—Couples wed in Louisiana since August 15 have had the choice of entering into a traditional marriage or a “covenant” marriage, the nation’s first legal union to require premarital counseling and a two-year separation period before a divorce will be granted. In a time when numerous states are seeking ways to curtail the number of dissolutions (CT, April 8, 1996, p. 84), the covenant marriage makes a divorce more difficult to obtain by outlining specific causes, including adultery, imprisonment, abuse, and abandonment.
—Ingram Industries Inc., which is merging Ingram Christian Resources and the recently acquired Spring Arbor Distribution Company (CT, July 14, 1997, p. 71), is closing three book distribution plants and laying off up to 200 finance, sales, and marketing employees. In another move, Richard L. Pigott, who became president in May of the new entity, Spring Arbor Distributors, has resigned to become managing director of Peter Lowe Success seminars. The company’s new president is Larry A. Carpenter, who founded Ingram Christian Resources.
—Michael Lichtenberger, fired June 26 as controller of Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, has been accused of stealing more than $1.2 million. Officials at the General Conference Mennonite Church school claim Lichtenberger systematically forged checks and diverted them into his personal accounts from a college operating-expenses account over a four-year period. Bethel has filed a civil suit designed to secure college assets in Lichtenberger’s possession.
—Donn Moomaw, who prayed at both of former President Reagan’s inaugurations, has become interim pastor at the 800-member Village Community Presbyterian Church in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He completed a two-year suspension for sexual misconduct with five women from the congregation of Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Encino, where he was minister for 29 years ending in 1993. Moomaw, 66, is still barred from individual counseling with women.
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