Joe Blosser (2005) has received a prestigious Think Big faculty grant from High Point University to support a $50,000 Democracy USA project and a $34,000 external grant to support his work with the Service Learning Program. He has received a named position in recognition of his work, and he is now the Robert G. Culp Jr. Director of Service Learning and Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at High Point.

Walt Abel (1949) died May 14, 2012, in Denver, Colorado. He was 85 years old. Walter Henry Abel was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 15, 1926. He met his future bride, Myra, in  the church youth group at Norwood Christian Church in Cincinnati. They married and had four children: Steve, Phil, Catherine and Dale. He joined the Navy at the end of WWII, and then attended Tulane University on the GI Bill, where he earned a BE in Electrical Engineering in 1947. In 1949, he entered the University of Chicago as a Disciples Divinity House Scholar to work on a Bachelor of Divinity degree. While there he met lifelong friends Dale and Betty Miller, and Ian and Cynthia McCrae.

Walt went on to Kansas State University, where he served as a youth pastor, preached in small congregations, and eventually earned his MA in Counseling and Guidance in 1958. He worked as a minister to students, and finally he earned a PhD in Counseling and Guidance at the University of Kentucky in 1968. He moved from there to Pittsburgh, taking up a position as Research Psychologist and part-time counselor at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University).

Walt was involved in his community. He served on the Board of the Carnegie Tech Faculty Federal Credit Union. He was active at East End Christian Church, helping run a church-basement coffeehouse for youth in the late 60s early 70s, and serving as President and Chairman of the Board. He was also involved with the regional Disciples gatherings in Western Pennsylvania. In 1999, the Abels moved to Foxwood Springs, near Kansas City (where the Millers and McCraes had also moved); later, they moved to Colorado. He is survived by Myra, their four children, seven grand-children, and three great-grand children, and his brother Frank.

Michael Karunas (1995) was installed as the Senior Minister of Central Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois, on June 3, having begun his ministry there in March. Michael, spouse Amy Ziettlow, and their three children were previously in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Michael was Senior Minister of the First Christian Church and Amy was the Chief Operating Officer for The Hospice of Baton Rouge.

David Cobb (1987) has been called as the second pastor of Spirit of Joy Christian Church in Lakeville, Minnesota (in the greater Twin Cities area). He was previously Senior Minister of First Christian Church, Lynchburg, Virginia. David, Katy McFall, and their son Jackson, will move to the Lakeville area in mid-June. Katy McFall (1988) will continue serving as Director of Annual Giving for the Presbyterian Homes & Family Services and the Family Alliance of Lynchburg, working long distance; she is now also serving as President of the DDH Alumni/ae Council.

On May 27, United Christian Parish (UCP), an ecumenical congregation (Disciples, UCC, PCUSA, and United Methodist) in Reston, Virginia, dedicated its new sanctuary and wing. Joan Bell-Haynes (1995) is Pastor. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be the guest preacher. The $6 million project has been underway for nearly two years. UCP is the home congregation of current House Scholar Alexis Vaughan, who returned to UCP for the celebration.

Garry Sparks (2001) has accepted a tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor of Humanities in Global Christian Studies at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. His research and teaching interests focus on an ethnographic and ethnohistorical understanding of theological production in the Americas, specifically among indigenous peoples. His areas include modern Christian theologies, history of religions, Native American religious movements, Hispano-Catholic missions, and the Highland Maya. This past year he has been the Visiting Assistant Professor of Humanities and Theology at Christ College, the honors college, of Valparaiso University. He and spouse April Lewton (2004; trustee) will move to Louisville in June.

On June 1, April Lewton (2004; trustee) will become the Vice President of Development and Marketing for the National Benevolent Association (NBA), a general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Founded in the 1880s, the NBA "creates communities of compassion and care" through the provision of health and social services. Lewton commented, “As a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), I have known and experienced the legacy and dedication of Disciples in service to others, especially those who are in physical, mental and social need. I look forward to engaging and encouraging Disciples in this ministry of service throughout the life of the Church." Read the press release.

Beau Underwood (2006) has accepted the position of Campaigns Manager at Sojourners, a national Christian organization committed to faith in action for social justice. He will help to develop and coordinate strategies for Sojourners' issue campaigns, to manage their coalition work, and a variety of other tasks. He concludes his work as the Partnership and Outreach Coordinator at Faith in Public Life on May 15. He continues also to serve part-time at National City Christian Church as an Assistant Pastor.

On May 12, 2012, Chuck Blaisdell (1976) was awarded an honorary doctorate by Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) in Indianapolis. In selecting him, the school noted, "Not only does he exemplify the highest hopes fostered by CTS for leadership in the church, but he has manifest such leadership in all expressions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) .... Chuck has one of the finest critical minds in the Disciples of Christ today in the sense that he has a compelling vision of God and the world emerging from serious dialogue with the Bible, tradition, and experience." He is the Senior Minister of First Christian Church of Colorado Springs.

Congratulations to Rachel Lindner (2004), who received her JD from Northwestern University School of Law on May 11. She will be moving to New Orleans, where she will practice capital defense law.