News of Alums & Friends

Congratulations to former trustee Juan Rodriguez who has been named the next Regional Minister of Florida. His term begins January 8, 2012. He was the organizing pastor of Iglesia del Pueblo-Hope Center in Hammond, Indiana, and just completed service as the First Vice Moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Juan and Sonia will be moving to Orlando, Florida.

Congratulations to Brandon Cline and Tish Duncan (current House Scholars) on the birth of Vivian Margaret Cline on August 4. She weighed 8 lbs and 6 oz., and all are doing well. Edy has been waiting ages for "her" baby, and she is proving to be an adoring and tender big sister.

On August 1, former Associate Dean Brittany Barber (1995) began serving as Interim Minister of University Place Christian Church in Champaign, Illinois.

John Weaver (1996) was recently appointed Dean of Library Services and Educational Technology at Abilene Christian University. He previously served as Director of The Burke Theological Library at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Also, he was elected as President of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) this year.

June MDiv graduate Anna Liv Gibbons (2008) was ordained Sunday, July 17, at her home church in Eugene, Oregon: First Christian Church. Liv and her husband, Elijah Buck, are moving to Kentucky, where she will serve as the Minister in Residence at Central Christian Church in Lexington.

We were saddened by the death of John Sturman (1978) on August 1 after a battle with liver cancer.  His life was celebrated on August 6 at University Church in Chicago.  Our prayers are with his family, wife Maureen and daughters Alice and Emilia.

The ministry of David Vargas (1971; trustee) was celebrated on July 11 at the General Assembly of the Christian Church, meeting in Nashville. Since 2003, he has been the President of the Division of Overseas Ministries and Co-Executive of Global Ministries. He is retiring after 28 years of service with DOM. Bishop Medardo Gomez of the Lutheran Church of El Salvador made a surprise appearance to honor him.

Yvonne Gilmore (2001) preached at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville during the General Assembly and performed a spoken word piece during the HIV/Aids healing service. She is the founding pastor of New Song Community Church, Columbus, Ohio. Read the sermon she preached in March in the Chapel of the Holy Grail here.

Trustee Holly McKissick, senior and founding minister of Saint Andrew Christian Church, Olathe, Kansas, preached the opening worship of the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 9. The General Assembly theme, "Tell it!," is based on Deuteronomy 6.1-12, which was also the text for her sermon.

Jennifer Kottler (1999) became the Associate Pastor of Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City on July 1. She previously served as Director of Policy and Advocacy at Sojourners. More here.