Let your voice be heard
Please take five minutes to fill out the brief Call to Action survey and provide the steering committee with your perspective on church vitality. <CLICK HERE>
The Call to Action as adopted by the Council of Bishops in May 2009 challenged a Steering Committee “to guide our denominational response to the urgent opportunity for further alignment of the mission of the church and the four areas of focus, and to refashion and reposition the church for the 21st century.” The Committee was charged with the task of bringing forward “…a plan of action that will lead to reordering the life of the church.” Central to that Call to Action was the resolve to be guided by the mission of the church (“to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”) and the four areas of focus that have emerged as our way of living into that mission. The world-wide economic crisis formed the context and climate for such an undertaking.
<To read more about the Call to Action, click here>
Special session of General Conference unlikely
Do not expect a special session of General Conference in advance of the 2012 meeting in Tampa, Florida. The limited amount of time available to put together a special session, the cost and the U.S.-focused agenda for a worldwide meeting of United Methodist leaders are among the reasons such a session is unlikely, church leaders said in interviews this week.
Bishop Gregory Palmer says “there may not be a call” for a special session of General Conference in advance of the 2012 meeting in Tampa, Florida.
A UMNS photo by Ronny Perry.
Haitian Methodists, UMCOR assess volunteer needs
The Methodist Church in Haiti and United Methodist Committee on Relief are identifying “suitable projects and assignments” for volunteer teams wishing to assist with earthquake recovery in Haiti. Both groups are asking volunteers to delay their arrival in Haiti until those assessments are complete. <MORE>
The Rev. Gesner Paul, president of the Methodist Church in Haiti, discusses the church's needs as Haiti rebuilds at the Methodist Guest House in Port-au-Prince. UMNS photos by Mike DuBose.
January/February 2010 issue of
Good News
Finding a friend in Mary
Philip Thrailkill expounds on the ways Mary serves as a role model.
Rediscovering John Wesley
James V. Heidinger reports on the rekindling of the Wesleyan spirit.
The Wesleyan family tree
Kenneth Kinghorn points to the spiritual influences on John Wesley.
The revival roots of the Lay Witness Mission
Frank Billman celebrates the 50 year anniversary of the Lay Witness Mission.
Blessing your community
Brett DeHart relates what has happened since a local church looked outward.
If you want to receive the paper version of the magazine, call 800-487-7784 or order online at our donation interface.
Renewal group leaders meet with Bishops' Unity Task Force
On November 5, 2009, a dozen leaders of the renewal groups within the United Methodist Church met with the Bishops' Unity Task Force. We were grateful for their invitation to meet at Lake Junaluska and to share our concerns about the unity of the church and how we can move forward in mission together. The same task force had previously met with a group representing the Reconciling Movement and the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). <MORE>
Judicial Council voids sexuality statement from Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
By Linda Bloom
There is an official position in the United Methodist Church on gay and lesbian sexuality, and that states the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. The Judicial Council, the denomination’s highest court, in a ruling released Nov. 2 said that the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference went too far in adopting its own statement declaring “a more authentic and truthful representation of The United Methodist Church” is that “we disagree” on gay and lesbian issues. “The effect of the Baltimore-Washington resolution is to negate the church’s clearly stated position as reflected in current disciplinary language,” the council wrote. “Moreover, the Baltimore–Washington resolution attempts to articulate a new and different standard of church belief using language that has been specifically rejected by the General Conference.” <MORE>Photo by Neill Caldwell (UMNS): Members of the 2008-2012 Judicial Council. From left are: Ruben Reyes, the Rev. Dennis Blackwell, the Rev. Kathi Austin-Mahle, the Rev. Belton Joyner, the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, Jon Gray, Angela Brown, Beth Capen and the Rev. William Lawrence.
The Trouble with the Truth
The Rev. Rob Renfroe, President of Good News
The Apostle John described Jesus as being “full of grace and truth.” Not one instead of the other; not one more than the other; but both together in his person. Join Rob Renfroe, the new President of Good News, as he discusses the need for Christians to be committed to both grace and truth with the congregation of The Woodlands United Methodist Church.
Heidinger named President and Publisher Emeritus
In honor of his 28 years of faithful service, the Good News Board of Directors bestowed upon the Rev. Dr. James V. Heidinger II the honorific title president and publisher emeritus of Good News: A Forum for Scriptural Christianity, Inc. The action was taken during the August 6-7 board of directors meeting in Wilmore, Kentucky. <more>
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2009 Constitutional Amendments Votes
• US Annual Conference Delegates Refuse to Ratify
Most Proposed Constitutional Amendments
• Spreadsheet view
• Other articles about voting on the constitutional amendments
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