Congratulations to June graduate Andrew Packman (2009), who was ordained on August 19 at First Christian Church, Centralia, Illinois. Michael Karunas (1995), Senior Minister of Central Christian Church, Decatur, Illinois, preached. Dean Kris Culp (1982), Divinity School Director of Ministry Studies Cynthia Lindner (1978), House Scholar Thandiwe Gobledale, and former resident Jeff Lehn also participated.

Rebecca Anderson (2007) was one of four storytellers who inaugurated 2nd Story's 2012-2013 season with "Up, Up, and Away: Stories of Busting Out" on September 17 in Chicago. The Chicago-based organization, 2nd Story, is a collective of story-makers and story-tellers. Download and listen to a podcast of her story, "Lost and Found," here.

Brent Reynolds (1997) has been called to be Director of the Florida Christian Center, Jacksonville, Florida, a ministry site of the National Benevolent Association.

Congratulations to June graduate Laura Jennison Reed (2009), who was ordained August 12 at North Hill Christian Church, Spokane, Washington. She is now serving as Assistant to the Dean at the Disciples Divinity House. More here.

Emily Brooker Langston (1985) was quoted in the Irish Times on June 29 with her response to the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Health Care Law.

John Cheadle Rich (2001) graduated in April from the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In June, he passed the state boards to become a Registered Nurse and is working as a Nurse Resident at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. He and Amy continue to serve as Co-Executive Directors of Patchwork Central, a nonprofit ministry operating near downtown Evansville. See www.patchwork.org or the Patchwork Central blog.

Congratulations to June graduate Katherine Raley (2008), who was ordained June 23 at First Christian Church, Columbia, South Carolina.  She has been called to serve as Associate Minister of First Christian Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Chuck Blaisdell (1976) is the Senior Minister.

Bill Wright (1995) and Jessica Barr welcomed Silas Alexander Barr Wright into the world at 4:33 am on Thursday, June 14, weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz. and measuring 21 inches long. Silas and his parents are doing well and are now home in Eureka, Illinois (both his parents are members of the faculty at Eureka College).

Congratulations to December MDiv graduate Jonathan Wallace (2008), who was ordained into the Christian ministry on June 10 at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, his home congregation. Dr. Frank Thomas preached, and Pastor Virzola Law presided; Dean Kris Culp (1982) presented him as a candidate for ordination; Divinity School Director of Ministry Studies Cynthia Lindner (1978) gave the ordination prayer.

Kenneth Atkinson (1991) is the author of Queen Salome: Jerusalem's Warrior Monarch of the First Century B.C.E. (McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2012). This first biography of Queen Salome Alexandra, the sole legitimate female monarch of ancient Palestine, recounts the events of her tumultuous life as well as women in the Dead Sea Scrolls and related texts. Mr. Atkinson is currently Associate Professor of History at the University of Northern Iowa.