The Reverend Doctor James V. Heidinger II has been named Asbury Seminary Alumnus of the Year 2024.
Heidinger has had a long career of service to the Kingdom. He graduated from Asbury College (now University) in 1963 and from Asbury Seminary in 1966. He was ordained Deacon and Elder in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1967 and 1969, respectively, and began his ministry serving churches there. He also served in a variety of positions within the conference, including as alternate delegate and delegate to Jurisdictional Conference.
Early in his ministry, Heidinger became involved in the renewal movement of the United Methodist Church. In 1969, Charles Keysor had begun The Good News movement, and soon Good News magazine, “a forum for scriptural Christianity,” published its first issue. Heidinger joined the national Board of Directors of Good News in 1975 and served on it until 1981, when he was elected Executive Secretary/Editor (a title later changed to President/Publisher) of Good News, a position he held from 1981 until his retirement in 2009.
His first book, entitled United Methodist Renewal: What Will It Take? was published in 1988. Since then, he has written other books, the latest of which is The Rise of Theological Liberalism and the Decline of American Methodism in 2017. Publication of this book garnered for him the Dunnam Award for Excellence & Impact in Christian Writing (named for its first recipient, Dr. Maxie Dunnam) from Christ United Methodist Church, Memphis, in 2018.
Heidinger has received several other honors, including the “A” Award from the Asbury College Alumni Association in 1988 and the honorary Doctor of Divinity from Asbury Seminary in 2001.
The Good News Board of Directors, at its closing meeting in Houston, TX, announced its plans to honor Heidinger for his service as Good News’s President and Publisher for 28 years by sending $50,000 to Asbury Seminary to establish a scholarship in his name for students preparing for ministry in the new Global Methodist Church.
Heidinger resides in Wilmore, Kentucky, with his wife, Joanne. They have three sons and six grandchildren.
Jim Heidinger is a great recipient of the alumnus of the year. He has made so many outstanding contributions to the work of the church and the kingdom and models what it means to be to be an Asbury Seminary alum at its best. Way to go ATS at recognizing Jim, long overdue!
Steve Moore
Congratulations, and may the Lord be magnified, while the Church is encouraged by the work of Good News. My wife was fortunate to take classes from Charles Keysor; so, it was easy to keep attached to Good News and its work. May God be faithful to your ambitions in retirement.
This award for Jim Heidinger is a well deserved high honor. He is a wonderful example of what the combination of holy living and academic excellence can do for the glory of God.
A well deserved honor.