—Many Christians found no humor in white-buck-wearing gospel crooner Pat Boone‘s recent release of an album of heavy metal hits arranged in his mellow, innocuous style. More fans complained when the 62-year-old Boone, as a joke, appeared at the American Music Awards January 27 with a black leather vest, fake tattoos, earrings, and a metal-studded collar. Trinity Broadcasting Network then canceled his show GospelAmerica, although it may return later. Boone did remain as host of the Christian Film and Television Commission’s MovieGuide Awards on March 19.
—After meeting with Vice President Al Gore, the National Religious Partnership for the Environment on February 6 unveiled a three-year, $4 million campaign to promote programs that link environment and poverty issues. The partnership includes the Evangelical Environmental Network, the U.S. Catholic Conference, the National Council of Churches, and the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.
—New Man ceased being the official publication of Promise Keepers this month in a mutual decision between the two entities. Editor Brian Peterson says the independence will allow New Man to reach a broader Christian men’s audience. The magazine, published by Strang Communications in Lake Mary, Florida, started in 1994 and has a circulation of 330,000.
—Gary R. Walsh, bishop of the Free Methodist Church in Canada, will take over as president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) in June, replacing Brian Stiller, who resigned after 14 years to become president of Ontario Bible College and Theological Seminary. The 33-year-old EFC, a part of the World Evangelical Fellowship, has 28 member denominations.
—Pastor and writer David H. Chilton died March 7 at age 45. Chilton, of Diamond Springs, California, never fully recovered from a heart attack in 1994. He had been a regular columnist for World magazine and the author of several books, including Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators.
—The Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges, which represents more than 90 schools, is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. The Fayetteville, Arkansas-based association is also conducting a study on the future of Bible colleges.
—Joseph L. McCaskey, general director of the Berean Mission in Saint Louis from 1988 to 1993, died February 10 at age 68, following an extended illness.
—Judy Bryson is the new president of the Wheaton, Illinois- based Pioneer Clubs, a church-sponsored weekly program for young people in more than 4,000 congregations. Bryson has been with Pioneer Clubs for 26 years, most recently as vice president of marketing and sales. She succeeds Virginia Patterson, who retired after 27 years with the organization.
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