News Brief

State District Court Judge Kent Sullivan of Texas has ordered a $136 million libel suit against Harvest House Publishers and authors John Ankerberg and John Weldon to proceed. Living Stream Ministry and the Local Church are suing the three for libel over statements in the out-of-print Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, first published in 1999. The book included an article critical of the Local Church, founded by Watchman Nee. In June Sullivan dismissed a motion for summary judgment filed by the defendants. A trial date of January 12, 2004, has been set.

Editor's notes:

Copyright 2003 Christianity Today. This news brief appeared on Sept. 19, 2003.