Congratulations to Bill Wright (1995) and Jessica Barr who were married on August 15, 2009, in Sugerties, New York. Both are members of the faculty at Eureka College.

Matt Rosen (2003) now works at So Others Might Eat (SOME), an interfaith, community-based organization that offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to caring for the homeless and extremely poor citizens of the District of Columbia.

In early August 2009, House Scholar Garry Sparks was in La Paz, Bolivia, to participate in the symposium on “Social Movements and Liberation Theology in Latin American” at the Ecumenical Andean Superior Institute of Theology (ISEAT). He presented a paper on indigenous cultures and spirituality and was a member of a panel “Liberation Theology in the 21st Century." The event drew scholars and church activists from across Latin America and the world.

Michael Kinnamon (1973), General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, gave the 25th Peter Ainslie Lecture at the Council on Christian Unity/Disciples Historical Society dinner at the General Assembly on August 1, 2009. It marked the bicentenary of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address and the centenary of the Council on Christian Unity. Read the lecture here.

Ayanna M. Johnson (2000) has been named the new Director of Community Life at Chicago Theological Seminary, beginning in late August 2009. She moves from Family of Hope Christian Church in Blue Island, Illinois, and after concluding three years of service as Minister in Residence at the Disciples Divinity House. At this summer’s General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), she completed service as the as First Vice Moderator of the denomination.

Rob Wilson-Black (1991) has become the Chief Development Officer of Sojourners, working with Jim Wallis. He concluded his work as Vice President for Seminary Relations at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary in July 2009. Rob, Juli, and their three children are pleased to be living in Virginia, which is home for Juli and means four grandparents nearby.

Our sympathy to Patty and Bill Crowl (1962) on two losses in their family in a short span of days. Their youngest grandson, five-month old Nathan Gray Rode, died in his sleep on July 23, 2009. Patty's mother, Mrs. Vivienne Hammell, died July 26 at the age of 93.

Yvonne Gilmore (2001), pastor of New Song Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, offered a spoken word meditation at General Assembly.

In July, Westminster John Knox Press published Doing Justice in Our Cities: Lessons in Public Policy from America’s Heartland by Warren Copeland (1968). Copeland, who is Professor of Religion and Director of the Center for Civic and Urban Engagement at Wittenberg University, has also served in city government for two decades, including 15 years as mayor of Springfield, Ohio. He argues that "the nature of American cities is itself an ethical problem." He asks, how do we create mixed income communities again?

On July 18, 2009, Adam Frieberg (2006) was ordained at the Norwalk (Iowa) Christian Church. Rev. Michael Davison preached; Dean Kris Culp was among the participants. Adam is pursuing opportunities in the greater Chicago area; his spouse, Heidi Havercamp, is vicar of the Church of St. Benedict in Bolingbrook.