Theology

Fairview Community Church's new reverend may not resemble the majority of her congregation, but she does embody the spirit of their beliefs. An enthusiastic advocate of gay rights, immigrant rights and workers' rights, 30-year-old Rev. Sarah Halverson returned to Costa Mesa, where she grew up, in August as the progressive church's senior pastor, and her post will be made official during today's installation ceremony. "What we were looking for was somebody younger who could reach out to a younger crowd and somebody who was very open and welcoming," said Martha Blake, 66, who joined the congregation in 1999.

St. James Anglican Church named a new pastor this week after a yearlong search to find a new leader for the church that has been shrouded in four years of controversy. The Rev. Richard C. Crocker will become the senior pastor of the 1,000-member congregation, coming from the Truro Anglican Church in Fairfax, Va. His work will officially begin in January 2009. St. James has made headlines in recent years because of an ongoing battle due to its former connection to the Episcopal Church.

A theology graduate student likely died of a heart attack while surfing off Newport Beach, according to a friend. Brian Cohee, 58, of Claremont died Thursday at Hoag Hospital after firefighters took him there in critical condition. His friend, Min-Woo Shin, 33, said Friday that doctors at Hoag informed him that Cohee probably suffered a heart attack, but that an autopsy was still needed to confirm that. Earlier that afternoon, Cohee had traveled down to West Newport near Highland Street and West Oceanfront with Shin.

Reverend William Steel     Reverend William (Bill) Steel passed away peacefully on July 27 in his home with loved ones by his side. Bill was born in Monticello, AR, on December 31, 1932. He grew up in Dallas, TX, and went to college at Hendrix College (BA), Perkins School of Theology (MD), Union School of Theology, and received his Doctor of Religion from Claremont School of Theology in 1979. His life was spent serving the church in California. He founded and served at the Woodland Hills Methodist Church from 1958 to 1976 and finally at Mesa Verde United Methodist Church from 1979 to 1994.

Residents can check out some super cool classic cars in Costa Mesa tonight to help a fledgling university in Zambia, a landlocked African country that’s struggling with the AIDS epidemic and poverty. Crevier Classic Cars at 365 Clinton St. is playing host to Northrise University, which has a satellite office in Costa Mesa and whose mission is to educate poor African students so they can become productive people in their impoverished country and in return help their fellow countrymen.

The time for St. James’ congregation to move “to a new church building” was in August 2004, when they switched their allegiance from The Episcopal Church in the USA to the Anglican Church of Uganda. Now, after years of energy and millions of dollars have been spent on “their case,” I think it is good for the highest possible judicial authority in our county, state and nation to decide issues that affect all faith communities with international affiliations, global connections and universal commitments.

 My father, 75, is many moons away from resumes, but if he had a resume, it would include the following: Pastor of a small, Methodist church in South Bend, Ind., at the age of 20  Doctorate of theology from Yale University  Professor at School of Theology in Claremont from 1968 to 1999  Author of countless essays and articles on Christian ethics and the role of the church in social issues of the day. ...

Reverend William Steel     Reverend William (Bill) Steel passed away peacefully on July 27 in his home with loved ones by his side. Bill was born in Monticello, AR, on December 31, 1932. He grew up in Dallas, TX, and went to college at Hendrix College (BA), Perkins School of Theology (MD), Union School of Theology, and received his Doctor of Religion from Claremont School of Theology in 1979. His life was spent serving the church in California. He founded and served at the Woodland Hills Methodist Church from 1958 to 1976 and finally at Mesa Verde United Methodist Church from 1979 to 1994.

A theology graduate student likely died of a heart attack while surfing off Newport Beach, according to a friend. Brian Cohee, 58, of Claremont died Thursday at Hoag Hospital after firefighters took him there in critical condition. His friend, Min-Woo Shin, 33, said Friday that doctors at Hoag informed him that Cohee probably suffered a heart attack, but that an autopsy was still needed to confirm that. Earlier that afternoon, Cohee had traveled down to West Newport near Highland Street and West Oceanfront with Shin.

COSTA MESA — Saddleback Church founder and Pastor Rick Warren, one of the nation's most recognizable religious figures, announced Thursday a partnership with Vanguard University to educate future church leaders. Students will be able to earn credits toward a master's degree in theological studies at Vanguard University during a ministry apprenticeship through the Saddleback Church Leadership Academy. "If you're considering a Christian school and you really want to be a world changer, this is where you need to be," Warren said in a prepared statement.

Question: It's amazing how you "learned theologians" always toe the party line: God is always responsible for the good things that happen, but good gosh, never responsible for the bad things because of "free will. " And God doesn't make garbage. Bunk. Hitler, Bin Laden and too many more names to fit on the page are all bad because of their environment? When a product is junk, you blame the manufacturer. I'd have more respect for you guys if you'd say God can and has been a screw-up, instead of the way you all tap dance around very valid questions with that "free will" nonsense.

Residents can check out some super cool classic cars in Costa Mesa tonight to help a fledgling university in Zambia, a landlocked African country that’s struggling with the AIDS epidemic and poverty. Crevier Classic Cars at 365 Clinton St. is playing host to Northrise University, which has a satellite office in Costa Mesa and whose mission is to educate poor African students so they can become productive people in their impoverished country and in return help their fellow countrymen.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the fifth in a series of the top stories of each year since 2000. Look for the 2005 story of the year Saturday. In danger of losing its Balboa Peninsula church to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles in a heated court battle, St. James Church is keeping its eyes on the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court could take up a similar court case of an Anglican Church in La Crescenta that raises questions about property rights and freedom of religion.

 My father, 75, is many moons away from resumes, but if he had a resume, it would include the following: Pastor of a small, Methodist church in South Bend, Ind., at the age of 20  Doctorate of theology from Yale University  Professor at School of Theology in Claremont from 1968 to 1999  Author of countless essays and articles on Christian ethics and the role of the church in social issues of the day. ...