Disciples Divinity House | The University of Chicago

Distinguished Alumna/us Award

The Distinguished Alumnus/a Award recognizes lifelong service and achievement by a Disciples Divinity House alumnus or alumna. The recipients have been exemplars of varied forms of ministry and service; in some sense, they have each defined these forms.

The award, established in 1979, is given every other year. The Alumni/ae Council receives nominations, selects the recipient, and presents the award.

bmm The 2011 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award is Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Pastoral Theology at Vanderbilt University. She is the author, co-author, and editor of twelve books. She is a past president of the International Academy of Practical Theology and of the Association of Practical Theology. In selecting her, the Alumni/ae Council cited her distinguished contributions to the field of practical theology and to feminist moral reflection, her contributions to the wider academy and to the profession—especially to women in the profession. They also noted her long record of service to and support of this Disciples Divinity House—and indeed of both DDHs. She is the sixteenth recipient of the award, and the first alumna to receive it.

The award was presented at the DDH luncheon at the biennial General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on July 11, 2011. The citation read:

For advancing the field of practical theology with exemplary scholarship and leadership;
for distinguished service to the wider academy;
for ground-breaking work that focuses on the messy glory of daily existence—
on living and dying, on being a scholar and a mother, on parenting and children;
for enriching feminist moral reflection; for generous and wise mentoring;
and for outstanding support of Disciples theological education through the Disciples Divinity House
of the University of Chicago—and at Vanderbilt:

The Alumni/ae Association of the Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago
bestows upon you this day, July 11, 2011, its Distinguished Alumna Award.

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