Anchorage Daily News

Christian bookstores lose sales to Wal-Mart, big book chains

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- At the annual convention of the Christian Booksellers Association, retailers continued to fret over competition from Wal-Mart and big bookstore chains.

Association membership peaked at around 3,000 stores in the early 1990s but now totals less than 2,300.

Association president Bill Anderson said the independent retailers should emphasize their wider selection, knowledgeable employees and partnerships with local churches.

To compete, independents like Steve Gray of Eddyville, Ky., look beyond books to sell music, gifts, jewelry, stationery, hymnals and communion supplies. Books now account for only 40 percent of sales in Christian retail stores.

-- The Associated Press

Billy Graham plans to speak at March New Orleans festival

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Rev. Billy Graham, 87, plans to participate in son Franklin's evangelistic festival March 11-12 at the New Orleans Arena and deliver a "message of hope" to the struggling city.

Aides said Graham's appearance last year in New York City was his last large-scale revival meeting but haven't ruled out occasional speaking engagements.

Spokesman Jeremy Blume said Graham has monitored the devastation in New Orleans and Mississippi's Gulf Coast and relief efforts there by his own organization and the Samaritan's Purse relief group, both led by Franklin Graham.

Samaritan's Purse said it has provided more than $30 million in aid to Katrina victims, including 200 mobile homes where churches shelter hurricane victims.

Salvation Army names new international leader and first black U.S. commander

LONDON -- The Salvation Army's High Council elected Shaw Clifton, commander for the United Kingdom and Ireland, as its general, or top international leader.

Clifton in turn appointed a new commander for the United States: Israel Gaither, the first black person to hold that post. Gaither, an officer since 1964, served most recently as the commander for southern Africa and then the eastern United States.

Clifton holds a law degree and a doctorate in religious history and has served in New Zealand, Pakistan, the United States and Zimbabwe as well as Britain. On April 1 he succeeds Gen. John Larsson, a Swede.

Seven High Council members, five men and two women, were nominated to be general but two declined candidacy.

Retiring U.S. commander W. Todd Bassett presided at the High Council meeting.

Senate Democrats propose Bible class for Georgia public schools

ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia public school students would be allowed to study the Bible under a plan proposed by Democrats in the state Senate.

The bill would authorize the state school board to approve an optional course in grades nine-12 that would teach about the Bible's influence on literature, art, culture and politics.

The bill, introduced Jan. 18 by Sen. Tim Golden, chairman of the Senate Democratic caucus, would allow for "nonsectarian, nonreligious academic study" of the Bible and would require it "be taught in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the biblical materials."

Republicans, who have a majority in the Senate, said the Democratic bill appears aimed at garnering voter approval in advance of this year's legislative elections.

"I'm concerned about their timing," said Senate Republican Leader Tommie Williams. "If they were really interested in passing a Bible curriculum bill, I proposed one six years ago."

Williams said he introduced another Bible class bill last year, but was assured by the state Department of Education that current law already allows the classes.

Dana Tofig, a spokesman for the state schools superintendent, said local schools can create classes studying the Bible or other religious texts without permission from the state school board or the Legislature. "There is nothing that stops them, except the separation of church and state -- you can't be proselytizing," he said.