North AmericaVashti Murphy McKenzie was elected in July as the first woman bishop of the 2.3 million-member African Methodist Episcopal Church. She has been pastor of a church in Baltimore.

Murray Dempster is the new president of Vanguard University of Southern California, located in Costa Mesa.Stuart Briscoe, prolific author and pastor of Elmbrook Church near Milwaukee, will step down as senior pastor at the end of this year. Briscoe and his wife, Jill, also an author, will remain active in overseas ministry.

James A. De Jong, president of Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich., has announced plans to retire December 31, 2001, after 17 years of leadership.

Todd Hunter has resigned as national director and board president of the Association of Vineyard Churches to return to the pastorate. Berten Waggoner has been named acting national director.

Westmont College president David Winter has announced plans to retire, effective June 30, 2001. Winter has served as president of the Santa Barbara, Calif., college for 25 years.

The missions organization Partners International has moved from San Jose, Calif., to Spokane, Wash., because of "the high cost of living in the Silicon Valley."

Charles I. Jones, the Episcopal bishop of Montana, faces an ecclesiastical trial in Minneapolis, scheduled for September, on charges of immorality and conduct unbecoming of a clergy member. The charges are connected to an extramarital relationship 17 years ago, when Jones served as a priest in Kentucky.