By James V. Heidinger
This article originally appeared at the Institute on Religion and Democracy.
In October of 2024, the Good News renewal movement celebrated 57 years of renewal efforts within the United Methodist Church, and marked the end of its ministry. With the Global Methodist Church having launched as a new, more orthodox denomination in the Wesleyan theological tradition, the Good News board and leadership believed its ministry of renewal within the United Methodist Church had come to an end.
Though I had retired from the ministry in 2009, my wife Joanie and I were extended a gracious invitation and made the trip to Houston for the final Good News board meeting at the beautiful Woodlands United Methodist Church followed by a celebratory dinner at a nearby restaurant. The dinner was a wonderful evening, sharing fellowship with Good News leaders Rob Renfroe, Tom Lambrecht, Steve Beard, other staff, board members and a few major donors to the ministry. A number of us spoke briefly about Good News’ 57 years of prayerful efforts for renewal and reform within the United Methodist Church.
Though Good News’ ministry was coming to an end in December of 2024, the ministry’s board took action to continue one more year of Good News magazine, providing the funds for its publication and Steve Beard’s editorship. This last year it has been under the auspices of the Institute on Religion and Democracy and its long-time President Mark Tooley, and the John Wesley Institute, headed by its President, Ryan Danker. The magazine’s focus during 2025 has been on impressive, enriching articles in the Wesleyan theological tradition, but aimed at the larger, world-wide Wesleyan community.
While I was pleased with the extension of the magazine for another year, I have felt something more needed to be said about the ministry of Steve Beard. He has served as editor of Good News magazine for some 34 years, a lengthy tenure of excellent, faithful service that is now finally coming to an end. Wow! We all should pause a moment and reflect on whether we know of anyone who has continued faithfully in a single ministry assignment for 34 years! By any measure, this is a remarkable feat of faithful and fruitful service. Thinking about it makes me think of Eugene Peterson’s great Christian classic, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
I remember when Steve came to Kentucky to join our staff in 1991, having served previously at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the Institute on Religion and Democracy, both located in Washington, D.C. One of my favorite photos of Steve’s was taken from a conversation he was having back then with no less than the famed William F. Buckley, founder of National Review magazine, and his wife Pat at a dinner. Both Buckley and his wife were leaning forward listening carefully to what the young staffer at EPPC, Steve Beard, was saying. Usually, people were leaning forward listening carefully to what the brilliant Bill Buckley was saying. I grew to understand how bright and engaging this young man was when he became a part of our Good News staff, editing our ministry’s magazine.
There are so many things I have appreciated about Steve’s work with Good News magazine. He was committed to producing a magazine that had balance, making sure there was something for our entire United Methodist readership, both clergy and laity. After a number of years, I realized how easy it would have been for me to lean toward a publication geared mainly for just clergy. Steve made sure that didn’t happen. There were articles for persons of all ages, for clergy and laity, men and women, urban and rural, and with racial sensitivity. He was careful that we not be consumed by the negatives, which of course, there were many. In a time when general readership magazines were languishing, Steve continued to make Good News a quality, well-informed, inspirational, edifying, and always challenging publication—just a great read! He had keen insight and concern about how the Good News movement would be perceived across the denomination, and he was always careful to avoid things that would invite unnecessary criticisms of Good News’ larger renewal efforts.
Steve also maintained cordial and positive professional relationships with those involved at United Methodist Communications in Nashville. He respected them, treated them cordially, and I sensed that they responded positively to Steve in return, even while understanding that he represented a renewal ministry with which they often disagreed.
I would add that Steve is an excellent journalist, that is, a very gifted writer, in church matters and beyond. Many of us were impressed at his articles reviewing movies and critiquing pop culture. He was a contributor to National Review Online and BreakPoint.com. He was a contributing author to Spiritual Journeys: How Faith Has Influenced Twelve Music Icons (Relevant, 2003) in which he wrote chapters on Bono, Johnny Cash, and Al Green. He was also asked to contribute the forward to Steve Stockman’s book, Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 (Relevant Books, 2001). Steve’s articles have appeared in Charisma, Discipleship Journal, The Washington Times, and World magazine. Yes, Steve was and is a profoundly gifted writer.
Steve also has great instincts to see the larger picture of things. He regularly helped me with articles, editorials, as well as the monthly letters to our constituents. He made me a better writer. I am thankful for his patience and gentle critiques during those many years we worked together.
So, it has been hard to see this major investment of Steve’s life and energy come to an end without some acknowledgement or recognition for all he’s done. Thanks to you, Steve Beard, for serving faithfully for 34 years as an editor who consistently gave us a first-class magazine of which we could all be proud (about 200 issues in all)! I wish there could have been one final magazine to give many of us a chance to say a much-deserved thank-you, well-done, and “Farewell.”
Do know, Steve, that for many of us who have been your colleagues and co-laborers, we know well the significance of your ministry—for a full third of a century—to the vital renewal venture in which we have all shared. You have made an enormous contribution to this endeavor.
Then, as your friend and brother in Christ, I want to express personally my heart-felt gratitude and appreciation for you, your friendship, and what your ministry has meant to me. You, dear friend, have my deep and enduring admiration. For all you have done, I give thanks to our Heavenly Father. You are an example, indeed, of “a long obedience in the same direction.” Do keep writing!
James V. Heidinger II is President Emeritus of Good News.