Died • Bruce Metzger, professor emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary, of natural causes. He was 93. Internationally recognized for his scholarship, Metzger was an expert on Greek biblical texts. He worked extensively on the RSV Bible translation and led work on the NRSV.
Killed • Khaddafy Janjalani, who led the terrorist group that abducted missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham in 2001. DNA testing in January confirmed that Philippine soldiers had killed the Abu Sayyaf leader in a September battle.
Hired • Gil Odendaal, as director of global hiv/aids initiatives at Saddleback Church. The Southern California church has charged Odendaal, a native of South Africa, to develop aids-prevention strategies and culturally sensitive approaches to short-term missions.
Sentenced • The last five Baptist Foundation of Arizona defendants, for defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme. Prosecutors recommended that treasurer Donald Dale Deardoff spend one year in prison, but the judge sentenced him to four years and ordered him to pay back $159 million. The president and legal counsel were sentenced to prison in September.
Selected • Gayle Beebe, as president of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Beebe will leave his post as president of Michigan’s Spring Arbor University to take the position in July.
Elected • Peter Teague, as president of the Association for Biblical Higher Education. ABHE provides accreditation and services for more than 1,200 schools in North America. Teague is the president of Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania.
Selected • Gary Haugen, International Justice Mission president and CEO, for the Wilberforce Forum Award presented annually by Prison Fellowship. The award recognizes an individual who has made a difference in the face of formidable social problems. Haugen founded IJM in 1997 to rescue victims of abuse and bring their perpetrators to justice.
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Related Elsewhere:
Christianity Today memorialized Metzger in an obituary and ‘Revisiting a Non-Standard Scholar.‘
Other obituaries have appeared in Newsday and The Trentonian.
Brandon Watson’s Novum Testamentum Blog is linking to other blogs discussing Metzger’s passing. The Evangelical Textual Criticism blog is soliciting memories.
Philippine marines continue to go after militant leaders after Janjalani’s killing
Our special section on the Burnhams is available online.
Gil Odendaal says his new position at Saddleback will be “totally reinventing the whole process” for short-term missions.
Christianity Today highlighted Odendaal’s work in the DRC.
Recent articles on the Baptist Foundation of Arizona scam include:
5 Baptist fund figures sentenced | Even a 6-year-old fraud case can hold surprises (The Arizona Republic)
4 years in prison for former Baptist Foundation treasurer | Donald Deardoff also ordered to pay $159 million to make up for money investors lost when the foundation collapsed in 1999 (Tucson Citizen)
Christianity Today articles from the beginning of the BFA case include:
Elderly Investors Target Accountant | But Baptist Foundation of Arizona victims will have to wait in line. (May 17, 2001)
Indictments Handed Down | Five former Baptist Foundation of Arizona officials plead not guilty to theft, fraud, and racketeering (May 17, 2001)
Baptist Foundation of Arizona Declares Bankruptcy | Troubled agency, accused of lawbreaking, offers restructuring plan. (Nov. 9, 1999)
Baptist Foundation Faces Investment Fraud Charges | Freeze on redemptions leaves pensioners in a pinch. (Oct. 25, 1999)
Gayle Beebe announced he would remain president of Spring Arbor University until June 30. He will be Westmont College‘s eighth president.
Peter Teague‘s term as president of the Association for Biblical Higher Education expires in 2009.
Chuck Colson presented the Prison Fellowship’s Wilberforce Award to Gary Haugen, president and CEO of International Justice Mission.
Christianity Today articles by and about Gary Haugen include:
On a Justice Mission | Thanks to William Wilberforce, we already know the key to defeating slavery. (Gary Haugen, February 22, 2007)
What’s Next: International Justice | Long Road: What evangelical leaders say are the priorities and challenges for the next 50 years. (October 16, 2006)
Silence on Suffering | Where are the voices from the Christian community on cruel and degrading treatment of detainees? (Gary A. Haugen, October 17, 2005)
