Archive: A Word About Negativism

By James V. Heidinger II, Editor, Good News Magazine

Our perceptions of things change slowly in the life of the church. But, happily, they do change. And every so often I still hear someone comment regarding Good News, “You’re doing a good job, but just be positive.” The perception—Good News is primarily negative.

Good News began some 15 years ago as a grassroots protest over theological issues within the then Methodist Church. A flood of responses to a Charles W. Keysor article in the July 14, 1966 Christian Advocate marked the birth of Good News. The flurry of responses to Chuck’s article was proof that evangelicals in the church were alive—yet starving.

Good News has spoken a bold and prophetic word to the church about its theological vacuum, its secularism, about “letting the world set the agenda.” Theologically, there has not been a great deal about which to be positive. There have been many negative words. But the words have not been only negative by any means.

I think it is time to update our perceptions and dust off our stereotypes. Good News has been involved in far more positive initiatives than most of our critics would be ready to admit. Unfortunately, perceptions are formed—not through the day by day steady programming of Good News, but by occasional controversial issues that get visible media coverage. But, in reality, the charge of being only negative is a charge that gets slain by a gang of facts. Let’s consider several.

In 1975, the Good News Board of Directors adopted “The Junaluska Affirmation,” which is an “Affirmation of Scriptural Christianity for United Methodists.” Emerging from a Task Force on Theology and Doctrine authorized by Good News in 1974, the statement is a reaffirmation of the historic faith of the church and remains the only major response to the 1972 General Conference’s mandate for all United Methodists to “accept the challenge of responsible theological reflection.”

In the same year, Dr. Ed Robb gave a powerful address at the National Convocation on ‘The Crisis of Theological Education in the United Methodist Church.” It was a blistering address that quickly had the attention of the seminary community. But out of the heated discussion from that message emerged Dr. Robb’s AFTE, A Fund for Theological Education. And though not an official Good News effort as such, it has the respect and support of the Good News family. Currently, AFTE is assisting 15 John Wesley Fellows who are working on doctoral degrees in both the U.S. and England—young evangelical scholars who will return to teach in UM seminaries.

Also in 1975, Good News launched the newsletter Catalyst. For seven years now, Catalyst has been sent to every United Methodist seminarian in America without charge. It is a newsletter for the young seminarian who is looking for scholarly evangelical resources to assist him or her in theological studies. Regular articles, reviews, suggested journals, resources, and cassette tapes offered at cost have been favorably received by seminarians of various theological positions.

In 1976, Good News published its “We Believe” confirmation materials in response to a cry from UM pastors desiring a more Biblically-oriented resource. Several thousands of churches are using “We Believe” regularly and with enthusiasm. It went through its sixth printing in November 1980!

Also, in 1976, Good News put flesh to its missions concerns with the adding of Rev. Virgil Maybray to the staff as Executive Secretary of the Evangelical Missions Council. His story is the other side of the much-publicized differences we have had with the Board of Global Ministries (BOGM).

Virgil, an ordained Elder of the Western Pennsylvania Conference and long-time pastor there, spends some 80 percent of his time on the road giving leadership to missions conferences in local United Methodist churches. Last year, Virgil spoke in 64 UM churches and raised $324,305 for missions through faith-promise giving at mission conferences! An estimated 60-75 percent of this money goes to mission projects and missionaries serving under the BOGM! The mission ministry packet, containing the names of nearly 350 UM missionaries who have elected to be included on a Good News list, is sent to hundreds of churches and brings in thousands of dollars more each year. The packet also includes 222 Advance Special projects.

A pastor from Illinois recently wrote to Virgil asking for suggestions about Advance Specials. Virgil sent him a missions packet. Soon a letter came back to Virgil notifying him that the church’s youth had sponsored a “24-Hour Run for Jesus” which netted $1,400. The pastor said that the entire amount was being sent to the Red Bird Mission to help in rebuilding the school that had recently burned. They had seen the project in the missions packet Virgil had sent. If that is negativism, then let’s pray for its continuance.

In 1977, Good News initiated dialogue with all of our United Methodist seminaries. Teams from Good News went to the seminary campuses to spend a day or two in discussion with faculty, administration, and students about concerns of the evangelical constituency.

In 1978, Good News re-worked “We Believe” Confirmation materials into an adult series for use by senior high youth and adults. That same year, a Political Strategy Task Force was organized under the leadership of Don and Virginia Shell. This marked the beginning of a two-year preparation period for the 1980 General Conference. The Political Strategy Task Force sponsored seminars in a number of annual conferences on how to do petitions and get evangelical delegates elected to General Conference. The year prior to General Conference, the task force developed carefully prepared research papers on the various issues facing the Conference. These were circulated to all delegates for their consideration as they wrestled with the host of issues. Scores of lay and clergy delegates expressed appreciation to Good News for these position papers.

Also, in 1978, Good News launched its newsletter Candle, written specifically for United Methodist Women. The purpose of Candle is to provide inspiration, book reviews, information, analysis of UMW program materials, and strategies for strengthening the UMW in the local church. Candle found immediate and wide acceptance by women all across the church.

In 1979, Good News published What You Should Know About Homosexuality. With the church in the throes of the struggle over issues related to the problem of homosexuality, this Good News volume is a scholarly and helpful work, unique in that it represents a chapter from each of six professional disciplines including Old and New Testament theologians, a church historian, a psychiatrist, a pastoral counselor, and a lawyer. Significantly, it is the only scholarly work to be published in UM circles which is representative of the UM Church’s official position.

Finally, in 1980, as a continuation of the Good News concern for doctrinal and theological issues, and as an extension of the “Junaluska Affirmation,” Dr. Paul A. Mickey, Professor of Pastoral Theology at Duke University, the Divinity School, and former Chairman of the Good News Board of Directors, published Essentials of Wesleyan Theology: A Contemporary Affirmation. Dr. Mickey’s work is a phrase-by-phrase commentary on the text of the “Junaluska Affirmation.” It will be a helpful resource for both clergy and laity as they investigate basic themes such as the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, Original Sin, the Virgin Birth, Prevenient Grace, the Authority of Scriptures, Salvation, the Church, and more. The format is clear and the questions at the end of each chapter make the book a useful tool for study and discussion groups.

In addition to these efforts, Good News has continued to speak to the church through each edition of Good News magazine, through 12 years of National Convocations which have trained and equipped thousands of UM pastors and laypersons, and through hundreds of phone conversations with church leaders, pastors, and laypersons. We have attempted, and will continue to make our voice heard on the various issues confronting the UM Church. Whether it is a negative or positive voice often depends upon whether one agrees or disagrees with what we say. We will still speak negatively or prophetically to the church when that is necessary. We will do that prayerfully and sensitively. And we will also try to speak positively to the church when there is reason to do so. But to view us as primarily negative seems to me a lingering perception that is not supported by our numerous programs and initiatives.