SALT LAKE CITY — The Rev. Peter Morales of Colorado has been elected as the first Latino president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (www.uua.org).

Morales, senior minister of Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, Colo., was elected June 27 at the Unitarian General Assembly in Salt Lake City.

Unitarians, who have roots in a movement that rejected Puritan orthodoxy in New England, support a free search for spiritual truth. Atheists and pagans are a significant part of their membership. Jews, Buddhists, Christians and others sometimes join to maintain their traditions without having to accept, wholesale, their denominations' creed. There are an estimated 200,000 Unitarians nationwide.

"I want to grow our faith, to reach all those people who are looking for nondogmatic, liberal religious community," Morales said in a statement. "I look forward to working with partners in many other progressive and justice-seeking religious groups."

Separately, the United Church of Christ (www.ucc.org) also elected a new president, the Rev. Geoffrey Black of New York. The liberal-leaning Protestant church says it has about 1.1 million members.

MALAYSIA DEFERS DECISION ON CONVERSION OF MINORS

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A council of Malaysia's royalty has deferred a decision on banning religious conversion of minors by one parent without the spouse's consent — a source of several disputes in this Muslim-majority nation.

A council of Malaysia's king and state sultans decided late Monday to consult Islamic authorities before deciding whether to approve a proposed amendment banning such conversions without both parents' consent. The amendment is aimed at appeasing non-Muslims.

Muslims make up 60 percent of the country's 28 million people.

The endorsement of the monarchs is necessary before the government can push any change in religion-related laws through the parliament.

Debate over conversions of minors flared again earlier this year when a Hindu man converted himself and his three young children to Islam and claimed custody in a shariah court despite his Hindu wife's objection.

Malaysia has a two-tier court system — shariah (Islamic law) courts handle civil matters for Muslims, and secular courts rule on those for Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and other minorities, who make up 40 percent of the population.

It is unclear which court has the ultimate jurisdiction in disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims.

TELEVANGELIST BUILDING MANSION AMID CUTBACKS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A religious broadcaster is building a $4 million home in a gated lakefront community in South Carolina even as the ministry has cut jobs and reset thermostats to save money in its new headquarters.

Inspiration Networks' CEO David Cerullo is building a 9,000-square-foot home on a lot that overlooks Lake Keowee, the Charlotte Observer reported Monday.

The network's revenues are expected to approach $100 million, largely donations from people told that God favors those who donate.

In addition to laying off workers, the newspaper reported, the ministry froze wages and stopped making contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts. The thermostat on the network's new building was cut to 65 degrees during the winter.

Cerullo defended his $1.5 million in compensation in a March interview and said he had rejected a recommended pay increase.

HIGHLY PAID PASTOR RESIGNS AFTER 2 MONTHS

NEW YORK — The pastor of New York City's Riverside Church (www.theriversidechurchny.org) is resigning after only two months in the job. The Rev. Brad Braxton notified the cathedral's board of his decision Monday night.

He has been criticized for his $600,000-plus salary package, which included a $250,000 annual salary and $11,500 living allowance.