Unconventional theologian Matthew Fox, the Dominican priest...

Unconventional theologian Matthew Fox, the Dominican priest in Oakland who was ordered silenced for a year by the Vatican will make a series of talks in Claremont and San Diego next week--still four weeks before the imposition begins.

Fox, 47, was told in October that he is being prohibited, as of Dec. 15, from public speaking because of “dangerous and deviant teachings” that blend mysticism, environmentalism and feminism. He also has irked Rome by hiring a faculty for his Institute for Culture and Creation Spirituality that includes a Zen teacher, a yogi, and Starhawk--an author, feminist and self-described witch.

Fox, who was strongly critical of the Vatican’s action, told a news conference last month that he will take a 6-month sabbatical suggested by his superiors and travel to Latin America before making further plans.

Meanwhile, the notoriety has added to Fox’s already popular appeal on the lecture circuit. He received a standing ovation from 3,000 people prior to his address at an ecumenical conference Oct. 30 in Minneapolis.

Fox will speak both Monday and Tuesday at the 40th annual Ministers’ Convocation hosted by the School of Theology at Claremont. The conference, open to anyone interested in church work, begins with registration ($18 per person) at 9 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist-related seminary.

In San Diego, he will lecture Tuesday night at the Catholic-run University of San Diego, speak on “The Cosmic Christ” Wednesday night at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul and speak on “peacemaking” Thursday evening at San Diego First Unitarian Church. Earlier, at noon Thursday, he will talk at San Diego State University.

CONVENTIONS

More than 2,000 people are expected to vote for a new state president and conduct other business next week in Anaheim at the annual meeting of Southern Baptists in California. The sessions at the Disneyland Hotel begin Tuesday afternoon and will conclude Wednesday night.

The Latin American Council of Christian Churches, actually a Spanish-speaking Pentecostal denomination, will open its nine-day, 35th biennial convention Monday in South Gate at the Vien Promotions building. Fifteen Southern California churches are affiliated with the organization, which also has congregations in Mexico and Central America.

PEOPLE

A retired Air Force chaplain, Col. George Russell Barber of Montebello, says he has been helping a new, fourth bidder for the bankrupt PTL evangelistic holdings to line up support from major evangelical leaders. Barber says that his group, “Holy Celebration,” whose trustees are attorney Herbert Nelson, of Greenbelt, Md., and Sandi Kalez, of Seattle, has made a $120-million bid for the Ft. Mill, S.C., property. It was earlier announced that Toronto businessman Stephen Mernick was awarded the facilities for $115 million. However, the final decision is expected to be announced Wednesday by Federal Bankruptcy Judge Rufus Reynolds.

DEBATE

The historical reliability and significance of the resurrection of Jesus, as described in the New Testament, will be formally debated Tuesday at Fullerton High School by two philosophy professors--Thomas Sheehan of Chicago’s Loyola University and Gary R. Habermas of Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. The Simon Greenleaf Debate Society of La Habra organized the liberal-conservative confrontation, which will begin at 7:30 p.m.

DATES

Religious opponents to the death penalty, concerned that a gas chamber execution may take place this winter in California for the first time in more than 20 years, plan strategy workshops Thursday at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. The Rev. Ignacio Castuera of Hollywood First United Methodist Church and the Rev. Spencer Gibbs, associate executive of the Presbyterian Church’s Synod of Southern California and Hawaii, will make opening remarks at the 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. workshops, respectively.

U.S. Olympic swimmer Janet Evans of Placentia, who won three gold medals at Seoul, will appear with Pastor Robert Schuller at his 9 a.m. Crystal Cathedral service Sunday. The Rev. Norman Vincent Peale will preach at the 11 a.m. service at the Garden Grove church.