Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511130012
SECTION: RELIGION PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On Sunday, Buchanan Presbyterian Church will begin the celebration of its 150th anniversary. A former pastor, the Rev. Kenneth Goodrich, will preach at 11 a.m. A potluck lunch will follow.
Charities merge
Catholic Charities of Richmond and Catholic Charities of Southwestern Virginia have merged to serve more people. The combined agency will now be known as Commonwealth Catholic Charities and be headquartered in Richmond. The Roanoke office is one of three satellites, with others in Petersburg and Charlottesville. Marge Savage is interim director of the Roanoke office. The new agency receives some United Way funds and will continue to work under auspices of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, according to Bishop Walter F. Sullivan.
Promise Keepers rally
A rally to promote Promise Keepers, a national evangelical Christian organization to strengthen personal responsibility of men and boys, is scheduled Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Word of Faith Church on Hydraulic Road in Charlottesville. Leaders will be Ben Kinchlow of the ``700 Club'' TV ministry and Rich Gordon of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Call (804) 978-7984 for more information.
Mormon official named BYU president
SALT LAKE CITY - Merrill J. Bateman's appointment as the 11th president of Brigham Young University marks the first time a high Mormon Church official has held the position.
Calling BYU ``a great beacon of light to the young people of the world,'' Bateman said the nation's largest church-owned university would continue to emphasize religious faith and secular learning.
In announcing the recent appointment, Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, chairman of the BYU Board of Trustees, said Bateman would succeed the ailing Rex E. Lee on Jan. 1.
Bateman, 59, is a member of the BYU Board of Trustees and has been the presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 1994. He will leave that position, but Hinckley announced he had been appointed to the church's First Quorum of the Seventy, a body that administers the global affairs of the 9.1-million member faith.
Bateman said his dual appointment as a church leader and BYU president clearly indicates the importance of the university to the Mormon Church hierarchy and to the church at large.
``It's interesting that they went within the hierarchy,'' said Gary Bergera, co-author of the 1985 book, ``Brigham Young University: A House of Faith.'' ``And I guess that emphasizes the continuing and important emphasis the church is placing on religion at BYU.''
- Associated Press
Gay group stirs dissension in Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas - A homosexual student group's attempt to gain official recognition at Texas Wesleyan University has stirred controversy at the Methodist-affiliated school.
The group, known as Gays, Lesbians and Extras, won approval several weeks ago from the Student Government Association and a Student Life Committee, but Texas Wesleyan President Jake Schrum vetoed the decision, citing a conflict with United Methodist doctrine.
Since Schrum's ruling was announced Oct. 5, the issue has stirred debate across campus. Strongly worded letters on both sides have been printed on the opinion page of the student newspaper. Each side has accused the other of being closed-minded and un-Christian.
The controversy reflects the ongoing debate within the United Methodist Church over how to treat homosexuality, an issue that is expected to surface again in April when the church holds its quadrennial general conference in Denver.
About 900 of the 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities have homosexual student organizations, according to the National Lesbian & Gay Task Force. A spokesman for the United Methodist Church said he does not know how many of the nation's 120 Methodist-affiliated colleges and universities have recognized gay organizations.
In a statement explaining his decision, Schrum said he encouraged ``the university community to respect the rights and dignity of all people.''
But he said that, because the United Methodist Church does not sanction homosexuality or fund gay groups, the university ``will not officially authorize, sanction or fund any campus group that avows homosexuality.''
The United Methodist Book of Discipline calls the practice of homosexuality ``incompatible with Christian teaching,'' but it also commits the church to support the basic human rights of all individuals.
- Associated Press
by CNB