News of Alums & Friends

Congratulations to Matt Rosen (2003) and Della Hoffman on the birth of their daughter, Savannah Grace Rosen. She was born at 10:38 am on March 1, 2012. The family is happy and well.

Cynthia Lindner (1978; trustee) has received a Louisville Institute Project Grant to support the research and writing of a book, Accounting for Our Selves, Responsible to Others: Ministerial Multiplicity and the Well-Lived Pastoral Life. Cynthia has been the Director of Ministry Studies at the Divinity School since 2002. The Louisville Institute's Project Grant for Researchers Program supports a diverse range of research undertaken in the interest of believing communities, particularly projects that involve both academics and pastors in genuinely collaborative inquiry.

Bill Crowl (1962) became the Transitional Interim Minister of the Christian Church of Arlington Heights, Illinois, on January 15, 2012.

On January 4 Tristan Orozco became Associate Minister of Wakonda Christian Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

Sympathy to former Associate Dean Brittany Barber (1995), whose father, Ray Barber, died suddenly on December 26. The service was held December 31 at the First Baptist Church, Hartford, IL (greater St. Louis area).

Laura Hollinger (2001) is the new Campus Engagement Manager with Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based nonprofit with the mission of building interfaith cooperation. She moves to this position after seven years as Associate Dean of Rockefeller Chapel and as coordinator of Bond Chapel worship for the Divinity School. In addition, she has just announced her engagement to Jeff Antonelli. Congratulations and thank you, Laura!

Michael Karunas (1995) has been named the new senior minister of Central Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois. He will conclude service as the senior minister of First Christian Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 31, 2012. Michael is the current president of DDH's Alumni/ae Council.

As of January 1, 2012, Ken Brooker-Langston (1985) became the volunteer Director of Disciples Justice Action (DJAN) at his request and as the organization's finances required his move from being a paid director. He continues his ministry with DJAN and also as the (paid!) Executive Director of the Disciples Center for Public Witness, based in Washington, DC.

Teresa Hord Owens (1999) was installed as Senior Minister of First Christian Church of Downers Grove, Illinois, on Sunday, November 13. She became the senior minister in late September. She continues also as Dean of Students of the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Congratulations to Gaylord Yu (trustee) and Jihye (Jenny) Choi, who were married November 11, 2011, in the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago.