News of Alums & Friends

Sarah Zuniga  (2018) was installed as Associate Minister of Outreach and Growth at Allisonville Christian Church in Indianapolis on February 25. This is a new staff position intended to expand the congregation's outreach and enrich its vision of ministry. Beau Underwood (2006) is the Senior Minister. They are pictured here with new Indiana Regional Minister, Christal Williams. In addition, Sarah recently returned to their alma mater, Eureka College, to give the keynote address for its Founders Day on February 8.

In memoriam. Cynthia Rice McCrae died on February 18 in Indianapolis. She was 97. Known as a person filled with gratitude, love, deep caring, and joy for life, she was a teacher, church and community leader, friend, partner, and mother. She is survived by five children, Bruce, Doug, Carol, Linda, and Maureen; nine grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Ian, in 2011. He was honored by DDH's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2007; Cynthia remained part of the wider DDH community until her death.

Born in Durban, South Africa, to parents who were missionaries with the Congregational Church, she graduated from Whitman College and took graduate courses at Chicago Theological Seminary. While in Chicago, she met her lifelong love and partner, Ian McCrae, a native of Toronto who was studying at DDH and the Divinity School. He would become an important theological voice and leader in social and economic justice and human and civil rights. They married in 1950, and lived in Des Moines and Los Angeles before moving to Indianapolis in 1963. A memorial service will was held on February 25 at Central Christian Church in Indianapolis.

Santiago Piñón (1998) has been awarded an American Academy of Religion (AAR) Regional grant for work on acknowledging the trauma of gun violence in the classroom. He teaches in TCU's Religion Department and is Chair of HELM's Board of Directors.

On February 15 as part of the Divinity School's and the Marty Center's celebration of Black History Month, Aneesah Veatch (2019) led a program on the history of quilt making in black spiritual life and the quilt's role as a means of conveying messages to persons escaping slavery in the United States. "Quilting captures the qualities of black liberation, it takes time and it needs to be done in community... As a work of art, the quilt is an active participant in the journey to freedom."

Former resident Braxton D. Shelley was among the consultants and commentators for the PBS documentary series, Gospel, which was hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. The documentary aired on February 12 and 13.

Sympathy to Kristel Clayville (2001) and Mandy Burton on the death of Kristel's mother, Mary Clayville, on February 7, 2024, in Chicago. She was 76. Mary retired early from the Kentucky state government to help her husband through an organ transplant process and to care for her mother. After their deaths, Mary found other outlets for her care, including volunteering with Casa and Bridgeport Christian Church and advocating for the full inclusion of LGBTQ people in the church.

Sympathy to Ken and Emily Brooker Langston on the death of Ken's mother, Betty Jean Langston, on February 7. She died at home in Tennessee. She was 90. Her husband and Ken's dad, Ervin, died eight years before to the day. "Even though she did not go to college, Mom always encouraged me," Ken recalls. She would say, "No matter where you come from, you can be just as good as anyone else as long as you work at it."

Laird Thomason (1962) was honored by the Christian Church in the Capital Area with its 2024 Bridge Builder Award. The award was presented at the region's Martin Luther King Jr Day event on January 14; Joan Bell-Haynes (1994), who was a 2017 award recipient, was the guest speaker. Thomason, whose distinguished ministry includes health care chaplaincy and congregational ministry, has been a key leader in the CCCA region, especially through the Center for Public Witness. He was honored on October 1, 2023, as Minister Emeritus of the North Chevy Chase Christian Church in Bethesda, Maryland.

Danny Sanchez (2019) is building The PATH, a spiritual health platform, "to make sure that we take the best of ancient practices and insights to help us live happier, healthier, and more meaningful lives." It is informed by his past experience in technology and marketing as well as by his 2023 senior MDiv thesis. He was featured on the MindTech podcast.

Sarah Zuniga (2018) is has accepted a call to become the Associate Minister for Outreach and Growth at Allisonville Christian Church in Indianapolis. Bringing a strong background in antiracism work, Sarah also serves as Co-Moderator of Disciples Peace Fellowship's Executive Committee and as a member of Fellowship of Reconciliation’s National Council.