News Headlines: ‘Coming Out’ Comes to Bermuda
‘Coming Out’ Comes to Bermuda. Southampton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bermuda hosted a service featuring three members of the Coming Out Ministries: Mike Carducci, Wayne Blakely, and Danielle Harrison. The three say that they no longer practice a homosexual lifestyle, having been healed. They see homosexuality as a choice. The event, attended by hundreds, was disapproved by the Rainbow Alliance of Bermuda, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights organization. From the Royal Gazette, “Hundreds attend church event with ‘ex-gays’.”
Two Adventists Vying for Barbados Assembly Seat. Adventists Dave Cumberbatch, an attorney at law, and hotel executive Colin Jordon are vying for an assembly seat in Barbados. However, president of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Danforth Francis stated that no Adventist churches will serve to support the men’s political campaigns. From Nation News, “Seventh-day Adventist Church has made clear that its pulpits will not be used to push political messages.”
Conference President, Five Others in Zambian Court for False Accounting. Six employees of the Copperbelt Zambia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists have appeared in court for 30 counts of fraudulent false accounting of church funds amounting to K986,000 (approximately $10,4980 at current exchange rate). Conference president Daniel Chuunga, Pastor Abel Koti, a chief finance officer, John Chishimba, an accountant at the conference, Mono Munachonga, an accountant, Wellington Zemba, stewardship director, Rodgers Nshindo, and an office orderly at the conference appeared before Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Paul Chisha for improper accounting. Copperbelt Zambia Conference executive secretary Justin Chapuswike told the court that in March last year an audit by the General Conference Auditing Services had revealed financial irregularities. From Times of Zambia, “SDA Officials Appear In Court.”
Large Donations to WAU will Fund New Facilities. Washington Adventist University has announced record-setting donations of more than $357,000. The money donated in December, 2014 will help fund a new Health Professions, Science and Wellness building, a new annex to the music building, improvements in specific academic departments, and will provide student aid. From Washington Adventist University, “Record Donations Support Enhanced Operations and Increased Scholarships.”
Adventist Health Online Assessment Calculates Heart Age. Adventist Health’s online Heart Health Assessment is a five-minute test that provides a user with a personalized report detailing information about his/her heart health, risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and steps to take toward living a heart-healthy lifestyle. Katherine Strelich, a cardiologist at Adventist Medical Center in Southeast Portland, recommends the test for women especially during February which is American Heart Month. From Portland Tribune, “What age is your heart?“
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.
