FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2002
Contact: James V. Heidinger II
1-859-858-4661
Good News Board Urges Episcopal Accountability,
Laments
Action Dissolving Local
WILMORE, KY -- The Board of Directors of Good News, an evangelical renewal ministry within the United Methodist Church, took action at its semi-annual meeting here August 7-9 calling upon the Council of Bishops: 1) to restore accountability in the church’s Western Jurisdiction, which is refusing to abide by church law in dealing with clergy who are self-avowed, practicing homosexuals; 2) to investigate recent teaching by Bishop Joe Sprague (Northern Illinois) to determine whether his denials of major doctrinal tenets go beyond the boundaries of classic Christian doctrine; and 3) to investigate the action of the Alaska Missionary Conference and its cabinet in dissolving St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, an evangelical congregation in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The board also took action honoring former Evangelical Missions Council executive Virgil Maybray, announced a National Summer Celebration at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Columbus, Ohio July 24-26, 2003, and elected chairman Scott Field for another year.
Accountability was a frequent topic as the Good News board expressed concern about the Committee on Investigation of the Pacific North West Annual Conference refusing to send on to church trial the complaints brought against the Rev. Mark Williams and the Rev. Karen Dammann. Williams had stated on the record at the PNW Annual Conference in 2001 that he was a “practicing gay man.” Dammann had indicated in a letter to Bishop Elias Galvan (Seattle Area) that she was in a "partnered, covenanted homosexual relationship” with another woman. The bishop filed complaints against both Williams and Dammann, but the Committee on Investigation of the conference voted against sending the case on to a church trial.
“Good News believes this refusal by the PNW Conference Committee on Investigation to fulfill its responsibility represents a total ignoring of United Methodist polity and discipline,” said James V. Heidinger II, president and publisher of Good News. “This is clearly another schismatic action, as was the Oregon/Idaho Conference’s approval of Jeanne Knepper several years ago and the Cal/Nevada Annual Conference’s dismissal of 68 clergy who joined in a same-sex covenant, several years ago. The Council of Bishops must face the serious reality that the UM Church’s Western Jurisdiction is operating autonomously and not according to the UM Book of Discipline on the issue of homosexuality. This egregious pattern is a great hindrance to the ministry of other UM congregations all across the nation,” Heidinger added.
Good News also expressed its deep concern about an address given by Bishop Joe Sprague (Northern Illinois) at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver. In his message to seminarians, Sprague denied the classic understandings of Jesus’ full and unique deity, virgin birth, blood atonement, and physical (bodily) resurrection. He went on to say, amazingly, that to believe these traditional understandings today is “idolatry.”
“These teachings by Bishop Sprague were not made casually or in passing,” said the Rev. Tom Lambrecht, board member from Greenville, Wisconsin and Vice-Chair of the Good News board. “They are a part of a book that the bishop will be publishing, and we believe what he is teaching and writing is not consistent with the substance of classic Christianity. The Council of Bishops must address this matter, advising the bishop that he has gone far beyond the boundaries of our United Methodist doctrinal standards,” said Lambrecht.
Good News also expressed its deep concern about the
action by the Alaska Missionary Conference to “dissolve” the
St. Paul’s United Methodist
Good News also presented the first annual Paul L. Morell United Methodist Missions Award to the Rev. Virgil Maybray, who served for eight years as Executive Secretary of Good News’ Evangelical Missions Council. The award was established in 2000 and the inaugural award presented in January of 2001 to Mrs. Ann Morell, the widow of Paul Morell. The award is given in recognition of a United Methodist clergy or lay person(s) who have made a significant contribution to the cause of world missions. Maybray ministered in some 350 United Methodist churches in 130 American cities in 35 states during his tenure at the helm of Good News’ EMC. He held missions conferences and challenged congregations to get a vision for world missions. He helped hundreds of churches get started in Faith Promise missions giving programs, much of which went to UM Advance Special Projects of the General Board of Global Ministries. In 1984, Good News released Maybray to go to be Vice President of the new supplemental Mission Society for United Methodists that opened its doors in February of 1984. Maybray, already 65 years of age, served in that capacity for three years and then as a Field Representative of the Society until finally retiring in 1999. “Virgil helped awaken a whole generation of United Methodists to a vision for world missions and faith promise giving,” said James Heidinger. “He was an invaluable colleague and confidant to me when I came to Good News in 1981 and I have the highest regard and admiration for him. He is entirely deserving of this recognition.”
In other action, the Good News board approved plans for a National Summer Celebration in Columbus, Ohio to be held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel July 24-26, 2003.
The board also elected Dr. Scott Field, pastor of Wheatland-Salem United Methodist
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