Straight Talk News, View, and Uproars Taking life seriously The 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church took a step toward greater moral seriousness when it amended the denominations Social Principles on abortion, observes Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker of the Florida Annual Conference. He was, of course, referring to additions to Paragraph 161 J [...]

By Rob Renfroe Prior to becoming the President and Publisher of Good News, the Rev. Rob Renfroe served as the President of the Board of Directors of The Confessing Movement. For the last several years, he has been speaking to various United Methodist renewal and reform groups throughout the denomination. This article is an adaptation of [...]

By James V. Heidinger II Jesus had been crucified and buried. Three days later, two lonely disciples were trudging home to Emmaus seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were discouraged, dejected, and defeated. Their world had come crashing in, their hopes demolished. They were talking with each other about all that had happened. Then Luke [...]

By James V. Heidinger II Each week, word comes of persons who have decided to leave the United Methodist Church and its happening too frequently across the church. Sadly, many who leave have been lifetime United Methodists. They have served, given, prayed, attended, struggled, endured, become discouraged, and finally given up. With heavy hearts they [...]

By Liza Kittle A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1 Dr. Jim Heidinger is a leader, statesman, pastor, mentor, and friend who possesses a good name. His good name is esteemed as an advocate for the historical doctrines of Christianity and a [...]

By Frank Decker When the Rev. Richard Gongwer of Indiana said goodbye to his oldest son and family, including his only grandchild at the time, he didnt realize that a parenthetical comment he made would plant a seed that would continue to bear fruit more than a decade later. His physician son Cameron, daughter-in-law Anne, [...]

By Steve Beard It is with great confidence and humility that I pass the mantle of leadership to Jonathan Dow. I pray that God will give him a double portion of the anointing that has been upon my life as he leads this ministry into the future, said the Rev. Gary Moore as he marked [...]

Letters Cheers and Jeers Assured salvation As a follow-up to Les Longdens article, Wesley and Predestination (Good News May/June 2009), we can be profoundly grateful to Wesley for preaching that one who has trusted Christ can have the assurance of salvation. The doctrine of predestination, of course, does not stand alone; it is an integral [...]

By James V. Heidinger II In 1990, a pastor wrote in a conference paper a defense of United Methodisms being a liberal denomination. He insisted the L-word was not bad. For support he cited Websters Dictionary which defined liberal as generous, openhanded, broad-minded, etc. Such shallow thinking compels us to look again at theological liberalism [...]

By Sue Nilson Kibbey As an adjunct instructor at United Theological Seminary, I teach a course for Master of Divinity students called Leadership for Ministry. Most in my classroom already pastor local churches, so during the semester I hear stories of their victories and challenges. Through them all runs a common theme: the ability (or [...]