Media Availability: Mark Tooley

Contact: Loralei Coyle 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org; both with The Institute on Religion and Democracy

WASHINGTON, April 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- Mark Tooley, Executive Director of IRD's UMAction Committee will be available in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for comment during the United Methodist Council of Bishops gathering. Tooley's UMAction Briefing reaches over 440,000 United Methodists. The bishops preside over 11 million church members in the United States, Africa, Europe and the Philippines. Their denomination is divided over hot button issues like homosexuality, with U.S. bishops being more liberal, and overseas bishops more conservative. Some bishops are developing a proposal that would divide the U.S. church from the overseas churches. IRD/UMAction supports a conservative perspective that affirms traditional church teachings.

What: The United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops Gathering

Who: All 69 active United Methodist bishops and 92 retired United Methodist bishops

Where: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

When: Sunday, April 29 thru Sunday, May 6

Mark Tooley, Director of IRD's UM Action Committee, commented:

"The Associated Press recently reported that, 'As United Methodists debate how they should interpret Scripture on issues from salvation to sexual orientation, delegates from overseas will be a steadfast conservative voice in the fight'. We pray that the African bishops especially, along with orthodox bishops in the U.S. and elsewhere, will work together to ensure that United Methodism does not follow the disastrous path of the Episcopal Church on theological and sexuality issues."

The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches' social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.