Baptist Briefs

Graham released from hospital. Evangelist Billy Graham returned to his home in Montreat, N.C., Aug. 14 after a two-day hospital stay when he was treated for bronchitis. "Mr. Graham had a quick recovery and responded very well to his treatment," said Daniel Fertel, a pulmonologist at Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C. "Catching these types of pulmonary infections early is crucial for a fast recovery, as was the case for Mr. Graham. Despite this illness, he remains remarkably healthy for a 93-year-old man." The renowned evangelist will continue with his usual physical therapy at home, his staff said, and he will resume his writing projects, including a book about his past seven decades of public ministry.

Oklahoma CBF coordinator elected. Steve Graham, who oversees peer learning groups and leadership development for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, has been elected coordinator of Cooperating Baptist Fellowship of Oklahoma/Kansas. Graham, an Oklahoma native, will begin his new job Oct. 1. He replaces T Thomas, who resigned last year to become pastor of a church in Paris, France.

Arkansas exec sets retirement date. Emil Turner, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention since 1996, will retire effective February 2013. Turner announced his intention to retire at a recent meeting of the Arkansas convention's executive board. Turner served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Lake Charles, La., before he was elected to lead Arkansas Baptists. Turner also served churches in Kentucky, Louisiana and Arkansas.

Director of ETBU Great Commission Center named. Melody Maxwell was named director of the Great Commission Center at East Texas Baptist University. She began her service in that role Aug. 1, after seven years at Woman's Missionary Union. The Great Commission Center provides ministry and cross-cultural training for students as they serve in Marshall, throughout the United States and overseas. Maxwell earned her undergraduate degree from Union University, a master of divinity degree from Beeson Divinity School and a doctorate from the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague, Czech Republic.

Pentecostal dialogue postponed. Formal dialogue between Baptists and Pentecostals scheduled for August in Ecuador was postponed due to unexpected personnel changes at the venue and the unavailability of some participants. Last December, a preparatory meeting took place at Samford University to establish parameters for dialogue and schedule the first round of meetings between the Baptist World Alliance and Pentecostal World Fellowship in Quito, Ecuador, in August. However, BWA General Secretary Neville Callam and Cecil Robeck of the Pentecostals released a joint statement saying the meeting will be rescheduled. The dialogue is scheduled to span three years, culminating with recommendations about pursuing closer ties between two faith groups that together represent about one-fifth of the world's Christians.

—Compiled from wire services