Warm greetings to you in this early summer! As I continue to reflect on General Conference I am reminded that it is easy to both exaggerate and underestimate the importance the conference plays in our church.  On one hand, in the heat of battle, we can delude ourselves into thinking that this or that particular vote will determine the future existence of God’s church.  On the other hand, some votes are of such great consequence that they do require our faithfulness and most energetic efforts.

So, as I process what happened in Fort Worth I have found it helpful to remember an insight the Rev. Tom Lambrecht, Good News’ board chair, has often made: “General Conferences are important only in so far as they remove obstacles to the renewal of Christ’s church and the fulfillment of our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ.” 

In a way, Tom’s remark sums up the mission of Good News.  We work so hard for reform in our church because we believe a reformed church will experience the kind of renewal that only comes through the power of the Holy Spirit.

A reformed church also recognizes the importance of repentance before renewal can take place.  Additionally, we must confess when we have embraced wrongheaded agendas such as:

Our continuing illusion that ever larger bureaucracies and institutions will help the church grow.  It should be obvious by now that this is not the case.

Our obsessive and excessive preoccupation with conferring God’s blessing on the practice of homosexuality.  This is against God’s word, the teaching of the world-wide church in both the past and present, and it has already resulted in great harm to the body of Christ.

Our failure to not only spread Scriptural Christianity across the land, but to defend it when it comes under attack. Too often we have failed to stand up for Scripture when increasingly strident cultural critics directly attack it.

There are many instances in Scripture where God’s people, or one of God’s prophets, are tempted to simply give up and run away from great challenges.  But God always calls on them to

persevere, to remain faithful, and as the letter to Hebrews tells us, “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”  Let us continue to do just that as we renew our commitment to work for reform and renewal in our church!

I want to thank so many of you who have already made an investment in Good News this year.  We are very grateful to have you as our friends and partners in this important ministry.  Furthermore, I am very happy to report that you have sent us the names and addresses of several thousands of individuals you believe should be reading GOOD NEWS magazine! We are busy adding them to our mailing list and we are confident many of them will become active partners in our ministry.  Thank you for your great response, and please continue to send additional names.  We know that the more United Methodists learn about what is happening in the church, the more they want to get involved in serving as God’s instruments for its health and vitality.

 Let me remind you that we could not carry on this ministry without your support. We depend on your faithfulness and commitment, which enable us to do what we are doing.  The months of summer are a time when we need your generous investment in Good News.  Thank you for standing with us in this way. God bless you richly.

Blessings,

James V. Heidinger IIPresident and Publisher

About us

The Good News Movement is a voice for repentance, an agent for reform, and a catalyst for renewal within the United Methodist Church. By God’s grace, we will proclaim and demonstrate the power and effectiveness of historic Christianity as emphasized in Wesleyan doctrine and practice.

Therefore, we will:

• Advocate Scriptural Christianity with holy living among
  United Methodists;
• Nurture evangelical fellowship within a worshipping,
  caring, and inclusive community;
• Seek diligently to be faithful and challenge unfairness
  wherever it is found in the church;
• Inform and educate United Methodists about issues
  challenging the church;
• Create and/or assist in creating supplemental church
  structures if necessary.
  (Adapted at the Good News board meeting held
  July 20-22, 1991, in Washington, D.C.)

Our goals are to:

• Encourage evangelicals to witness effectively for Christ within United Methodism.
• Proclaim biblical truths
• Sound the alarm about unbiblical philosophies.
• Discuss vital issues facing our church.
• Deepen appreciation for our Wesleyan heritage.

Find out more

• A 30-year history of renewal efforts in the United Methodist Church.
• A detailed information packet is available through the mail (including a copy of the magazine) or on-line.
• Audited financials (under construction)

The Good News Board of Directors
Sara Anderson, Anderson, IN
Tom Bentum, Lancaster, NH
Cathy Bihler, Edmonds, WA
Dale Bittinger, Bristol, VA
Dixie Brewster, Milton, KS
Warren Budd, Newnan, GA
Kim Bullard, Montgomery, AL
Riley Case, Kokomo, IN
Norm Coleman, Westchester, OH
Michael Daniels, Terra Atta, WV
Carolyn Elias, Hot Springs, AR
Chuck Ferrara, New Fairfield, CT
Scott Field, Naperville, IL
David Flagel, Lake Odessa, MI
Les Fowler, Asheboro, NC
John Grenfell Jr., Fort Gratiot, MI
John Grenfell III, Belleville, MI
Chet Harris, Canton, OH
William Hines, Marysville, OH
Paul Jaw, Flemington, NJ
Kris Key, Augusta, GA
Katy Kiser, Carrollton, TX
Thomas Lambrecht, Greenville, WI
Warren Lathem, Ballground, GA
James Lodovic, New Braunfels, TX
John Martyn, Wichita, KS
William Mason, Tulsa, OK
Jimmie McKain, Ashland, KY
Pat Meadows, McCalla, AL
John Miles, Heber Springs, AR
Ernie Nivens, Gastonia, NC
David Parker, Richland, WA
Don Shell, Lake Junaluska, NC
Dale Shunk, Johnstown, PA
Jim Slone, Belleville, IL
Linda Somerville, Akron, OH
Budd Sprague, Canton, OH
Helen Rhea Stumbo, Fort Valley, GA
Jeff Switzer, Philadelphia, MS
Tom Thomas, South Hill, VA
Tim Thompson, Meridian, MS
Mark Tooley, Alexandria, VA
Mike Walker, Dallas, TX
John Walls, Dayton, IN
Ken Werlein, Spring, TX
Kenny Yi, Plainview, NY