CHURCH AND SOCIETY AGENCY HEAD DOES NOT REPRESENT VOICE OF BOARD TO PRESIDENT BUSH

February 9, 2001

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Mr. President,

As a current board member of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, I am writing to express my concern as to how you have been criticized through news releases sent out by the board's new General Secretary, Jim Winkler. I would want you to know that he does not speak for the entire board, and there are many of us who applaud the new emphases you bring to the White House in regard to Christian principles and moral integrity.

I am a conservative and a life-long Methodist. I love my church, and I believe it is a high honor to have you, as a United Methodist, serving as our President. I recently read with interest a portion of your testimony where you mentioned your involvement in Community Bible Study. I, too, have been involved with this fine organization and went to Midland to take the training course to be one of the teaching directors in our local community.

At General Conference this past year in Cleveland I served on the Faith and Order committee which dealt with all the social issues facing the church such as abortion and homosexuality. It was very disheartening to me to see that the leader of the pro-gay and abortion-rights groups was Philip Wogaman, pastor at Foundry United Methodist Church.

Mr. President, for too long the General Boards and Agencies of the United Methodist Church have been dominated by liberals. But, as with your presidency, a new day is dawning. Evangelicals are growing in number and are being elected to positions of authority. My family and I praise God for your election, and we are praying for your entire family. It has offended me personally when articles written with the supposed blessing of the General Board of Church and Society have made statements and taken positions with which the evangelicals on our board have totally disagreed. As I stated before, the staff at the GBCS under the leadership of Jim Winkler does not represent the feelings of the entire board and those of us who support what you are trying to accomplish greatly appreciate your efforts.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may He give you divine wisdom and understanding as you seek to lead our great nation.

Yours in Christ,

Les O. Fowler, D.M.D. General Board of Church and Society Board Member Asheboro, North Carolina lof@ashboro.com