Joel Brown (2014) spoke at the 3rd Founder's Day Celebration at Bethany College on March 2, 2023. Joel will delivered an address titled "When Worlds Fall Apart: Alexander Campbell and the Civil War."

Ross Allen (2019) was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on February 18, 2023 in a service First Christian Church in Manhatten, Kansas. Ross serves as the Designated Term Minister of South Acton Church in Acton, Massachusetts.

Lee Hull Moses (2001) has been appointed as the Director of the Proclamation Project. The Proclamation Project, a recipient of a Lilly Grant as part of the Lilly Endowment’s “Compelling Preaching Initiative,” launched in January of 2023 with a preaching workshop. The proclamation project aims to equip Disciples preachers with the tools and resources for prophetic preaching in such a time as this. Lee will advance will oversee the project's initiatives while advancing its objectives.

You can read the press release from the Office of the General Minister and President here.

The Disciples of Christ Historical Society has called Timothy S. Lee (1986) as the next General Editor of the Journal of Discipliana (JoD). An ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Dr. Lee has served as second vice moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as well as moderator of North American Pacific Asian Disciples (NAPAD) and now teaches the Disciples History and Polity course at Brite. His publications include Born Again: Evangelicalism in Korea (2010) and numerous book chapters and journal articles, including in Discipliana. He was also a co-editor of Christianity in Korea (2006).

Lee brings years of academic experience and a wealth of knowledge to the role. He remarked, "But the past doesn’t speak for itself.  It must be interpreted by us—using documents and artifacts, logic and imagination. And in doing so, the best medium we have, in my opinion, is the Journal of Discipliana.” 

You can read the full press release by the Historical Society here.

Joel Brown (2014) and Erin James-Brown welcomed Evelyn James Brown into the world! Erin and baby girl are doing great and are recovering at home. Margot is thrilled to have a little sister.

Sandhya Jha's (2001; trustee)  book Rebels, Despots, and Saints: The Ancestors Who Free Us and The Ancestors We Need to Free has been published by Chalice Press. The book looks to the wisdom and folly, the suffering and overcoming, and the spiritual practices and acts of resistance our ancestors, in many senses of the word, navigated - and sometimes created.

The book includes case studies of activists and spiritual leaders, writing and suggestion prompts, and reflections designed to help readers connect with their ancestors and connect to the work of dismantling white supremacy as a spiritual practice.

Yvonne Gilmore (2001) is teaching "An Introduction to Faith Based Anti-Racism" at Lexington Theological Seminary beginning in February 2023. The course will provide an introductory survey of faith-rooted approaches to anti-racism and anti-racist community practices. Race, justice, identity formation, power, and intersectionality will be considered alongside tools to address racism and other forms of oppression to increase equity and meaningful social change.

Current PhD student Luke Soderstrom and his wife Stephanie welcomed Asa Michael Soderstrom into the world on December 7, 2022. Baby Asa arrived at a healthy 8.7 lbs and 22 inches long. All are doing well. Asa's older brothers are excited to welcome him home.

Beau Underwood (2006) and Casey Osterkamp are moving to Indianapolis, where Beau has been called as the next Senior Minister of Allisonville Christian Church, and Casey will become Vice President of Operations for Herron Classical Schools, a public charter school network. Casey will wrap up her work overseeing personnel for the State of Missouri in January. They report that son Jesse is looking forward to a big kid bed with a Spidey comforter! Beau will continue to write for the publication, Word & Way, on a limited basis as a contributing editor. After passing his comprehensive exams in public affairs at the University of Missouri-Columbia this fall, he will take a leave of absence, with the intention of resuming his dissertation research and writing as a part-time student in 2024. Beau's installation service is planned for February 12.

Sarah Zuniga (2018) has been promoted to the position of National Facilitator and Organizer at Crossroads Antiracism Training. They had been serving as Digital Content Editor.