News of Alums & Friends

Ana Gobledale (1975) together with Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson (2009) and others (possibly you?!) has launched a a website for progressive liturgy called Worship Words. She extends an invitation to browse and to contribute to the site. "All of us who write for worship are part of ‘the modern liturgical movement’ which is usually considered to stretch from 1600 to 2000. Let’s extend that movement into the 21st century and around the globe!"

Garry Sparks (2001) has written “How ’Bout Them Sapotes: Mendicant Translations and Maya Corrections in Early Indigenous Theologies,” CR: The New Centennial Review 16, no. 1 (Spring 2016). He has also been awarded a 2016 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) summer research grant for his study of a sixteenth-century priest’s notebook written in Mayan languages and currently held at the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Timothy Lee (1986) is now the moderator of the North American Pacific Asian Disciples; John Roh (1983) concluded his term as moderator at the NAPAD Convocation in early August.

Laura Hollinger Antonelli (2001) has been called to serve First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn, Illinois as Director of Student Ministries beginning August 1.

We extend sympathy to the Genung family on the death of Frances U. Genung. She died May 18 in Claremont, California. She was 97. Raised in Ohio, Frances Ulrich received her BA from Oberlin College in 1939. While earning her MA in Religious Education from Chicago Theological Seminary, she met and married University of Chicago seminarian and DDH Scholar Dan B. Genung (1938). They would raise four children and share sixty-five years of life and work before Mr. Genung’s death in 2008. After graduation, the Genungs were called by the Christian Missionary Society to Disciples facilities in south central Los Angeles that had been vacated when its previous congregants, Japanese American citizens, were confined in detention camps during the war. They established the All Peoples Christian Church and Center in 1942, creating childcare and youth programs and building a racially diverse congregation. Frances began a 25-year career as an elementary school teacher while continuing ministry with Dan at Oceanside First Christian Church (1956-64), Foothill Christian Church (1964-70), and Mount Hollywood Congregational Church UCC (1970-84). She is survived by her children, David, Linda (McKown), Carol (Wilson), Bruce; ten grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and four great great grandchildren. A celebration of her life was held July 9 at Pilgrim Place.

Shane Isner is now Pastor of First Christian Church of Montgomery, Alabama. Shane and Tabitha Isner (2005), who does consulting work and non-profit research, moved there in May.

Marshall Dunn (1965; trustee) received the Lifelong Leadership Award from Hiram College on June 18 in Ohio. The award recognizes and honors "an 'unsung hero' who has dedicated a lifetime to the betterment of his/her community, and in doing so, has demonstrated a long-term interest, commitment, or involvement in community service, volunteerism, philanthropy, government, or religion." The award was presented by Lori E. Varlotta, PhD, President, Hiram College. We join Hiram in honoring the leadership of Marshall Dunn.

Kristel Clayville (2001) has been appointed Visiting Assistant Professor at St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, for 2016-17. She is currently a chaplain resident at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and adjunct faculty at Meadville Lombard Theological School.

Congratulations to David Hall (1989), who has been promoted to Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

Congratulations to Laura Hollinger Antonelli (2001) and her husband Jeff on the birth of their second son, Parker Ross. Parker was born on May 5, 2016. Laura, Parker, and big brother Cole are all doing well.