By Thomas Lambrecht- On Monday, May 7, the Council of Bishops announced [link] that two of the five amendments to the United Methodist Constitution approved by the 2016 General Conference were defeated by the votes of the annual conferences. In order to amend the Constitution, it takes approval by two-thirds of the General Conference delegates […]
Good News Statement on the Council of Bishops Decision
May 5, 2018 By 44 Comments
May 4, 2018 – This afternoon, the United Methodist Council of Bishops announced that it will submit a report to the special 2019 General Conference that contains all three plans for a way forward considered by the bishops and the Commission on a Way Forward. This will include the Traditionalist Plan, the One Church Plan, […]
Why the “local option” is not the answer
March 13, 2018 By 44 Comments
By Rob Renfroe – Recently a progressive United Methodist pastor said to me, “I don’t understand why you can’t accept the local option. It lets pastors who want to marry gay couples do so. But it doesn’t compel people like you to perform such ceremonies. It allows annual conferences to ordain married homosexuals where that’s […]
Remember Good News Today
November 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Today is #GivingTuesday. This is a great reminder that we find our most fulfillment in giving to others. Giving is a way to say “Thank you” to the God who gives us all things. We invite you to remember Good News with a gift today. Click HERE. For 50 years, […]
Confronting racism and violence
August 14, 2017 By 5 Comments
“To our shame, overt racism is becoming more acceptable in American culture today,” writes Bishop Scott Jones, the United Methodist episcopal leader of the Texas Annual Conference, in his recent pastoral letter. “It is a deep affront to the Greatest Generation that their sacrifice in defeating racist, anti-Semitic Nazism is no longer respected. When Nazi […]
The Wesleyan Family Tree
July 24, 2017 By 2 Comments
Dr. Kenneth Kinghorn, Professor of Church History and Historical Theology and Academic Vice President at Asbury Theological Seminary, died on the morning of Sunday, July 23, 2017. He was a treasured friend to members of the staff while our offices were located in Wilmore, Kentucky. We extend our condolences to the Kinghorn family. We repost one […]
Call for Global Prayer and Fasting for United Methodist Church
April 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
To United Methodists from the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kulah, Central Conference Coordinator, UMC Africa Initiative (Liberia Annual Conference), and The Rev. Evariste Kimba, Coordinator, French & Kiswahili Region, UMC Africa Initiative (Democratic Republic of Congo). Dearly beloved, On behalf of our global church, we wish to invite you, your local church, district, annual and provisional annual […]
Judicial Council
April 24, 2017 By 7 Comments
Key questions in the Oliveto case On July 15, 2016, during the session of the South Central Jurisdictional Conference, Dixie Brewster, a delegate and lay member of the Great Plains Annual Conference, asked that the delegates to request a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on the following matter: “Is the nomination, election, consecration, and/or […]
Remembering Thomas C. Oden (1931-2016)
December 8, 2016 By 2 Comments
By Steve Beard Unbeknownst to him, Professor Thomas C. Oden was the prime agitator to the agony and ecstasy of my seminary experience. It was wading through 1,400 pages of his three volume systematic text books that introduced me to his dear friends Athanasius, Basil, John Chrysostom, Gregory Nazianzen, as well as Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine […]
Clarification: Email questions
October 1, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Clarification: In this space, Good News republished a widely-distributed email critique of the Wesleyan Covenant Association gathering in Chicago from a well-known denominational official in the North Central Jurisdiction. “It’s ok to forward this email to friends and delegates of your choice,” read the email. In anticipation of its release, the official wrote: “I’d prefer […]
