Disciples House Scholar Rachel Abdoler has been selected as one of twelve seminary fellows from across the U.S. for the Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) this summer. She is currently completing an internship at Congregation Beth El Zedeck and with the Center for Interfaith Cooperation (CIC) in Indianapolis.

Congratulations to Jonathan Stockdale (1992) on the publication of his book on the use of exile in imperial Japan. In Imagining Exile in Heian Japan: Banishment in Law, Literature, and Cult (University of Hawai`i Press, February 2015), 'University of Puget Sound professor Jonathan Stockdale examines the influential role that this change in law played at a time considered to be the peak of the Japanese Imperial Court. In an age when poetry and literature flourished, banishment became more than just a political tool: It captured the public imagination and was taken up in literature and legends, poetry and diaries, and oracles and revelations." Here is a press release. This fall, Jonathan received a Thomas Davis Teaching Prize from the University of Puget Sound. He recently celebrated his 50th birthday and is marking it with a family road trip to the Grand Canyon in May. Many congratulations!

Harvard Divinity School has appointed Stephanie Paulsell (1985; former trustee) as the first Susan Shallcross Swartz Professor of the Practice of Christian Studies. She is currently the Houghton Professor of the Practice of Ministry Studies at HDS. The goal of the Susan Shallcross Swartz Endowment is "to extend the School's traditional preeminence in Christian studies, but also to support 'moral and spiritual formation' for a broader secular audience. Ms. Swartz says that the new chair—and its first holder—meet both objectives." Stephanie Paulsell also has been named one of six Henry Luce III Fellows in Theology for 2015–16 by the Association of Theological Schools (Professor Willemien Otten at the University of Chicago Divinity School is another Luce recipient). Paulsell's project will explore the idea of being "lost in the mystery of God" in relation to the human experience of losing things that were once familiar to us.

Kay Northcutt (1985) spoke as part of a Lenten series on "cooperative spirituality" at First Christian Church, Oklahoma City. “The capacities for stillness and attentiveness are fundamental to each of our shared faith traditions: Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism,” she said. She explored the Christian spiritual tradition through the writings of Thomas Merton, Benedict, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, and Meister Eckhart.

The Christian Church of Northern California and Nevada Region has honored Sandhya Jha (2001) with its Martin Luther King Jr Award for her contributions to anti-racism, reconciliation, and movements for peace and justice. The award "recognizes the great achievements for justice that have been contributed by Disciples in the region." She exemplifies and carries forward a line of illustrious predecessors, including several DDHers who were previous recipients: the late Robert Lemon (1944), Esther and the late Carl Robinson (1944), JoAnne Kagiwada (Trustee), and Vy Nguyen (2004). Congratulations Sandhya and thank you for your work.

McKinna Daugherty (2010) has been called as the minister of Altoona Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) beginning May 1. Altoona, Iowa, is a growing suburb northeast of Des Moines. She will continue as a Resident Minister at Central Christian Church in Lexington, KY, through Easter.

Beau Underwood (2006) has been named the Senior Minister of First Christian Church, Jefferson City, Missouri, effective February 1, 2015. A service of installation is planned for February 22. Beau is currently Senior Director of Advocacy and Campaigns for Sojourners and Assistant Pastor of National City Christian Church. Casey Osterkamp, his spouse, is headed for a new position in public policy at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Congratulations to both.

Congratulations to Irami and Bonnie Osei-Frimpong (2005) and big sister Carenen, who welcomed the birth of little sister Graham Jubilee on December 25, 2014. "Baby Gray," apparently in a hurry to arrive for Christmas, was born at home at 6:15pm. Look for their holiday card on YouTube.

We are saddened to note the death of Divinity School Professor Emeritus Martin Riesebrodt on December 6 in Berlin. He was 66. Read the University of Chicago press release here.

We are sorry to learn of the death of William A. Gerrard III (1961) on December 5, 2014. He was 82. Born in Louisville, KY, he was a graduate of the University of Kentucky, Lexington Theological Seminary, and Emory University, where he earned his PhD in Theology. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Suzanne Gerrard, two sons, Christopher and Jonathan (Trudy) and his brother Steve Gerrard. A memorial service was held at Peachtree Christian Church, Atlanta.

The National Benevolent Association (NBA) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has called Ayanna Johnson Watkins (2000) to serve as the Director of the NBA Incubator Initiative beginning December 1, 2014. The Incubator Initiative allows NBA to partner with Disciples-related health and social service projects and emerging organizations especially in their start-up phase and processes. Her work as director includes the recruitment and the oversight of services for all Incubate partners, managing the initiative's budget, and evaluating the initiative.