News Odyssey special to examine religion and homosexuality
9/4/1998 News media contact: Linda Green · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn by United Methodist News Service How faith communities wrestle with the issue of homosexuality will be the focus of a Sept. 24 religious news show to air on the Odyssey Cable Network.
The one-hour special, "Windows of Hope, Closets of Fear: Faith Communities Confront Sexuality," will be presented by "News Odyssey," a weekly show that examines current events from a religious perspective. "News Odyssey" is co-produced by United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tenn., and Odyssey Production Ltd. in New York.
The show, which airs at 9 p.m. (EST), will give perspectives on homosexuality that were compiled from a national July poll commissioned by the network.
The results of the poll, which will be reported in the news special, indicate serious concerns about homosexuality and how it relates to the religious beliefs of Americans, according to an Odyssey Network announcement. The poll also shows the degree of acceptance homosexuality has in various circles.
The issue of gay unions and ordinations have caused controversy in many faith traditions, such as the United Methodist Church. The subject has spurred people to take sides, placing conservatives on one side and liberals on the other.
"Odyssey is taking a hard look at the issue of homosexuality and how the religious community is responding," said Jeff Weber, president of Odyssey Productions and executive producer of the special news show. "The channel is in a unique position to provide an insightful overview (and) reflect perspectives in the public discourse on this important subject."
Those to be featured on the "Windows of Hope" program include William Abraham, a professor at United Methodist-related Perkins School of Theology, Dallas; church historian Martin Marty; evangelist Tony Campolo; and the newly elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Page Patterson.
The Odyssey Network reaches almost 30 million households in nearly 1,500 cable systems nationwide. It is jointly owned by subsidiaries of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition Inc. (NICC) and of Tele-Communications Inc. NICC is a consortium of 64 Protestant, Jewish, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox faith groups, including the United Methodist Church.
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