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Died Oswald C.J. Hoffmann, voice of "The Lutheran Hour" radio show from 1955 to 1988, on September 8 in St. Louis after a brief illness. He was 91. Hoffmann represented the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at the Second Vatican Council and served as North American chairman for the 1974 World Congress on Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland. He served on the board of Christianity Today International from 1981 to 2000.

Elected Thom Rainer, as president of the Southern Baptist Convention's LifeWay Christian Resources, effective February 1. Rainer, 50, is the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. LifeWay, which produces books, curriculum, music, church supplies, and other products, and operates more than 120 retail stores, had revenues of more than $428 million last year.

Hired Delia Gallagher, as CNN's first full-time faith-and-values correspondent, in early September. Gallagher, the network's Vatican correspondent for the past five years and a former editor at Inside the Vatican magazine, is the first full-time religion reporter on a commercial news network since ABC laid off Peggy Wehmeyer in 2001.

Stepping Down Leon Kass, as chairman of President Bush's Council on Bioethics. Kass, on leave from the University of Chicago, led the 18-member committee from its formation in August 2001 and will continue to serve on the council. Kass said he no longer wanted to devote the time required to lead and represent the panel. Under Kass's leadership, the council issued recommendations on subjects including embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning. President Bush selected Edmund Pellegrino, professor emeritus at Georgetown University Medical Center, to join and chair the council.

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The Lutheran Hour has more information about Oswald C.J. Hoffmann.

LifeWay stores has more about the election of Thom Rainer as president.

The What's Happening at CNN blog has more on Delia Gallagher's appointment as faith and values correspondent.

CT's Life Matters column commented on Kass stepping down. More about him is available from the President's Council on Bioethics.

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November 2005, Vol. 49, No. 11