Cynthia Lindner (trustee; 1978) joined with Divinity School colleagues Sarah Fredericks and Erika Dornfield to obtain a grant for Living Well Through Climate Change, a project that culminated in a multi-disciplinary Divinity School conference on May 8. Rebecca Anderson (2007) and Virginia White (2014; current scholar) participated in a panel and Nate Travis (current scholar) was a research assistant.

On April 30, the fiftieth anniversary of the fall of Saigon, Vy Nguyen (trustee; 2004), was in Geneva for a meeting with global partners. He reflected on the anniversary: 50 years ago today, Saigon fell — and like millions of others, my family would eventually have to leave everything behind to find safety and a new place to call home. It didn’t happen overnight. It took decades of people fleeing, risking everything for a chance of peace. I didn’t flee until almost a decade later. I’ll always be grateful to the NGOs, churches, and countries, including the US, that opened their doors to us when we needed it most.... Over 120 million people are displaced around the world today, and too many places have stopped welcoming refugees. Today, the challenges are heavy, but so is the hope and determination in this room. On this anniversary, I’m reflecting on what it means to be a stranger in need — and how important it is that we don’t turn our backs on those seeking safety. Someone made room for us once. It’s on us to do the same.

Sympathy to Colton Lott (trustee; 2015) on the loss of his grandmother, Jayne Lott, who died on April 26 in Ada, Oklahoma. She was 86.

Congratulations to Paul Pribbenow, AM’79, PhD’93, president of Augsburg University, who has been named the 2025 Alum of the Year by the University of Chicago Divinity School. This honor recognizes Pribbenow’s distinguished career in higher education, his commitment to civic engagement, and his leadership in fostering inclusive and ethical communities. Paul was a DDH resident. Read more here.

After serving as secretary for ten years, Paul Steinbrecher has handed over those duties while continuing his trustee work as a member of the House Committee. Now retired as a principal at Interactive Design, Inc. (IDEA), a Chicago-based architecture firm, Paul was elected to the Board in 2012. Melinda Keenan Wood (1997) has picked up the pen. She was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2019 and has been Senior Minister of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Durham, North Carolina, since 2017. 

Victoria Wick (2017) began as the new executive minister of National City Christian Church in Washington, DC, during Holy Week(!). Tori will preach on April 27.

April Lewton (2004), Vice President of Development and Marketing for the National Benevolent Association Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has been selected as one of the preachers at this year's General Assembly in Memphis, Tennessee. Lewton is scheduled to preach on Sunday, July 13.

Morganne Talley (current scholar) attended the fortieth anniversary conference of the Pacific, Asian, and North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry (PANAATWM), March 27-29. It was held at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta.

In 2017, alumna Rebecca Anderson (2007) and Vince Amlin, Divinity School MDiv classmates, co-founded Gilead, an emergent church on the north side of Chicago. Three students came to DDH from Gilead and many imaginations have been catalyzed by its practice and vision. In January, Gilead voted to close after eight years of ministry. Anderson and Amlin reflect: We ultimately believe that closing Gilead is an act of hope and defiance... We think this is an opportunity for Gilead to go out as we meant to go on: with joy and with faith that God has more for us beyond this present moment. Its last service will be May 4. Anderson and Amlin will continue as co-pastors of Bethany UCC in Chicago. 

Alexa Dava (2020), who serves as the Project Officer for Human Dignity and Reproductive Health with the World Council of Churches (WCC), was in New York attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women. She is seconded to the WCC by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and through support by Week of Compassion.