By James V. Heidinger II,
President and Publisher
GOOD NEWS PERSPECTIVE – No. 12, January 28, 2008
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LIFEWATCH LEADS WITNESS FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, thousands of anti-abortion advocates marched in Washington, D.C. “to witness to a culture and a gospel of life,” said Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth, director of Lifewatch, an unofficial United Methodist pro-life caucus.
As part of the demonstration in the nation’s capital, Lifewatch also held a worship service January 22 in the United Methodist Building, located on Capital Hill right next to the Supreme Court Building. Bishop William H. Willimon (Birmingham area) praised Lifewatch’s efforts in his sermon at the service. This was the 20th year Lifewatch has held a worship service before the annual March for Life.
Stallsworth says that Lifewatch is working to reverse the Supreme Court decision by providing theological leadership within the church—leadership which will set an example that political, legal and cultural forces will follow. “We want to make waves of reform and renewal throughout the church and shake up the world as well,” Stallsworth said.
In the United Methodist News Service story about the service, one of the outspoken executives of the UM Board of Church and Society housed in the United Methodist Building used the opportunity to take a jab at Bishop Willimon's sermon. “What the church doesn’t need are Episcopal leaders who add shame and guilt to the millions of women caught in circumstances leading to abortion by categorizing abortion as sin,” said Linda Bales, an executive with the denomination’s social action agency.
“If we, as people of faith, are really serious about reducing the number of abortions in this country and around the globe, then we need to be serious about addressing the issues holding women hostage to circumstances resulting in abortion,” she said. Bales claimed those issues include comprehensive sex education for young people, health services including contraception and education, and leadership opportunities for girls and women to thrive “and not be at the mercy of patriarchal societies.”
Bales and her colleagues at the Board of Church and Society have a legacy of abortion enthusiasm -- which includes their membership with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
Let's be very clear about the fact that the United Methodist General Conference—the only official body to speak for the denomination—has been very outspoken, however, about its opposition to popular abortion procedures that it rejects. “We cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control, and we unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection,” says the Book of Discipline. In 2000, delegates to the General Conference overwhelmingly voted to oppose “partial-birth abortion.”
“We oppose the use of later-term abortion known as dilation and extraction (partial-birth abortion) and call for the end of this practice except when the physical life of the mother is in danger and no other medical procedure is available, or in the case of severe fetal anomalies incompatible with life,” stated the 2000 resolution.
Despite what General Conference has clearly stated, the Board of Church and Society does not lobby to stop birth control abortions. The board does not lobby to stop sex selection abortions. Nor does the board lobby to stop "partial birth abortions." Their inactivity is a dereliction of Christian duty to the United Methodist Church.
For the full UMNS article about the Lifewatch service, go to: http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=1723955&ct =4971427
METHODISM HAS DEEP ROOTS IN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY – Dr . Donald W. Haynes, in the second of two columns on the evangelical heritage of the United Methodist Church, once again has a thoughtful piece worth reading.
He notes in his journey that he was led out of some of the negative constraints of fundamentalism—including a judgmental spirit that had to be taken to the foot of the cross.
What he has retained “is a high view of biblical authority and a hallowed respect for experiential faith.” He goes on to say, “As conventionally understood, Christian ‘evangelicalism’ emphasizes a personal commitment to Christ and lifts up the authority of Scripture.”
“While experience enlivens, it does not inform. So much of what passes for spirituality today is subjective and experiential, but Methodists need to remember that how we think about God is important. We must get our message straight before we get it out!” To which we would say “Amen!”
Haynes reminds us that we Methodists are Arminian. “Though not a Methodist, evangelist Charles G. Finney was the father of mass evangelism and he was Arminian. He recognized that if you are preaching to the last, the least and the lost, you cannot preach predestined election. Salvation must be for all when you give an altar call!” I don’t know about you, but it’s refreshing to hear someone mention an altar call these days.
He adds, “Evangelicalism insists that the power of the gospel ultimately changes every dimension of our life. We Methodists call this ‘perfecting grace,’ and recognize that it begins with ‘converting grace.’”
I believe you will find Haynes’ piece a helpful and encouraging read. For his full essay, go to: http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=3024#
2008 IS 100TH ANNIVERSARY FOR UNITED METHODIST MEN - In 1908, the Methodist Episcopal Church launched a brotherhood of men which a century later is known as United Methodist Men. So this year, the denomination’s men’s ministry will celebrate its 100th anniversary, claiming some 239,000 U.S. members in chartered units.
UM Men will be honored during a presentation at General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, April 23-May 2.
The ministry of UM Men is overseen by the General Commission on United Methodist Men in Nashville, Tenn. The Rev. David Adams is the commission’s new top executive, and he brings to the task a burden for men’s ministry all across the nation.
In an interview with United Methodist Reporter staffer writer, Bill Fentum, Adams shares his witness about God’s call on his life to ministry, which came at a meeting at Bellevue UM Church in Nashville, in 1993. “I had been restless for several years, hungering for something. I knew there was something more that God wanted me to do and I didn’t know what it was.”
Through a pastor of men’s ministries, God spoke to his heart and made it clear he was supposed to be a pastor. He eventually went to Asbury Theological Seminary, graduated in 1999 and served appointments in the Tennessee Conference and then was drawn back into men’s ministry.
Adams says, “The General Commission on UM Men urges men to go deeper, to start small groups that might be oriented toward missions, or to Bible study or prayer. We encourage groups to partner with their pastors. The purpose, mission and objectives of UM Men parallel those things that the church desires, which is what we’re told in Matthew 28: to make disciples for Jesus Christ.”
For some time, I have felt that our United Methodist Men are one of the most spiritually vital groups in the denomination. We need to pray much for them as they focus on mentoring younger men for leadership in UM Men.
To read Bill Fentum’s full interview with Adams, go to: http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=3022#
BELIEFNET POLL: EVANGELICALS STILL CONSERVATIVE BUT DEFY STEREOTYPES – In an online poll, completed by 980 self-identified “evangelical/born again” respondents from January 17 to January 23, some 85 percent of evangelicals ranked the economy and “cleaning up government” as the most important or very important issues.
This compared to 61 percent who said the same about ending abortion and 49 percent who identified ‘stopping gay marriage’ as a top issue.
In some ways, the survey reveals evangelicals to be quite conservative: 47 percent said they were conservative versus 14 percent who said they were liberal. Almost 80 percent said they attended church weekly or more than weekly and 84 percent said the Bible is the “inerrant word of God.”
Almost 60 percent said they favored a more progressive evangelical agenda focused more on protecting the environment, tackling HIV/AIDS, and alleviating poverty and less on abortion and homosexuality.
At the same time, 65 percent of evangelicals said that Christian Right leaders sometimes or almost always represent their views. Of those respondents, an overwhelming number—80 percent—said Christian Right leaders represent their views on defending religion in public life, compared to 63 percent who said those leaders represent their views on “opposing gay marriage/gay rights.”
The above statistics support what I have felt for some time, that being that there is a desire among today’s progressive, internet-savvy evangelicals, for a different tone and spirit to be used in addressing the abortion and homosexuality issues. They still are in basic agreement with the position of the Christian Right leaders, but long for more nuanced, articulate evangelical spokespersons to represent those views.
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