Baptist Briefs

Posted: 3/02/07

Baptist Briefs

Hammond recommended as NAMB president. The North American Mission Board’s presidential search committee has recommended Geoffrey Hammond to become the agency’s next president. Hammon is senior associate director of the Souther Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. The NAMB board will vote on the recommendation at its March 20-21 meeting. Hammond, 49, is a graduate of Spurgeon’s Seminary in London and earned a doctor of ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Final Arizona defendants sentenced. The five final defendants affiliated with a fraud scandal at the Baptist Foundation of Arizona have been sentenced. Donald Dale Deardoff, former BFA treasurer, received four years in prison and was ordered to pay $150 million in restitution. Sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution after accepting plea agreements were Harold Dewayne Friend, a businessman who allegedly participated in fraudulent financial transactions; Jalma W. Hunsinger, director of two BFA subsidiaries; Edgar Alan Kuhn, former president of two BFA subsidiaries; and Richard Lee Rolfes, former owner of a firm that provided accounting services for some BFA subsidiaries. Last September, former BFA President William Crotts and former legal counsel Thomas Grabinski were sentenced to eight and six years, respectively, on fraud and racketeering charges.

Mainstream taps Texans. The Mainstream Baptist Network named four Texans to its Hall of Fame during the network’s annual convocation Feb. 23-24 in Irving. They are Vernon Davis, retired dean of Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology, and three former Baptist General Convention of Texas presidents—Clyde Glazener, pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth; Ken Hall, president of Buckner International; and Albert Reyes, president of Buckner Children & Family Services. The Mainstream Hall of Fame honors individuals who preserve and strengthen historic Baptist principles.

Tax guide available. Ministers can get help preparing their federal income tax returns from GuideStone Financial Resources’ Ministers Tax Guide for 2006 Returns. The tax guide can be obtained from the GuideStone website, www.GuideStone.org. Printed copies or a CD version can also be obtained by calling (888) 984-8433 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time weekdays.

BTSR preaching conference focuses on justice. “Let Justice Roll” is the theme of the Chester Brown, Hampton Baptist Church Preaching and Worship Conference May 21-23 at Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va. Plenary and worship sessions will explore Christ’s call to minister to “the least of these.” Author/reformer Tony Campolo and folk singer Kate Campbell are featured conference leaders. Registration is $125. For more information or to register, contact BTSR at (804) 204-1220, e-mail pwconf@btsr.edu or visit www.btsr.edu/preaching_worship_conference.html.

Netherton joins Mercer. James Netherton, the embattled president of Carson-Newman College, is resigning from the Baptist-affiliated school to become executive vice president of Mercer University. Netherton, president of Carson-Newman since 2000, was the target of 129-71 “no confidence” vote from the faculty Oct. 4, followed by similar actions by retired faculty and alumni. Previously, he was vice president and chief operating officer at Baylor University and provost at Samford University.

SNAP says ‘sorry’ to SBC. SNAP—the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and other Clergy—has apologized to Southern Baptist Convention for making false accusations that leaders had not responded to the organization. The apology came after SBC Executive Committee officials produced letters written last year, which explained how the convention handles abuse charges and related issues. “We said the SBC hadn’t replied to us, and we were wrong,” said SNAP Director David Clohessy. “I have no idea how this happened, and I’m terribly, terribly sorry. I’m very upset and embarrassed by this and deeply apologize to the convention for our mistake and for our erroneous comments to the press about the lack of reply.”

LifeWay names Waggoner VP. Brad Waggoner has been elected to the new position of vice president for research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville. Tenn. Waggoner has taught at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Wayland Baptist University in Plainview and East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. He also was minister of education and college pastor at Elmcrest Baptist Church in Abilene.

Agee announces retirement from college association. Bob Agee has announced his retirement as executive director of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, effective at the association’s June 2007 annual meeting or “as soon thereafter as a new executive director can be named.” Agee, 68, was president of Oklahoma Baptist University and also served as executive director of the Consortium for Global Education, a sister organization that promotes partnerships between association members and more than 80 colleges and universities worldwide.