Jim's letter
Warm greetings to you in Christ. The fall season is getting underway and several exciting things are happening that I want to tell you about.

First, I want to call your attention to the National Conference sponsored by the 2008 Renewal and Reform Coalition, set for Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, TN, October 26 & 27. While a special invitation is being extended to General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates, you are also invited to attend. (See the ad on page 8 of the current GOOD NEWS magazine or go to our GOOD NEWS website at: www.goodnewsmag.org. The ad explains who is a part of the Coalition.) This is going to be an outstanding and strategic conference! Try to attend or have someone from your church attend.

Then, on another matter, one of the things we hear most frequently in letters from folks across the church goes something like this: “Dear Jim: Thanks for keeping us informed about what’s going on in the church. You are a trusted voice in helping us understand the issues facing our denomination. We depend on you.”

That, and similar expressions like it, have reminded me across the years, how much United Methodists look to GOOD NEWS for information and for our explanation of events to help them understand more fully what’s happening in the church.

For some months, we have all been feeling the need for a regular communication to our GOOD NEWS constituents, something that enables us to converse more frequently than the bi-monthly issues of GOOD NEWS magazine. Well, we now have it, and we want you to be aware of it and to begin receiving and benefiting from it.

What we are offering you is a brief but informative email newsletter that you will receive once every two weeks. It will come to you at your email address and will be closely tied in to our GOOD NEWS website.

As you know, much is changing in the way we receive and process the news. Many of us remember when the three major T.V. networks had a monopoly in presenting the news to the nation at 6:30 p.m. each evening. Well-known news anchors were nearly household names in the average American home. In just a fairly short time, that is now a thing of the past.

A major part of the new technological revolution is the huge role being played by websites, email, bloggers, and e-zines. And these changes are coming to the church as well. Some of you may not be quite as familiar with this new world of rapid communication. However, it is changing how we receive and process information.

It is in this context that I am excited to tell you about GOOD NEWS PERSPECTIVE, a brand new, bi-weekly email newsletter that was launched just a few weeks ago. We did so in response to a request from our GOOD NEWS board at its meeting this past July.

We are excited about the concept of this new tool of communication. In no way will this replace our outstanding, bi-monthly magazine. But it will supplement what you see in the magazine. I believe you will be pleased with PERSPECTIVE.

GOOD NEWS PERSPECTIVE will be especially timely as we move closer to the 2008 General Conference in Ft. Worth. We want the newsletter to help you be more informed about what’s happening in the larger church, and to equip you and others for more effective ministry and discipleship in your local church. Our prayer is that PERSPECTIVE will help do exactly that.

To join others in receiving this new form of communication, we need your current email address. You can send it on the enclosed response form, or you can email it to us at Perspective @goodnewsmag.org. There is no charge or fee to receive the newsletter. And you can be assured that your email address will not be sold or shared with any other group or organization.

Also, you will notice on the response form the opportunity to send GOOD NEWS magazine to a friend or two. As we move toward General Conference, we know many United Methodists still are not aware of Good News’ ministry. This is a tangible way you can partner with us for renewal and reform in the church. We find that GOOD NEWS magazine readers are better informed United Methodists and therefore committed to making a positive impact on our church.

Thank you for your dedication to our shared ministry. Your regular investment in Good News makes our important work for renewal and reform possible. We are so very thankful you are a partner in this essential ministry. God bless you richly.

James V. Heidinger II
President 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