News Headlines: Pastor Relieved of Role While in Jail for Sexual Battery
Pastor Relieved of Pastoral Role While in Jail for Alleged Sexual Battery. Seventh-day Adventist pastor Michael Wayne Hill has been removed as the pastor of churches in Chanute and Thayer, Kansas because of his arrest in Florida State for alleged sexual battery. Conference President Ron Carlson said Hill was removed because he could not carry out his pastoral responsibilities in prison. From The Chanute Tribune, “Hill removed as pastor of Seventh Day Adventist.”
Jamaican Adventists Lauded for Canceling Church, Marching for Victims of Shooting. Five Seventh-day Adventist churches in Kitson Town, Jamaica, joined in a march to show support the Kingsland community of St. Catherine where two community members were killed by gunmen. The churches cancelled Sabbath services, choosing to march through the affected area. Patricia Sutherland, representing the Ministry of National Security, praised the churches’ effort to stand against violence. “The more the church comes out of its doors and pulls members of the community to work together against violence in their community is the greater chance we have of having a less violent country. We want to encourage them to continue to take charge, and bring people together,” she said. From the Jamaica Observer, “Kitson Town SDA lauded for community march.”
Take 6 Sings at Michigan State MLK Event. Take 6, an a capella group formed at Oakwood College in 1986, performed at Michigan State University College of Music’s annual concert “Jazz: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest,” honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The members of Take 6 “are Seventh-day Adventists, and much of their music – although jazzy and rhythmic – is spiritual and religious.” The group has won 10 Grammy Awards. From Lansing State Journal, “Grammy winner Take 6 to perform at MLK tribute concert.”
Sanjay Gupta Interviews Loma Linda U. Leaders for CNN. Sanjay Gupta, MD, chief medical correspondent for CNN, interviewed Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, president, Loma Linda University Health, Gary E. Fraser, MD, PhD, principal investigator, Adventist Health Study, and Ellsworth Wareham, MD,LLU School of Medicine 1942 gradate, who practiced cardiothoracic surgery until he was 95 years old. Gupta conducted his interviews on the LLU campus. From My LLU, “CNN’s chief medical correspondent visits campus.”
Adventist Health and Lodi Memorial Answer Questions About Their Affiliation. In December, Lodi Memorial Hospital voted to complete its affiliation with Adventist Health. Leaders of Lodi Memorial and Adventist Health answered questions from Lodi News Sentinel, including the following: “How do you make non-Adventists feel comfortable in your facilities since you are a faith-based operation?” “How is this affiliation different than a buyout or a partnership?” “What assurances are there that Adventist Health can provide enough financial strength moving forward?”
From Lodi News Sentinel, “Adventist, Lodi Health officials answer questions.”
Fitch Ratings Gives Adventist Health, CA Revenue Bonds an ‘A’ Rating. Insurance Rating Agency Fitch Ratings has given Adventist Health, CA’s revenue bonds an ‘A’ rating on the strength of Adventist Health’s network size. Fitch noted that Adventist Health is actively pursing additional partnerships and acquisitions that will reach at least $4 billion in revenue by 2017. Fitch further reported that “Adventist’s financial profile has historically lagged the ‘A’ category medians and fiscal 2013 (Dec 31 year end) was particularly weak due to non-recurring expenses in its systemwide initiatives.” From Insurance News Net, “Fitch Affirms Adventist Health, CA’s Rev Bonds at ‘A’; Outlook Stable.”
Pam Dietrich taught English at Loma Linda Academy for 26 years and served there eight more years as the 7-12 librarian. She lives in Redlands, CA.
