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