wfn.org | Good News Organizes Clergywomen

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3421 notes).

Note 3419 by UMNS on Feb. 6, 1997 at 15:55 Eastern (4194 characters).

SEARCH: Good News, evangelical clergywomen, Connection of
Evangelical Clergywomen (CEC)
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                    65(10-21-71B){3419}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470              Feb. 6, 1997

United Methodist Good News caucus organizing
"Connection of Evangelical Clergywomen"

                 by United Methodist News Service

     A "Connection of Evangelical Clergywomen" (CEC) is being
launched by Good News, a 30-year-old evangelical caucus within the
United Methodist Church.
     According to a news release issued by Good News offices in
Wilmore, Ky., Feb. 5, the CEC will be organized at a luncheon June
25 at the Willow Valley Resort in Lancaster, Pa., coinciding with
a Good News Summer Celebration June 23-26.
     Purpose of the CEC is to "provide connection, fellowship and
communication among evangelical clergywomen, and to help them
network with clergywomen who feel marginalized because of their
more traditional orthodox Christian theological beliefs and
lifestyles," according to the release.
     Action to launch the group was taken in Wilmore, Ky., during
a meeting of the 40-member Good News Board of Directors.
     The board also called the denomination to prayer and fasting
during the Lenten season, challenged a pro-homosexual "Statement
of Conscience" released by 15 United Methodist clergy in January,
and expressed "deep concern about reports of harassment of United
Methodist pastors whose churches have chosen to redirect
apportionment funds as a statement of conscience by the churches'
lay leadership."
     Regarding the call to prayer and repentance, the Rev. James
V. Heidinger II, president and publisher of Good News, said, "In
light of our spiritual and theological needs during these days, we
believe it's time we seek the Lord in a new and deeper way."
     The Good News board noted a growing division within the
denomination over the issue of homosexuality and the recent
release of the "Statement of Conscience." Among other things,
signers of the statement have pledged themselves to "pray and work
for the ordination of gay men and lesbians" and have called for
"liturgical support for covenantal commitments between same-
gendered couples."
     The Rev. William Hines, senior pastor of St. Mark's United
Methodist Church, Findley, Ohio, and newly-installed chairman of
the Good News board, said the Statement of Conscience is a
"violation of clear Scriptural authority and our Book of
Discipline."
     "While signers declare they will continue to present to their
congregations the positions of the denomination as adopted by the
General Conference, one wonders how this can be done with any real
integrity when they revise Scripture, tradition, reason and
experience to support their claim that homosexual practice is
acceptable," Hines added.
     Hines succeeded as chairman Donald Shell, Lake Junaluska,
N.C., who held the office for four years.
     In other actions, the board said it is "unconscionable" for
district superintendents "with pro-gay sympathies to use their
position to intimidate and harass pastors whose churches are
redirecting funds as a protest of their bishop's public pro-gay
stance."
     The board also established two $1,000 Harry Hoosier
Scholarships to be awarded to ethnic minority Master of Divinity
students at Asbury Theological Seminary, an independent school in
Wilmore, Ky.  Hoosier was a popular black preacher who traveled
extensively with the first American Methodist Bishop Francis
Asbury.
     The steering committee for RENEW Network, the women's program
arm of Good News, met following the board meeting and made plans
to cooperate in an international issues forum to be held in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area May 3.  Purpose of the forum is to shape
the debate on current issues pertaining to feminism, human
sexuality and the influence of Christian women upon society,
according to Faye Short, Cornelia, Ga., RENEW director.
                              #  #  #

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