Current Scholar Katie Varon was a youth delegate at the ACT Alliance General Assembly in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in late October. The ACT Alliance was formed by more than 145 churches and organizations from over 120 countries to provide humanitarian aid. The Disciples' Week of Compassion and its Executive Director, Vy Nguyen (2004), work through the alliance. Disciples attendees (l to r): Katie Varon, Caleb Lines, Vy Nguyen, Josh Baird, and Nathan Day Wilson.

Ritch Savin-Williams (1971), Professor Emeritus of Developmental Psychology at Cornell University, spoke on October 28 about his lifelong research on gender and sexuality, particularly the positive experiences of young gay and lesbian persons during a time when studies focused almost entirely on their negative experiences. He also spoke about arriving at the University of Chicago as a Disciple from a small town in Missouri, the supportive environment he found at DDH, and what community life was like in the 1970s, both before and after women were newly admitted as residents. He earned his PhD in Human Development in 1977.

Sandhya Jha, author, consultant, and DDH alum (2001) and trustee, spoke at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel on Sunday, October 27, at 11:00 am.

Emilie M. Townes, former resident, will give The Annual Christian Century Lecture on Thursday evening, October 24, at the Arts Club of Chicago at 7 p.m. After 11 years as dean and faculty member at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Townes has joined the faculty of Boston University School of Theology as the Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Religion and Black Studies.

Claudia Highbaugh, trustee, was inducted into the Garfield Society at Hiram College, her alma mater, during a recent ceremony on Friday, October 18, 2024. Established by its Board of Trustees and named for President James A. Garfield, the Garfield Society honors individuals who have demonstrated significant professional achievement and whose efforts have substantially enriched their communities. For information about the Society and the other four inductees this year, click here.

Joe Blosser (2005) has published To Love Our Neighbors: Radical Practices in Solidarity, Sufficiency, and Sustainability with Orbis Books. He works as an activist, ethicist, and community builder in High Point, North Carolina.

Avon Christian Church in Avon, Indiana, and Senior Minister, Danielle Cox (2012) celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the congregation on September 15. Danielle began her ministry at ACC in 2019.

On Sunday, September 8, Michael Karunas (1998) welcomed April Lewton (2004) to Central Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois, where he is Senior Minister, to speak about the work of the National Benevolent Association, where she is Vice President of Development and Marketing.

Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson (2009) and her two children enjoyed a recent visit to her parents, Tod and Ana Gobledale (1975) in New Brighton, England. In this photo, Tod, Cora, Ezra, and Thandiwe wave from the keep of castle ruins in Northern Wales.

Tabitha Isner (2005), Vice Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party and 2018 Democratic Nominee for Congress for Alabama's Second District, attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a delegate this past month.