Baptist Briefs: BWA calls for aid to Iraqi Christians

The Baptist World Alliance issued a call for Baptists and other Christians to provide funds to help Iraqi Christians displaced by war, and the global organization has sent an initial donation of $20,000 for that cause. The funds are earmarked for food and other urgently needed relief supplies for approximately 500 Iraqi Christian families who recently fled Mosul and Karakosh and are now in Irbil, a city in Kurdistan, the BWA said in a news release. The most immediate crisis erupted in June, when the Islamist group formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, launched an offensive in northern Iraq to drive out or kill all non-Muslims in the region. Christians were given the option of paying exorbitant taxes, converting to Islam or fleeing. Christians there have been on the move, however, since 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq. Mosul is Iraq’s second largest city and has had a Christian population for 2,000 years. Donations may be made online or by mail at Baptist World Aid, c/o Baptist World Alliance, 405 N. Washington St., Falls Church, VA 22046.

Louisiana College lauds controversial former president. A Baptist college in Louisiana opened its academic year Aug. 28 with a chapel service honoring its former president, who stepped down earlier this year amid accusations of misleading trustees, whistleblower complaints and public calls for his resignation or firing. At its first chapel service of the fall, Louisiana College held a ceremony bestowing the title of president emeritus on Joe Aguillard. Aguillard announced in April his nine-year presidency of the Louisiana Baptist Convention-affiliated school in Pineville, La., would end July 31. After a year-long sabbatical, Aguillard will return to Louisiana College as a tenured senior professor in the education department. Interim President Argile Smith is filling in while the board of trustees seeks a permanent successor. In June, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges placed Louisiana College on probation, citing unsolicited information alleging non-compliance in several areas.