Good News announces new leadership upon Heidinger retirement

WILMORE, Ky. (March 12, 2009) — Dr. James V. Heidinger II, long-time President and Publisher of Good News, has announced his retirement as of July 1 of this year. In response to his announcement, the board of directors of the evangelical renewal ministry selected the Rev. Robert Renfroe to be his successor.

Renfroe is currently the Pastor of Adult Discipleship at the dynamic 8,200 member The Woodlands United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas—a position he has held since 2001.

“It is hard to imagine Good News operating without Jim Heidinger at the helm; however, his retirement is richly deserved,” observed the Rev. Dr. Charles “Chuck” Ferrara, chair of the Good News Board of Directors. “At the same time, our ministry feels blessed that the Rev. Robert Renfroe will serve as our interim President and Publisher. Rob has a long history in the renewal movement and is well respected throughout the denomination.”

From 1998 to 2001, Renfroe was Executive Pastor at First United Methodist Church, Houston, with the late Dr. Bill Hinson. For the last two years, Renfroe has been President of the Board of the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church. He is a gifted and seasoned leader, and is well known across the connection for his winsome preaching.

“Having served on the Transition Task Force, I remember the specific meeting when the Spirit moved and got us thinking about Rob Renfroe as the right person to lead Good News,” recalls the Rev. Ken Werlein, pastor of Faithbridge UM Church in Houston and member of the Good News Board of Directors. “Rob is just the ideal individual to lead our movement in these tenuous times. He walks the tightrope between grace and truth as well or better than anyone I know. Having Rob at Good News will bring a victorious spirit, along with his characteristic good humor.”

Leadership team
The selection of Renfroe as the interim President and Publisher of the 42-year old evangelical United Methodist renewal ministry was announced and approved at the Good News board meeting in Wilmore, Kentucky, on Friday, February 27. It was simultaneously announced that the Rev. Walter Fenton would assume the role of Chief Operating Officer. Fenton has been the Director of Networking and Development for Good News during the past three years.

“These are critical days in the life of our church, and we prayed for leadership who could provide a catalyzing vision for renewal as we move into the future,” said Helen Rhea Stumbo, chair of the Transition Task Force and laywoman from Fort Valley, Georgia. “We are convinced that God has provided that leadership in the persons of Rob Renfroe and Walter Fenton. As president, Rob will provide a strong and articulate voice for scriptural faithfulness and accountability. Walter will assure that the organization is run efficiently and that every aspect of the operation is designed to support the mission of Good News.” 

Heidinger is fully supportive of the selection of Renfroe and Fenton. “I am filled with joy, excitement, and optimism with the announcement of the new leadership team taking the helm of this ministry,” said Heidinger. “I know these men well and believe in their ability to lead Good News in the right direction. The dual leadership approach is a creative approach which gives us outstanding leadership while being careful in the stewardship of our resources. The Woodlands has granted Rob a flexible enough schedule that allows him to lead Good News, while continuing with his ministry at that impressive and growing congregation.”

“As the chair of the board, I believe Good News has greater days ahead,” observed Ferrara, pastor of New Fairfield United Methodist Church in New Fairfield, Connecticut. “The transition will be seamless and I am excited about the future.”

Responding to his leadership of the Board of the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church for the last two years, Executive Director Patricia L. Miller offered her support for Renfroe’s new position. “Rob has provided excellent leadership as a Board Member and as the current President of the Board of Directors of The Confessing Movement,” Miller said. “Our prayers are with him as he assumes this new position, which brings exciting opportunities and responsibility. He will be a great asset to Good News. Appreciation is expressed to Rob for his many years of dedicated service to The Confessing Movement.”

Heidinger retirement
Heidinger announced his intentions to retire to the Good News Board of Directors last August. The board responded with the formation of a Transition Task Force. At his retirement, Heidinger will have led the evangelical renewal ministry for 28 years.

“We are very grateful to Jim Heidinger who saw the wisdom of giving us his plans for retirement enough ahead of time that we were able to set in place a search process that would enable us to find exactly the right person for the job—and in our case it turned out to be two people,” said Stumbo. “Jim has provided wise and courageous leadership, and we knew that God had a plan to continue that tradition of excellence.”

“I congratulate Jim Heidinger for 28 years of faithful, effective leadership in the cause of church reform and renewal through Good News and the broader Association for Church Renewal,” stated the Rev. Tom Lambrecht, immediate past chair of the Good News board of directors and pastor of the Faith Community United Methodist Church in Greenville, Wisconsin. “Jim has always been at the forefront of the battle for doctrinal truth and vibrant, faithful ministry in the church. Countless pastors and laypersons have remained vital contributors to the ministry of the United Methodist Church, thanks to the wise and patient counsel Jim gave them to stay and work for reform and renewal. 

“Most importantly,” Lambrecht continued, “Jim has been an example to us all with his vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ and his humble, winsome approach toward those who disagreed with and sometimes disparaged him. We will miss Jim’s courageous leadership and treasure the legacy of renewal he has left our beloved church.”

During his tenure as President and Publisher of Good News, he wrote more than 170 editorials and articles for the magazine and authored United Methodist Renewal: What Will It Take? (1988), Theological Malpractice (2000), and Guarding the Gospel: Biblical Faith and the Future of United Methodism (2007).

Commenting about his retirement, Heidinger said, “What a blessing and privilege these years have been for me! But now, it is clearly time to pass the baton on to new leadership. I am joyful, excited, and optimistic about the future ministry of Good News as we welcome new leaders. God’s anointing rests upon this ministry.”

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