wfn.org | 'Good News' names Bush its Layman of the Year

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Jan. 9, 2002  News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
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NOTE: A photograph is available.

By United Methodist News Service

President George W. Bush has been named Layman of the Year by Good News
magazine, which features the country's most well-known United Methodist in
its January/February cover story.

The magazine's editorial team cited Bush's leadership in the wake of the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. "Few political leaders have
been required to respond to such traumatic and dreadful moments," the
magazine said. "Fewer still have shown such moral courage, political
deftness and Christian virtue as has this president."

This is the first time the magazine has recognized someone this way,
according to Steve Beard, editor in chief. The magazine is published by the
Good News organization, an unofficial United Methodist evangelical group
based in Wilmore, Ky.

The idea was influenced by a number of factors, including the events
following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America and the fact that Bush
is a United Methodist layman who has become "quite an incredible world
leader," Beard said.

In addition, he said, Good News was disappointed in statements by official
United Methodist bodies in the wake of the terrorist attacks. The group
believes the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, Council of
Bishops and Women's Division "gave a skewed view" of how most United
Methodists felt about the attacks and the aftermath, he said.

"President Bush represents the mainstream of United Methodism - and indeed
historic Christianity - in a way that many denominational leaders do not,"
said the Rev. James Heidinger II, Good News president and publisher, in the
magazine's story. Good News also cited Bush for his "biblically informed
world view, character, patience, compassion and courage." 

In a letter issued Nov. 9, the bishops condemned violence in all its forms
and called for prayers that "violence, terrorism and war will cease."
Meeting in October, directors of the Board of Church and Society advocated
restraint and reaffirmed an official church resolution condemning all acts
of terrorism and opposing "the use of indiscriminate military force to
combat terrorism."
The Women's Division of the Board of Global Ministries asked members of
United Methodist Women to urge Bush to use diplomatic means, rather than
bombing Afghanistan, to bring those responsible for the terrorist attacks to
justice. 

Good News views the current conflict as a "just war," and the group
expressed support on Oct. 10 for Bush's decision to begin military action
against Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization, Al-Qaida, and
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban party.

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United Methodist News Service
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