Died Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, noted Emory University historian and professor of women's studies, on January 2. She was 65. Fox-Genovese served on the editorial board of CT sister publication Books & Culture. Fox-Genovese and her husband, Eugene Genovese, started the journal Marxist Perspectives in the late 1970s. But she converted to Roman Catholicism in 1995 and became an outspoken conservative intellectual.
Appointed Cal Huge, as CEO of Mercy Ships in December. Huge, an attorney, previously worked for an organization that provides air transportation and satellite communication to NGOs in Afghanistan. Mercy Ships delivers health care to the poor on hospital ships.
Selected R. Scott Rodin, as president of the Christian Stewardship Association (CSA) on January 11. Rodin formerly served as president of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary). Nearly 1,000 development professionals belong to the CSA, which equips Christian leaders with biblical stewardship practices and principles. The CSA was without a president since 2004.
Hired W. Todd Bassett, as executive director of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Bassett, a member of the NAE executive committee, previously served as national commander of the Salvation Army. He assumes administrative, financial, and communications responsibilities for the NAE, which did not have an executive director under past president Ted Haggard.
Died Yuri Shtern, member of Israel's Knesset and founder of its Christian Allies Caucus, on January 16 in Jerusalem. Shtern, 58, had suffered with cancer for six months. He forged close ties with Christian Zionist organizations after emigrating from the Soviet Union to Israel in 1981.
Hired Former Sen. Rick Santorum, to head the new America's Enemies program at the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC). Time named Santorum, defeated for re-election in 2006, one of America's top 25 evangelicals in 2005. EPPC president Ed Whelan lauded Santorum, a Roman Catholic, for opposing Islamic fascism and religious persecution as a U.S. senator for 12 years.