Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 28, 1994                   TAG: 9405310152
SECTION: RELIGION                    PAGE: 4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BRIEFS

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, an association of pastors and congregations with a less conservative outlook that the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention, has elected Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler its moderator. She is a former executive director of the Woman's Missionary Union of the convention. More than 6,000 people, a record number, attended the recent annual meeting of the fellowship, which decided that congregations that wish to continue to support the Southern Baptist Convention's seminaries may do so, but those who do not may divert their offerings from SBC support.

Baha'i honor founder

Baha'is of the Roanoke Valley will join Sunday at 3 p.m. to celebrate the ascension of Baha'u'llah, founder of the faith. The prophet died in 1892 while a prisoner of the Turks in Palestine. At the time of his death, the religion had spread to eight countries, mainly in the Middle East. Today it is the second most widespread religion on Earth following Christianity. Followers emphasize the unity of humankind and meet regularly to study the teachings of the founder.

Clowning conference

A conference on clowning is scheduled June 19-26 at Camp Bethel Conference Center in Botetourt County. For professionals in the art, with some participants coming from overseas countries, it will include a show June 25 at 7:30 p.m. Clowning is used in church worship to enhance liturgy as well as for entertainment. Call 992-2940 for more information.

New Catholic priests

Three new Roman Catholic priests will come to Western Virginia communities June 6 in addition to others announced earlier by Bishop Walter F. Sullivan. The Rev. Martin Lavin, who has been on the staff of the Diocesan Tribunal in Richmond, has been assigned to St. Joseph's Church of Martinsville. At St. Joseph's, Clifton Forge, the Rev. Lawrence Mullaney will move from administrator to pastor. The Rev. Edward C. Moran is taking an administrative leave from Sacred Heart Parish in Covington and will be replaced as the pastor by a Jesuit, Robert Judge.