We are saddened by the death of alumnus Woody Wasson (1940), on December 10, 2013, in Nashville. He was 97. Read the In memoriam.

In mid-December, Beau Underwood (2006) was promoted to Senior Director of Advocacy and Communications at Sojourners in Washington DC. He now oversees the organization's communications strategy and media efforts in addition to directing its government relations and issue advocacy efforts. He helps to create and implement the organization’s issue campaigns, manages online advocacy, and builds relationships with key partners and constituencies.

Congratulations to Cynthia Lindner (1978; Trustee), Director of Ministry Studies at the Divinity School: the Lilly Endowment, Inc., has approved a $475K grant for a five year project (2013-2018) that she designed and will direct at the Divinity School. "The Chicago Commons Project," will bring early career pastoral leaders to Chicago to inquire together about leadership through intensive cohort engagement with civic leaders and the arts.

Frank Burch Brown (1974) has edited the Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts (Oxford University Press, 2014). He is also a contributor to the volume, along with thirty-six other international scholars representing multiple arts and religions, Larry Bouchard (1974) among them. The OHRA provides expert guidance to artistry and aesthetic theory in religion. In addition, Burch Brown has been named Senior Editor in Religion and the Arts for the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion, currently being developed by Oxford University Press as a comprehensive, scholarly online resource, continually revisable and expandable—with John Barton, Oxford University, as Editor-in-Chief.

On November 10, the Christian Church in the Capital Area (CCCA) region celebrated the ministry of Lari Grubbs (trustee) as their Regional Minister. He is retiring at the end of the year, and has served the region for 11 years as a central part of his many years of ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The CCCA is one of two regions with which DDH has comity, and so DDH has been fortunate that Rev. Grubbs has served as an ex officio member of our Board of Trustees. We are grateful for his good friendship and for his sage leadership in ministry.

Pumsup Shim (former Disciples resident), who has now returned to Korea after his June ordination and receiving the MTS from Chicago Theological Seminary, had a hand in crafting the Korean translation of "Disciples Thumbnail Sketches," just released by Chalice Press in partnership with Reconciliation Ministries. NAPAD Executive Pastor Jinsuk Chun recognized Pum's translation skills (Pum has a PhD in Linguistics as well as a MDiv from the Divinity School), invited his participation, and worked with him to polish the translation. See the press release.

Bill Crowl (1962) has announced that he will step down as Intentional Interim Minister at the Christian Church of Arlington Heights, Illinois, as of the Christmas Eve service, and plans to retire--really retire. He and Patty have also become the proud "grandparents" of a third restaurant: daughter Rachel Crowl and son-in-law Matthias Merges opened A-10 in Hyde Park on November 5.

The Pinon triplets, Felicita, Santiago, and Frida, made their Halloween debuts as baby Shreks. We heard that big brother Gabe dressed as a donkey. Can it be true that mom and dad, Liz and Santiago Pinon (1998), dressed as Fiona and Shrek?

Current Scholar Kristel Clayville is the author of "Landed Interpretation: An Environmental Ethicist Reads Leviticus." It is chapter one in Leviticus and Numbers, edited by Athalya Brenner and Archie Chi Chung Lee for the Text@Contexts Series published by Fortress Press. (The chapter is currently available as the sample chapter on the Fortress Press site.)

Congratulations to Ayanna Johnson (2000) and Richard Watkins, who were married on October 27 at Covenant United Church of Christ in Chicago. Ayanna continues as the Director of Community Life at Chicago Theological Seminary; Rich is an attorney.