Bill Hinson, Confessing Movement leader, dies at 68
Dec. 27, 2004
By United Methodist News Service
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose
The Rev. William Hinson (right) and the Rev. Bruce Robbins discuss a unity statement at the 2004 General Conference. |
| The
Rev. William Hinson (right), president of the Confessing Movement, and
the Rev. Bruce Robbins, former top staff executive of the United
Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns,
discuss an anonymously written statement that was circulated at General
Conference regarding a possible study on schism. The statement, written
as the draft of a resolution, was not presented to the conference and
never came up for vote. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. |
The Rev.
William Hinson, a founder and president of the Confessing Movement, died
Dec. 26, a month after suffering a massive stroke. He was 68.A
leading conservative voice in the United Methodist Church, Hinson
helped found the Confessing Movement in 1995 and was serving a two-year
term as its president when he died. “He was a tireless and winsome witness to the apostolic faith,” the evangelical organization said in a Dec. 26 statement. Beyond
his role in the Confessing Movement, Hinson led one of the
denomination’s largest congregations for many years, served on United
Methodist agencies and was active in the World Methodist Council. He died at Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital, where he had been since suffering a stroke Nov. 28. A
native of Jeff Davis County, Ga., Hinson began preaching at age 18 and
served at several Georgia churches. He went on to lead First United
Methodist Church of Houston, one of the denomination’s largest
congregations, for 18 years. After retiring in 2001, he served on the
staff of First United Methodist Church of Huntsville. Hinson
was a traditional preacher who emphasized Scriptural authority and
evangelism, and was involved in missions around the world, said the Rev.
Don Cross, pastor of First Church in Huntsville. “We
loved and appreciated having him with us. He was always an asset to
us,” Cross said. “I called it a journey, and it was just too short.” Hinson
received degrees from Georgia Southern University, Candler School of
Theology at Emory University, and Boston University, as well as honorary
doctorates from Asbury Theological Seminary and Houston Graduate School
of Theology. Honors included the Denman Evangelism Award from the Texas
Annual (regional) Conference in 1985 and the Philip Award for
Outstanding Leadership in Evangelism 2000. He
served on the World Methodist Council’s executive and evangelism
committees. He also had served as president of the Council on Finance
and Administration, a member of the Board of Global Ministries, a
trustee for Asbury Seminary, and a delegate to several General and
jurisdictional conferences. He also wrote several books on evangelism,
discipleship and other topics. Last
spring, he addressed the denomination’s 2004 General Conference in
Pittsburgh, when the assembly was abuzz with discussion of a possible
split over theological differences, particularly with regard to issues
of sexuality. Hinson and the Rev. Bruce Robbins, former top staff
executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and
Interreligious Concerns, clarified the details of unofficial discussions
that had occurred earlier that week between leaders with some of the
church’s advocacy groups. After
Hinson and Robbins addressed the assembly on May 7, the delegates
adopted a resolution affirming their intent to remain united. A few
months later, in September, the Confessing Movement issued a statement
expressing concern that some people and groups were unwilling to abide
by the denomination’s Book of Discipline and were threatening the
church’s unity. Hinson is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jean Laird Hinson, three children and 13 grandchildren. Visitation was set for Dec. 27 at First United Methodist Church in Huntsville, followed by the funeral service Dec. 28. News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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