Roots and Wings
Belonging roots us in who we are, in where we come from, in the people and communities that have shaped us, in connection to creation and Creator. And, belonging gives us wings—the courage to pursue righteousness, to practice right relationship, to sow justice, and to cultivate God’s beloved community.
Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, 2026 Convocation Address
“The Sherry Hour Project.” Join Sandhya Jha & Garry Sparks on Sept. 14 at 7pm CDT. Invoking the spirit of Monday dinners and forums, the Alum Council kicks off a series of virtual gatherings. Sandhya, the author of five books and a PhD candidate at UPenn, will take us into think tank mode on religion and contemporary politics. Serving as “sommelier” is Garry Sparks. Associate Professor of Religion at Princeton University, he focuses on ethnohistorical understandings of theological production in the Americas, particularly by Indigenous peoples—and, for this session, on Spanish wine and cheese. More information and RSVP
Welcome to Lauren Blakemore, Allie Lundblad, YeChan Park, Amelia Richter, and Paulo Yánez, who have been named entering Disciples Divinity House Scholars for 2026-27. The academic year begins September 28.
Ringing the bell at the First Christian Church of Norman, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Regional Minister Michael Davison and Divinity School Faculty for Preaching and Pastoral Care, Cynthia Lindner, sounded the call to worship on July 26, 2026. They participated in the installation of alumnus and trustee Colton Lott as the Senior Minister. Lindner, also a DDH alumna and trustee, preached for the two Sunday services.
Welcome to Nancy McKee, who has joined DDH as Assistant Administrator. She has a background in finance and accounting and brings significant experience, resourcefulness, practicality, and strong relationship skills. She says, "I am looking forward to being part of the DDH crew."
Rachel Abdoler will become DDH's Assistant Dean in September in a new part-time position for the academic year. She will work with students to plan chapel services and programs as well as give leadership to various initiatives. She defended her PhD dissertation in May, earning "distinction," and was awarded the J. Coert Rylaarsdam Prize from the Divinity School at the June Convocation.
Week of Compassion sponsors a Summer Immersion in International Disaster Response for Disciples Seminarians. This summer, Fiyori Kidane, rising second year Scholar, and Amelia Richter, entering Scholar, were in Pakistan and the Philippines, respectively, to learn about locally led response and "to better understand how faith communities accompany one another in moments of vulnerability and rebuilding."
