wfn.org | Good News board applauds agency's advocacy on cloning

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

Aug. 15, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.     10-71B{348}

By United Methodist News Service*

United Methodism's oldest evangelical caucus has applauded statements
regarding human cloning issued by Jim Winkler, staff executive of the
church's Board of Church and Society in Washington.

In a report issued following its Aug. 8-10 meeting in Wilmore, Ky., the
40-member Good News board thanked Winkler for a letter he sent President
Bush reminding him of the domination's policy calling for a complete and
total ban on human cloning, including embryo cloning for any purpose.  Good
News, created in 1967, is an "evangelical renewal ministry" within the
church. It has offices in Wilmore and produces a magazine by the same name.

The board was particularly appreciative of Winkler's statement to the
president that "moral and ethical issues surrounding the beginning of life
demand enormous caution in proceeding with activities that result in the
destruction of human embryos."

"We were pleased to see this sound, thoughtful letter from Church and
Society on this issue and are pleased we can be in agreement with it," said
Good News board chairman, the Rev. Phil Granger, senior minister of College
Avenue United Methodist Church in Muncie, Ind. During the board meeting
Granger was elected to another one-year term as chairman.

The board celebrated "signs of United Methodism's renewed commitment to
Bible study, evangelism and disciple-making," according to the Rev. James V.
Heidinger II,  president and publisher.  In a release issued following the
meeting, he pointed to programs and resources from the United Methodist
Publishing House that he said are having a great impact on churches and
annual conferences.  These include Disciple Bible Study, Christian Believer,
and a new Witness program.

The board expressed concern about the formation of Clergy Alliance,
announced at a July meeting of the Reconciling Ministries Network in Tacoma,
Wash., and the January 2002 launch  of Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC).

Regarding the Clergy Alliance's announced plans to fight discrimination
against homosexuals in the church, the Good News board lamented the
"ongoing, divisive actions of a small but vocal minority in the denomination
who are unwilling to abide by the carefully established guidelines for human
sexuality which have guided the church faithfully for the past 24 years."

The board created a task force to monitor the CUIC, an outgrowth of the
Consultation on Church Union in which United Methodists have long
participated with other Protestant denominations.  The 1996 United Methodist
General Conference agreed to the CUIC plan which stops short of organic
union but calls for much greater cooperation and interaction.

The Good News board expressed reservations about a document adopted by the
18th Consultation on Church Union gathering in January 1999 that opposes
"all marginalization and exclusion in church and society based on such
things as race, age, gender, forms of disability, sexual orientation and
class."  According to the board release, members are concerned that terms
like "discrimination" and "sexual orientation" are being used by those
seeking the church's approval of homosexual practice and same-sex unions.

Another concern about CUIC is the issue of accountability.  Board members
said the CUIC plan describes a relationship that is "not one of friendly
coexistence and consultation but of binding community that actively embodies
the love of Christ which ties them to one another." Members expressed doubt
that "any United Methodist laity have any interest whatsoever" in the plan
that will be launched in January at a meeting in Memphis, Tenn.

Board members heard reports on a number of new resources produced or
promoted by the caucus.  These included The River of God, a women's program
book produced by the RENEW Network, the women's program arm of Good News.
They also welcomed Janice Shaw Crouse as a new board member.  Crouse, along
with Beverly LaHaye, has written a new book, A Different Kind of Strength:
Rediscovering the Power of Being a Woman."

The board called for United Methodists to unite in prayer and fasting for
the fall meeting of the Judicial Council.  Issues related to homosexuality
are on the docket of the nine-member body.

According to the board's press release, a panel of four long-time Good News
supporters, spoke during the meeting about "positive changes they see taking
place in the United Methodist Church."  The four clergymen were: Ed Robb,
David Seamands, Kenneth Kinghorn, and Riley Case.
#  #  #
*Information for this story was provided by Good News president and
publisher, the Rev. James V. Heidinger II.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
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