wfn.org | New Association of Evangelicals

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.apc.org>]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3255 notes).

Note 3254 by UMNS on Oct. 24, 1996 at 16:13 Eastern (2509 characters).

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CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                      540(10-71B){3254}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             Oct. 24, 1996

Evangelical leaders from mainline
denominations form new association

     
                 by United Methodist News Service

     Leaders of evangelical groups within historic mainline United
States churches announced Oct. 23 the creation of a new
Association for Church Renewal "to advance a stronger and more
unified witness to orthodox Christianity in both church and
society."
     Chairman of the new group is the Rev. James V. Heidinger II,
president of Good News, an evangelical reform movement within the
United Methodist Church.  
     "Given the devastating moral crisis in our society, and the
abandonment by many official church leaders of public witness to
biblical faith and practice, we have a new urgency for working
together and speaking out together," Heidinger said.
     According to a release issued by Heidinger Oct. 23, the
inaugural meeting of the association included discussions on "the
philosophical and theological assumptions behind the contemporary
debates over same-sex marriage, the plight of persecuted
Christians in remnant communist and extremist Muslim regimes, and
trends in radical feminist theology."
     The association will issue occasional position papers and
public statements and will assist renewal groups in developing a
common life of prayer and sharing strategies and resources,
according to the Oct. 23 release.
     Diane Knippers, president of the Institute on Religion and
Democracy and a former staff member of Good News, is the new vice-
chair for program and research for the new association, which she
says "provides a way for us to be a part of the emerging
ecumenical movement."
     Organizers of the Association of Church Renewal represent
groups in the American Baptist Churches/U.S.A., Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of
Canada, United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church.
     Vice-chair for membership and development is Todd Wetzel,
executive director of Episcopalians United.
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