wfn.org | Good News board urges bishops to preserve unity of church

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

Feb. 2, 1999	Contact: Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{060}

By United Methodist News Service*

In the wake of a same-sex union ceremony in Sacramento, Calif., the board of
directors of Good News is calling on United Methodist bishops  to "act
decisively" in order to preserve the unity of the denomination.

If such efforts fail, the bishops are asked  "to work on processes that
would allow the orderly withdrawal of those who, for whatever reason, cannot
submit to the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church."

Good News is an evangelical renewal movement within the United Methodist
Church with offices in Wilmore, Ky.  President and publisher is the Rev.
James V. Heidinger II.  Chairman of the 40-member Board of Directors is the
Rev. Philip Granger, superintendent of the Kokomo (Ind.) District of the
United Methodist Church.  

The union ceremony for two women was conducted Jan. 16 by the Rev. Don Fado,
pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Sacramento. More than 90
clergy participated as co-celebrants in the service held at the Sacramento
Convention Center.  

In 1996, a sentence was added to the Social Principles of the United
Methodist Book of Discipline saying, "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual
unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in
our churches."  There was debate about the status of the statement but in
August, 1998, the church's Judicial Council ruled that the sentence carries
the weight of church law.  Clergy violating the prohibition may face a
church trial and possible loss of their ministerial credentials. 

During their Jan. 27-29 meeting in Wilmore, Ky., Good News board members
also took action to move ahead with the formation of an Institute on
Leadership and Spiritual Life and heard plans for "Celebrate Jesus 2000," an
ecumenical evangelism strategy involving 200 denominations and para-church
groups committed to fulfilling the Great Commission.   Good News has
endorsed Celebrate Jesus 2000, an effort to share Christ with every person
in America by the end of the year 2000. The United Methodist Church is not a
participating denomination.

Board members also heard reports that contributions to the organization were
up for the sixth consecutive year and that the Good News magazine is now
sent to 70,000.  The board named Donald L. Shell of Lake Junaluska, N.C.,
and Helen Rhea Stumbo of Ft. Valley, Ga., as lifetime board members and
honored outgoing board chairman, the Rev. William Hines of Findley, Ohio.

In their letter to the bishops, board members said "we face the
unprecedented situation where a significant number of clergy have repudiated
their covenant of obedience to the doctrine and Discipline" of the church.
For those who no longer can uphold this covenant, the evangelical leaders
suggest that "they formally withdraw from that covenant and seek another
avenue in which they can faithfully express their heartfelt beliefs."

The letter warns of "the ominous possibility of structural division" in the
church and urges the bishops to "act decisively in order to preserve the
unity." 

The bishops are asked to "help move the debate away from whether our church
standards should change, and instead help provide effective ministry to
those struggling with homosexuality."  They are also encouraged "to take the
lead in advocating and empowering transforming ministry through the grace of
Jesus Christ in all our churches, districts and annual conferences."

A significant portion of the January board meeting was devoted to the need
for more effective lay and clergy leadership development.  Guests from
surrounding communities joined board members to hear a challenge from the
Rev. John Maxwell, founder of the InJoy Group from Atlanta.  Maxwell spoke
of the need and enormous potential for leadership development within the
United Methodist Church, a body he referred to as a "sleeping giant."

Among individuals giving testimonies at the board meeting was attorney Larry
Morris, a member of First United Methodist Church in Pensacola, Fla.  Morris
shared how he had been influenced by the ongoing revival at the Brownsville
Assembly of God Church in Pensacola.  Having watched the revival, held four
nights a week since June of 1995, Morris said  pastors are being touched and
their ministries are bearing fruit.

#  #  #
*Information for this story provided by the Rev. James V. Heidinger II,
Wilmore, Ky., President and Publisher of Good News.

______________
United Methodist News Service
http://www.umc.org/umns/
newsdesk@umcom.umc.org
(615)742-5472