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The Associated Press

Move to oust pastor fails in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas — The senior pastor of a Baptist church embroiled in a debate over putting photos of its gay members in a church directory will be allowed to keep his pulpit.

Members of Broadway Baptist Church voted 499 to 237 on March 9 to reject an attempt to oust the Rev. Brett Younger.

While the congregation is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, it has taken positions to the left of the conservative-dominated denomination.

Last year, several gay couples who belong to the church asked that their portraits be allowed to appear in the church’s 125th anniversary directory. Critics said the photos could be interpreted as endorsing same-sex relationships.

As a compromise, the church voted last month to publish a directory that would include member photos in “candid, small and large group pictures” but not include family portraits.

Federal judge prohibits school vote on prayers

AUSTIN, Texas —A federal judge has prohibited the Round Rock school district from allowing students to vote on whether to have prayers at graduation.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks is included in an agreement reached by the school district and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The Washington-based group sued the school district in August on behalf of six parents and a former student.

400-year-old Bible donated to BYU

PROVO, Utah — A Bible written in Old Norse nearly 400 years ago has been donated to Brigham Young University’s library by a Provo resident.

Thor Leifson, the honorary consul of Iceland emeritus, says the Bible was given to his family by a missionary who converted Leifson’s relatives to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon church, four generations ago.

BYU plans a major exhibition of its Bible collection in 2011.