– In an attempt to repay creditors, the Pasadena, California-based Fuller Evangelistic Association (FEA) is disposing of its assets, including the rights to its audiotape subscription programs, such as Pastor’s Update, and newsletters, which it sold to Fuller Theological Seminary. FEA has not declared bankruptcy, and is now voluntary phasing out its operations. After the sale, the organization will permanently end its 63-year-old ministry. FEA can be contacted at (310) 690-8722 regarding claims settlement or assets disposal.
– The three-judge Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) January 23 in Flores v. City of Boerne. The court reversed a lower court ruling last year in a dispute involving a Texas Catholic parish’s plans to raze part of its sanctuary. The city contended the church should be preserved. RFRA, passed by Congress in 1993, prohibits government from substantially burdening religious exercise unless there is a compelling reason.
– The Evangelical Press Association (EPA) and the Amy Foundation are cosponsoring the new Awakening the Giant Writing Awards for articles in nearly 300 EPA-member publications. A total of $10,000 will be awarded annually, including $5,000 to the first-place winner who best satisfies the goal: “to disciple our nation in this generation.” The Amy Foundation also sponsors a contest for Christian writers whose work appears in the secular press.
– Simon Greenleaf University in Anaheim, California, has entered an agreement to become a part of Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. Simon Greenleaf operates a school of law and graduate programs in Christian apologetics and human rights. Trinity operates a college and seminary in Deerfield and a branch campus in Miami.
– Helen Duff Baugh, founder of Stonecroft Ministries in Kansas City, Missouri, died February 7 at the age of 92. Baugh began forming nondenominational, prayer-based Christian business and professional women’s clubs in the 1930s.
– Back to God Hour host Joel Nederhood, director of the Christian Reformed Church’s radio and television broadcast agency since 1960, retired in January at age 65.
– Daniel Vander Ark will become the new executive director of Christian Schools International (CSI), a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based organization of 404 schools. He has been director of support services for the 76-year-old CSI. Vander Ark succeeds Sheri D. Haan, who is retiring after seven years.
– J. Nelson Kraybill has been appointed president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. Kraybill, who had been program director of the London Mennonite Centre since 1991, succeeds the late Marlin E. Miller.
– Roger Parrott is the new president of Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. Parrott had been president of Sterling (Kans.) College since 1989, and he served as U.S. director of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization from 1986 to 1989. He succeeds Newton Wilson, who retired after nine years.
– David Dockery has been named the new president of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Dockery has been dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He succeeds the retiring Hyran Barefoot, who will assume the new post of chancellor.
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