“The evangelical world has lost one of its greatest spokesmen, and I have lost one of my close personal friends and advisors. I look forward to seeing him again when I go to Heaven.” –Billy Graham

By Wolfgang Saxon, The New York Times

The Rev. John Stott, one of the world’s most influential figures in the spread of evangelical Christianity over the past half-century, died Wednesday in Lingfield, Surrey, in the south of England. He was 90.

By Rob Renfroe

Within the new edition of Good News you will find several articles describing and reacting to the trial of the Reverend Amy DeLong, a United Methodist elder that was recently brought before a church court in Wisconsin for (1) having performed a “holy union” for a same-gender couple and (2) being a self-avowed practicing homosexual. She was found guilty of the first charge, but not guilty of the second.

By Heather Hahn

For the first time in 20 years, a conviction for performing a same-sex union has not resulted in a United Methodist elder’s defrocking or indefinite suspension.

Instead, after seven hours of deliberations, a jury of 13 United Methodist clergy voted 9-4 to suspend the Rev. Amy DeLong from her ministerial functions for 20 days beginning July 1, 2011.

Commentary by Karen Booth

In 2004, I wrote a column for The United Methodist Reporter entitled, “What I Would Say to Karen Dammann.” A church trial court had just acquitted her of being a “self-avowed, practicing homosexual,” and someone had asked me what I would say if given the opportunity to talk with her.

By Heather Hahn

Talk to United Methodists of differing views about the church’s homosexuality debate, and they will tell you the recent clergy trial of the Rev. Amy DeLong was just a prologue.

By Linda Bloom

The world was a “fragile” place when the Rev. George Freeman assumed staff leadership of the World Methodist Council a decade ago.

The Board of Directors of Good News is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Tom Lambrecht as Vice President and General Manager of the 45-year-old evangelical renewal ministry within the United Methodist Church.

Sadness and shock

I am writing to express my sadness and shock that leadership in the United Methodist church is recommending that homosexuals be ordained. According to Romans 1:24-32, the practice of homosexuality is condemned by God.

By Frank Decker

Not long ago, I was speaking with a missionary who has served orphans in Russia for 16 years. Recalling the fact that she had initially signed up for a one-year term of service I asked, “If you had been able to look into the future and learned that after 16 years you’d still be serving there, what would be your response?” “I don’t think I’d be able to handle it at that time,” was the reply.