Celebrating Healthful Lifestyles
The First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles and FAME Health Corp. will hold a marathon weekend of testimonials dedicated to promoting abstinence from tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
The Rev. Ric Reed will head the church’s fourth annual marathon, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday and runs through 3 p.m. Sept. 3 at the church, 2270 S. Harvard Blvd. (323) 737 0897.
EVENTS
* Faith United Methodist Community Church will present “Embracing Diversity,” a workshop in which people of faith can discuss racism, sexism and sexual orientation, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today at 1713 W. 108th St., Los Angeles.
The event is sponsored by Equal Partners in Faith, a multiracial national network of religious leaders. The workshop will be led by Sylvia Rhue. Lunch and refreshments will be served. Admission is free. (323) 291-6434.
* Rancho Santa Margarita Episcopal School will host its annual Hoedown from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at St. John’s School, 30382 Via Con Dios. The event will include hair braiding, face painting, bottle tosses, water balloons, crafts, and gymnastic and cheerleading demonstrations. (949) 858-5144.
* “The Search for Truth: Adventures in the Light and Sound of God” will be the focus of a conference presented by the Los Angeles Eckankar Center beginning at 7 p.m. Friday and running through Sept. 2. The event will include talks, music panels and children’s chat rooms. The free conference will take place at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 469-2325.
CONCERT
* Prince of Peace Lutheran Church will present “The Ancient Mariners” at 7 p.m. Sunday at 9440 Balboa Blvd., Northridge. Proceeds from a free-will offering will go to Girl Scouts of America. (818) 886-1324.
* Kirk O’ the Valley Presbyterian Church will host a concert of African music at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 19620 Vanowen St., Reseda. The musicians are Ghanaian youths from Brooklyn, N.Y. (818) 894-2605.
PEOPLE
* Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena has announced the appointment of Howard J. Loewen as the new dean.
Loewen previously served as provost and academic vice president at Fresno Pacific University and academic dean at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno. He has also participated extensively in ecumenical dialogues involving a wide variety of denominations.
* Juan Francisco Martinez has been appointed director of the Hispanic church studies department at Fuller Theological Seminary. Martinez previously served as rector of the Latin American Anabaptist Seminary in Guatemala City for eight years. He seeks to develop a Latino Church Studies Resource Center at Fuller that would conduct research into Latino Protestantism. Martinez will also serve as assistant professor of Hispanic studies and pastoral leadership in the School of Theology.