Ellie Leech (2019) was installed as Senior Pastor of Northwest Community Church in Seattle on October 24, 2021. She began ministry there on June 1.

Alexis Vaughan (2009) now serves full-time with the Interfaith Youth Core and as part-time Coordinator of Justice Ministries with the National Benevolent Association.

Victoria Wick (2017) was ordained to the ministry on October 2 at her home church, the Christian Temple in Baltimore. Rick Powell preached; Ellie Leech, Kris Culp, and Colton Lott were among the participants. She serves as Associate Minister at First Christian Church of Hagerstown, Maryland.

Congratulations to Judith Guy (2013) and Seth Thomas who were married on September 25 at the Mackinaw [Illinois] Christian Church. Rebecca Anderson (2007) performed the ceremony.

Sympathy to Terri Hord Owens (1999) on the death of her mother, Alice Darlene Harris Hord, on September 12. She was 80. As Terri wrote, "She was a woman of grace, kindness and always attentive to propriety in every situation." She was a dedicated member of Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis for over 40 years, serving as a deacon, secretary of the church council, administrator of Heaven on Earth Ministries and executive assistant to Dr. Tom Benjamin, a position she held for 15 years after taking her own early retirement from IBM. She was the resident church historian and managed the catalog of Bishop Benjamin’s sermons and tapes, seeing the value of these recordings as part of LWCC’s church history. More here.

Marshall Dunn (1965) spoke on the theme of joy for DDH's Convocation Service on September 18, 2021. The service recognized 2020 and 2021 graduates. Marshall was originally to have been the 2020 speaker, but the service was delayed due to the pandemic. He is pictured here with Clark Gilpin at the brunch in the courtyard after the service.

Stephanie McLemore (1992) is now Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and University Chaplain at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Since 2009, she had served at the University of Lynchburg, where she was Chaplain and Associate Dean for Wellness. Her Baccalaureate address to Lynchburg's class of 2021 charged them to "Go forth and be a Hornet Human."

Hannah Fitch (2015) will be ordained to the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on August 1, 2021, at 3:00 pm at First Christian Church, Peoria, Illinois. The service will be livestreamed at facebook.com/FCCPeoriaIL.

Doug Collins (2013) will be installed as the Senior Minister of First Christian Church of Tacoma, Washington, on July 25. He previously served as Associate Minister of Allisonville Christian Church in Indianapolis.

Kenneth "Kenny" Azel Bloyd (1992) died on July 7, 2021, in Canton, Illinois. He was 64. After working for Mid-Century Telephone Co-Op for nearly two decades, he went back to school, earning a BA from Eureka College in 1992, and then the dual MDiv and MA in SSA from the University of Chicago as a Disciples Divinity House Scholar. His career in ministry, chaplaincy, and social work was centered in his home town of Canton and the surrounding community, including as youth minister at Sunnyland Christian Church, minister at Cuba Christian Church, LCSW and chaplain at Graham Hospital, minister at First Congregational UCC in Canton, Psychotherapy Department Manager at Mason District Hospital, and currently, chaplain at Spoon River Correctional Center. He is survived by two sons, Nathan and Kyle (Alicia) Bloyd; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; his mother; and his partner, Geneva Becker. He was preceded in death by his son Jeremy. Services will be held in Canton on July 16. More here.