GOOD NEWS -- 1









         Good News board urges bishops to preserve unity of
         church


           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.





                                      - MORE -