
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 18, 1990                   TAG: 9005180784
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: CODY LOWE RELIGION WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SPOKESMAN DENIES BUSH `UNINVITATION'

A White House spokesman today denied published reports that President Bush was "uninvited" to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in June.

Doug Wead, the president's religion liaison, said today that scheduling problems and a late invitation meant the president had to decline to speak to the New Orleans meeting.

Bush is scheduled to meet with the president and prime minister of Thailand on the days before and after the day he was invited to speak, Wead said, and has a dinner the night of the speech.

Wead said reports that Bush declined the invitation because of a political uproar in the Southern Baptist Convention were incorrect.

Moderate Southern Baptists had complained that an appearance by Bush would be used politically by the convention's ultraconservative faction. Ultraconservatives reportedly were angered that Bush had allowed homosexual representation at an April bill-signing ceremony.

Wead denied that either consideration influenced Bush's decision not to attend. Wead acknowledged that his office received some negative comments from people aligned with the moderation faction of the convention, but said protests over the bill-signing did not arise until after the invitation had been declined.

by CNB