wfn.org | News Odyssey special to examine religion and homosexuality

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Sept. 4, 1998	Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
{517}

By United Methodist News Service

How faith communities wrestle with the issue of homosexuality will be
the focus of a Sept. 24 religious news show to air on the Odyssey Cable
Network.

The one-hour special, "Windows of Hope, Closets of Fear: Faith
Communities Confront Sexuality," will be presented by "News Odyssey," a
weekly show that examines current events from a religious perspective.
"News Odyssey" is co-produced by United Methodist Communications in
Nashville, Tenn., and Odyssey Production Ltd. in New York.

The show, which airs at 9 p.m. (EST), will give perspectives on
homosexuality that were compiled from a national July poll commissioned
by the network. 
 
The results of the poll, which will be reported in the news special,
indicate serious concerns about homosexuality and how it relates to the
religious beliefs of Americans, according to an Odyssey Network
announcement. The poll also shows the degree of acceptance homosexuality
has in various circles.

The issue of gay unions and ordinations have caused controversy in many
faith traditions, such as the United Methodist Church. The subject has
spurred people to take sides, placing conservatives on one side and
liberals on the other.

"Odyssey is taking a hard look at the issue of homosexuality and how the
religious community is responding," said Jeff Weber, president of
Odyssey Productions and executive producer of the special news show.
"The channel is in a unique position to provide an insightful overview
(and) reflect perspectives in the public discourse on this important
subject."

Those to be featured on the "Windows of Hope" program include William
Abraham, a professor at United Methodist-related Perkins School of
Theology, Dallas; church historian Martin Marty; evangelist Tony
Campolo; and the newly elected president of the Southern Baptist
Convention, Page Patterson.

The Odyssey Network reaches almost 30 million households in nearly 1,500
cable systems nationwide. It is jointly owned by subsidiaries of the
National Interfaith Cable Coalition Inc. (NICC) and of
Tele-Communications Inc.  NICC is a consortium of 64 Protestant, Jewish,
Catholic and Eastern Orthodox faith groups, including the United
Methodist Church.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/