(AgapePress) - The head of an evangelical renewal movement within the United Methodist Church is voicing concern about what he calls "a pattern of sharp verbal attacks" on evangelical views and groups in his denomination.

At a meeting earlier this month, the Good News Board of Directors cited three recent attacks against Bible-believing Methodist groups. One of those attacks, it said, is a book published by the "Information Project for United Methodists" which claims the denomination is at great risk from conservative groups like Good News, the Institute on Religion and Democracy, and others.

Good News president Jim Heidinger says the publication United Methodism at Risk: A Wake Up Call would almost be humorous if it were not so mean-spirited.

"This group feels that their influence may be slipping away, and that new voices, conservative voices, are coming in -- and they do not like it all," Heidinger says. "Their disagreement really takes the form of some sharp, intolerant attitudes."

Heidinger says another broadside came in the form of a paid ad in the UMConnection newspaper accusing Good News of "seeking to replace the denomination's curricula and official structures." In addition, a recent issue of the official magazine of the United Methodist Women's Division opposes acceptance of basic Christian beliefs.

He says such groups are "locked in a rowboat of irrelevance" and do not understand they are out of step with mainstream United Methodists.

"I think it's important for the Bible believers in the [Methodist Church] to realize that the evangelical movement is growing, there is a new vitality in local churches, and that these kinds of things that we're seeing represent an old-guard, fading liberal viewpoint," he says.

Heidinger believes mainstream United Methodists ought to be working to reclaim the denomination -- and he thinks that is happening.

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