Notes and quotes

Larry Branam dies

CLIMBING HILL, Iowa-

J. Larry Branam, 60, a 1969 graduate of Ambassador College, Big Sandy, died unexpectedly at his home here May 3 of an apparent heart attack.

Mr. Branam, who for many years worked in the business office and on the faculty at Ambassador, was buried near Gladewater, Texas.

Survivors include his wife, the former Linda Sarver; daughters Robin Beem, Hornick Iowa, and Cherrie Fiedler, Sioux City, Iowa; and three grandchildren.

WCG makes

administrative changes

PASADENA, Calif.-The Worldwide Church of God has announced new duties for Michael Feazell.

Mr. Feazell, in an article in the April 21 issue of The Worldwide News, said that "as we look to the future I believe the time has come to eliminate the office of director of church administration, a post I have held since September 1995."

Mr. Feazell said that Dan Rogers, superintendent of ministers, will continue to supervise the U.S. ministers, and Randal Dick, superintendent of missions, will continue to supervise other regions.

Mr. Feazell said his new title is assistant to the president.

Arcadia employees meet

ARCADIA, Calif.-Office employees of the United Church of God, an International Association, met May 22 with the UCG's Chairman Bob Dick and council members Roy Holladay and Victor Kubik, who serve on the home-office­relocation committee.

"It was the first time Mr. Dick, as chairman, addressed the home office," Mr. Kubik said. "It was a clear signal of the council's oversight in these matters. Some at the home office may not have realized that the council is in charge."

The meeting was to discuss relocation of the office to Cincinnati, Ohio, a move approved by the elders of the church in Louisville, Ky., in March.

Mr. Kubik said the move is planned to be accomplished by June 1998.

"We hope to find something in the area bounded by Interstate 74 to the west, Interstate 71 to the east and Interstate 275 in the corridor," said Mr. Kubik.

A question the council will consider involves whether contributions earmarked for the relocation will comprise the first $50,000 that was budgeted for the move or be in addition to it.

Mr. Waterhouse out

of hospital

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.-Former WCG evangelist and retired UCG elder Gerald Waterhouse came home May 2 after being hospitalized 10 days for treatment for edema.

He is regaining some strength and is able to take walks and drive a car for short periods.

"I had edema real bad," Mr. Waterhouse told THE JOURNAL. "My stomach was bloated, and my legs were four times normal size. Doctors said my bladder was stretched to 10 times normal."

Mr. Waterhouse said he is "trusting God for healing. I've had all kinds of illnesses and infections which pulled my body down since I moved to Florida."

He appreciates continued prayers on his behalf. His mailing address is 1539 NW Amherst Dr., Apt. B; Port St. Lucie, Fla. 34986.

CEM plans renewal

conference, camp, Feast

TYLER, Texas-The next Christian Renewal Conference, sponsored by Christian Educational Ministries here, is planned for July 19-20 in Chicago. For more information, contact Mike Linacre at (773) 288-5650.

CEM will sponsor its Youth Educational Adventures summer camp July 13-20 at Sequoyah State Park, near Wagoner, Okla. Call CEM at (903) 509-2999 for an application, or call Larry Watkins of CEM at the same number for more information. Cost is $125 plus a $25 refundable deposit.

A CEM-sponsored Feast of Tabernacles will be conducted in Kissimmee, Fla., again this year. For more information, call the same number.

Court sides with

Sabbath-keeper

LOS ANGELES, Calif.-A ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld employment rights of Sabbatarians. The United States Supreme Court has refused to reconsider the ruling, allowing it to stand.

The court opinion states that "this is a case involving an employer's obligation to accommodate a worker's religious beliefs and, in particular, the commitment to observe the Sabbath.

"Kwasi Opuku-Boateng, a temporary employee of the California Department of Food and Agriculture ('the Department') sought permanent employment with the Department.

"He was selected for a permanent position but, when he advised the Department that he was unable to work on Saturdays because of his religious beliefs, the Department terminated the hiring process."

Mr. Opuku-Boateng, a Seventh-day Adventist, sued the state and several state officials.

The entire opinion can be found on the Internet at: www.law.vill.edu:80/Fed-Ct/Circuit/9th/opinions/9416542.htm

Some of the footnotes in the opinion refer to "Hardison," which was a Supreme Court case several years ago in which a Worldwide Church of God member who was a mechanic for TWA refused to work on the Sabbath.

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