TITLE: Caucus Talks of Split in Church

           CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                   262(10-21-28-71){74}
                    Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470               May 6, 1997


           'Good News' says push to accept homosexual practice
           threatens to split United Methodist Church



                WILMORE, Ky. (UMNS) -- An "unabashed campaign" to have the
           practice of homosexuality approved as "acceptable, even good" is
           threatening to split the United Methodist Church, according to
           Good News, a 30-year-old evangelical caucus within the
           denomination.
                In a letter sent to thousands of United Methodists early in
           May, the Rev. James V. Heidinger II, president and publisher of
           Good News, said if "unbiblical standards" such as same-sex unions
           should become church law and/or practice, they would split the
           church.
                Heidinger, who has offices here, said his letter was
           authorized by the Good News governing board.  Chairman of the
           board is the Rev. William A. Hines, Findley, Ohio.
                Heidinger expresses concern that "many United Methodist
           leaders speak as if change in our United Methodist standards on
           homosexuality is inevitable, likening this issue to the civil and
           women's rights struggles."  Such an analogy, he said, is "flawed."
                Good News cites three illustrations of the "campaign."
                The first is the Reconciling Congregation Program (RCP)
           launched in 1984 by Affirmation, a caucus of United Methodists
           dealing with lesbian, gay and bisexual concerns.  Heidinger points
           out that the RCP program welcomes lesbians, gay men and bisexuals
           as full participants in the church but "doesn't talk about
           repentance or transformation because it doesn't consider
           homosexual practice sinful."  He also notes that the organization
           is pushing for rights to ordination and covenant services for
           same-gender couples, both of which are prohibited by the church's
           The Book of Discipline.
                A second push for gay acceptance, according to Heidinger, was
           the action of 15 bishops who made a public statement at the 1996
           General Conference in Denver expressing "pain" about the church's
           positions on homosexuality.  "The statement shocked, angered, and
           demoralized United Methodists all across the country," Heidinger
           said, "leaving many wondering how the 15 bishops will 'teach and
           uphold' The Book of Discipline on homosexual issues when they
           disagree with it."
                Third, Heidinger points to the January release of "In All
           Things Charity," a statement written by 15 prominent United
           Methodist clergy, including three United Methodist seminary
           professors.  The 15 disagreed with the denomination's position
           that the practice of homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian
           teaching." They also pledged to work for the ordination of
           homosexuals as well as liturgical support for covenantal
           commitment between same-gendered couples.
                These efforts, according to Heidinger, stand in sharp
           contrast to General Conference actions reaffirming that homosexual
           practice is "incompatible with Christian teaching," and barring
           United Methodist clergy from performing services of same-sex
           unions or allowing their churches to be used for them.
                "More seriously," Heidinger writes, "these efforts are not in
           harmony with the scriptural tradition, with other mainline
           churches, with evangelical churches, with the massive Roman
           Catholic Church, with Orthodox churches worldwide, nor with any of
           the Third World churches."
                In response to those who claim the biblical standards cannot
           be supported by modern scholarship, and thus are not relevant for
           today, Good News quotes the Rev. Thomas W. Gillespie, president of
           the Princeton Theological Seminary: "The (Biblical) text (against
           homosexuality) says what it means, and means what it says."
                Pointing to testimonies of individuals who have "found
           freedom from homosexuality through Jesus Christ," Good News also
           disagrees with the position that homosexuality is genetic or
           innate.
                During the past five months, Good News collected 20,000
           signatures on a statement urging United Methodist bishops "to
           adhere to, in practice as well as in teaching, the doctrinal
           standards and moral principles of our church."  The petitions were
           sent to Bishop Woodie W.White, Indianapolis, who just concluded
           his one-year term as president of the Council of Bishops.
                "Good News urges United Methodists not to become discouraged
           by the persistent campaign," Heidinger says, "but to be a part of
           a prayerful, well-informed, Spirit-led core of United Methodists
           who will resist this unscriptural and highly-divisive movement,
           while urging their churches to be involved in compassionate
           ministries to persons struggling with all aspects of their
           sexuality."
                Good News, organized as a "voice for theological and
           spiritual renewal" within United Methodism, sponsors annual
           convocations and publishes a bi-monthly magazine of the same name
           that goes to more than 70,000 United Methodist churches and homes.
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