A Tradition of Excellence
Disciples Divinity House graduates extend a tradition of excellence in ministry and scholarship.
A tradition of vibrant congregational ministry:
Lee Hull Moses, a 2004 graduate, is the senior minister of First Christian Church, Greensboro, NC. 2010 graduate Michael Swartzentruber is the youth minister of Middletown Christian Church, Louisville, KY., and 2012 graduate Katherine Raley is the associate minister of First Christian Church, Colorado Springs, CO. Among others leading congregations are Joan Bell-Haynes, United Christian Parish of Reston, VA; David Cobb, Spirit of Joy Christian Church, Lakeville, MN, Yvonne Gilmore, New Song Community Church, Columbus, Ohio; Michael Karunas, Central Christian Church, Decatur, Illinois; Jen Kottler, Associate Minister, Park Avenue Christian Church, New York City; and Melinda Keenan Wood, Pershing Avenue Christian Church, Orlando, Florida.
A tradition of ecumenical leadership:
Vy Nguyen, a 2007 graduate, works with Church World Service in northern California. He continues a tradition that includes Michael Kinnamon, Past President of the National Council of Churches of Christ, and former deans W. E. Garrison and W. Barnett Blakemore.
Graduates also serve in ecumenical campus ministry: Erica Brown, Chaplain at Blackburn College; Angela Kaufman, Minister to the University at Texas Christian University; and Stephanie McLemore, Chaplain at Lynchburg College. Laura Hollinger is the Campus Engagement Manager, Interfaith Youth Core.
A tradition of social visionaries:
2010 graduate Beau Underwood is the Campaigns Director and Rob Wilson Black is a vice president at Sojourners in Washington, DC. Ken Brooker Langston leads Disciples Justice Action Network and coordinates the Disciples Center for Public Witness; Matt Rosen, is Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at The Arc of DC. On the other coast, Sandhya Jha directs the Oakland Peace Center and serves as Co-Pastor of First Christian Church, Oakland. They extend a tradition that includes Arthur Azlein, William Fox, Russ and Barbara Fuller, Dan Genung, Barton Hunter, David Kagiwada, Harvey Lord, Frank Mabee, Rolland Pfile, and Ian McCrae.
A tradition of wider church leadership:
April Lewton, a 2007 graduate, is Vice President for Development and Marketing at the National Benevolent Association; Dennis Landon is President of Higher Education and Leadership Ministries. John Roh serves with Church Extension. Laura Jean Torgerson, a 2005 graduate, and her spouse Tim Donaghy serve Nicaragua through Global Ministries; Ana and Tod Gobledale serve two congregations in greater London. David Vargas retired in 2011 as President of the Division of Overseas Ministries.
A tradition of excellence in teaching and scholarship:
Santiago Piñón, Jr, a 2012 graduate holds a tenure-track position on the religion faculty at Texas Christian University; Chris Dorsey is a Faculty Fellow at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan; Garry Sparks, a 2011 graduate, holds a tenure-track position at the University of Louisville. Joe Blosser, also a 2011 graduate, is a member of the faculty and director of service learning at High Point College in North Carolina, and Spencer Dew, a 2009 graduate, is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana. Others serving in colleges and universities are Larry Bouchard, University of Virginia; Emily Brooker-Langston, St. John's College, Annapolis; Peter Browning, Drury University; Volney Gay, Vanderbilt University; David Hall, Centre College; Jennifer Jesse, Truman State University; Ritch Savin-Williams, Cornell University; George Shields, Kentucky State University; and William Wright, Eureka College.
Among those who serve on graduate theological faculties are Tim Lee, Brite Divinity School; Daisy Machado, Union Theological Seminary; Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Vanderbilt Divinity School; Mark Miller-McLemore, Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt Divinity School; Don Pittman, Phillips Theological Seminary; Stephanie Paulsell, Harvard Divinity School; Frank Burch Brown, Bernie Lyon, and Scott Seay, all at Christian Theological Seminary; as well as Kris Culp, Teresa Hord Owens, and Cynthia Lindner at the University of Chicago Divinity School.
