Rob Wilson-Black (1991) returned to Chicago for the May 19-20 conference honoring Clark Gilpin. Rob continues as the Chief Development Officer for Sojourners. Rob, Juli, and their children Hannah, Claire, and Owen live in Reston, Virginia.

June PhD graduate Joe Blosser (2005) has accepted a tenure-track position at High Point University, a United Methodist school in North Carolina, as Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy and Director of Service Learning. His spouse, Allie, will be teaching on an adjunct basis in the School of Education. Congratulations Joe and Allie.

W. Clark Gilpin (1970; trustee) retired in May from the Divinity School as the Margaret E. Burton Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Christianity and Theology. He was honored with a conference at the Divinity School, Writing Religion: Representation, Difference, and Authority in American Culture, held on May 19 and 20, 2011. More here.

Congratulations to Hubert G. Locke (trustee), who was awarded an honorary doctorate by Christian Theological Seminary at their commencement, May 14. He is the John and Marguerite Corbally Professor of Public Service Emeritus at the University of Washington, where he also served as Dean of the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. The author of Searching for God in Godforsaken Times and Places: Reflections on the Holocaust, Racism, and Death (Eerdmans, 2003), Learning From History: A Black Christian’s Perspective on the Holocaust, The Detroit Riot of 1967, and several other books, he was a co-founder of the Annual Scholars Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches, and a former member of the Committee on Conscience of the U.S. Holocaust Museum. Last year he served as Acting President of the Pacific School of Religion. He is the recipient of numerous honors and honorary degrees.

Sympathy to Cynthia McCrae and dear family and friends of Ian J. McCrae (1947), who died May 12. Ian's work as an educator, change agent, mentor, and minister and his humble but insistent spirit shaped many generations of Disciples. In memoriam here. In 2007 he was honored with DDH's Distinguished Alumnus Award; read his address.

On May 8, Lee Hull Moses (2001; trustee) was featured on “Day 1,” a nationally syndicated radio program hosted by Peter Wallace, as part of a special series featuring “Young Leaders of the Church” during the five Sundays in May. Her sermon, “Breaking Open,” explored the story of the two disciples’ post-resurrection walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:28-35). More here.

Angela Kaufman (1995), husband Jack Poehlman, and big brother Connor welcomed Owen Reid Poehlman-Kaufman to the world on May 6 in Fort Worth, Texas. Owen weighed in at ten pounds, one ounce, and was 21 inches long. The pediatrician on staff that weekend affectionately nicknamed him "Tiny."

Rebecca Anderson (2007) was ordained Saturday, May 7, at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church in Chicago. The Illinois/Wisconsin Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); her home church, Hope Central (DoC/UCC) in Boston, and the congregation of the Holy Covenant, which has been a formative place of service for her---all joined together to celebrate her calling and ministry. Cynthia Lindner (1978) preached on John 20.1-8, calling Rebecca and the church to rise to the ministry to which they have been called. Dean Kris Culp also participated. More here.

Congratulations to Jonathan Stockdale (1992), who recently received tenure at the University of Puget Sound. He is editing a volume, Imagining Exile in the History of Religions, and contemplating work on a cultural history of whaling in Japan---what's the Japanese Moby Dick?, he wonders. Still up in the air is whether or not to head to Japan for his sabbatical this fall; spouse Zoe, a curator at the Tacoma Art Museum, was in Japan when the earthquakes and tsunami hit.

Congratulations to Jonathan Stockdale (1992), who recently received tenure at the University of Puget Sound. He is editing a volume, Imagining Exile in the History of Religions, and contemplating work on a cultural history of whaling in Japan---what's the Japanese Moby Dick?, he wonders. Still up in the air is whether or not to head to Japan for his sabbatical this fall; spouse Zoe, a curator at the Tacoma Art Museum, was in Japan when the earthquakes and tsunami hit.