Passages - Christianity Today

Murdered Tom Fox, 54, an American who was among four Christian Peacemaker Teams members in Iraq kidnapped late last year by the Swords of Righteousness Brigade. Fox’s body was found in west Baghdad with gunshots to his head and chest. A military operation on March 23 freed the three other CPT members taken hostage.

Died Henry Morris, called the “father of modern creation science,” on February 25. Morris, 87, founded the Institute for Creation Research in 1970. He was a hydraulic engineer who wrote more than 60 books, including The Genesis Flood (1961), and defended creationist principles through scientific observation.

Retiring Peter Bradley, 65, as president of International Bible Society, when a successor is named. Bradley helped ibs develop its current vision to expose 2 billion people to the Bible by 2008 by expanding its print, online, and radio broadcast outlets. ibs also wants to complete contemporary translations of the Bible in more than 50 languages in the next five years.

Selected Wayne Pederson, as vice president of Moody Broadcasting Network, a branch of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Pederson will oversee and lead network programming for Moody’s radio properties and ministries, including its 35 owned and operated stations. Pederson most recently served as station manager of MBN’s flagship station, WMBI in Chicago. He replaces Bob Neff, who stepped down in February 2005 due to health concerns.

Acquitted Jane Spahr, Presbyterian Church (USA) minister, of violating her denomination’s position on same-sex marriage. A PCUSA regional judicial commission ruled 6-1 that Spahr acted within her right of conscience when she married two lesbian couples in 2004 and 2005. The commission said that the PCUSA constitution’s wording on marriage—reserving it for one man and one woman—offers a “definition, not a directive.” Spahr said she plans to continue performing same-sex weddings.

Resigned Charles Moore, 65, as president of Northern Seminary in Illinois, effective June 5. Moore was the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Charlotte, Michigan, before his five years at Northern. He plans to return to church ministry. While the trustees search for a new president, John Kirn, the board’s chair, will serve as the seminary’s chief executive officer.

Selected James Tonkowich, as president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, an organization focused on renewing mainline denominations. Tonkowich, formerly managing editor of Prison Fellowship’s BreakPoint ministry, is a member of the (non-mainline) Presbyterian Church in America. He succeeds Diane Knippers, who died in April 2005.