Monica Carmean (2020) will join the Women's Action Web Caminantes Experience at the US-Mexico Border April 28-May 3. The Women's Action Web Caminantes Experience is a group of Disciples of Christ women that will act as participant observers of the lived realities of women's issues at the border.

Sympathies to Stephanie Paulsell (1985) and her family on the passing of Stephanie's father, William Paulsell. Bill was the former dean and president of Lexington Theological Seminar, an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and author of eight books. He died on April 14 at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife, Sally Paulsell; his daughters, Stephanie Paulsell (Kevin Madigan) and Diane Paulsell; and two grandchildren, Theo Block and Amanda Madigan.

A full obituary can be found here.

Beau Underwood (2006) has co-authored a new book with Brian Kaylor entitled, Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism. How did mainline Protestantism help to create the fertile soil in which today's expressions of the ideology of Christian Nationalism are blooming? The book assays historical evidence, critiques the concept of civil religion as a gateway into Christian Nationalism, and offers some suggestions as to how mainline clergy and congregations can respond. It will be released in June and is available for preorder from Chalice Press.

Joan Bell-Haynes (1994) was the guest of honor at the March 15 dedication of the Oscar Haynes Exhibit in its new home at Light of the World Christian Church in Indianapolis on March 15. The exhibit celebrates her late husband, who was a prominent lay leader, and seeks to preserve and share the history of African American Disciples. It was launched by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Joel Brown (2014), president. Terri Hord Owens (1999) and Yvonne Gilmore (2001) also participated in the program.

Kristel Clayville (2001) spoke at Elmhurst University for the Genevieve Staudt Intercultural Lecture on March 6. Her lecture, Dea Ex Machina, drew on biblical texts and feminist theology to offer alternate perspectives on AI.

Sarah Zuniga  (2018) was installed as Associate Minister of Outreach and Growth at Allisonville Christian Church in Indianapolis on February 25. This is a new staff position intended to expand the congregation's outreach and enrich its vision of ministry. Beau Underwood (2006) is the Senior Minister. They are pictured here with new Indiana Regional Minister, Christal Williams. In addition, Sarah recently returned to their alma mater, Eureka College, to give the keynote address for its Founders Day on February 8.

In memoriam. Cynthia Rice McCrae died on February 18 in Indianapolis. She was 97. Known as a person filled with gratitude, love, deep caring, and joy for life, she was a teacher, church and community leader, friend, partner, and mother. She is survived by five children, Bruce, Doug, Carol, Linda, and Maureen; nine grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Ian, in 2011. He was honored by DDH's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2007; Cynthia remained part of the wider DDH community until her death.

Born in Durban, South Africa, to parents who were missionaries with the Congregational Church, she graduated from Whitman College and took graduate courses at Chicago Theological Seminary. While in Chicago, she met her lifelong love and partner, Ian McCrae, a native of Toronto who was studying at DDH and the Divinity School. He would become an important theological voice and leader in social and economic justice and human and civil rights. They married in 1950, and lived in Des Moines and Los Angeles before moving to Indianapolis in 1963. A memorial service will was held on February 25 at Central Christian Church in Indianapolis.

Santiago Piñón (1998) has been awarded an American Academy of Religion (AAR) Regional grant for work on acknowledging the trauma of gun violence in the classroom. He teaches in TCU's Religion Department and is Chair of HELM's Board of Directors.

On February 15 as part of the Divinity School's and the Marty Center's celebration of Black History Month, Aneesah Veatch (2019) led a program on the history of quilt making in black spiritual life and the quilt's role as a means of conveying messages to persons escaping slavery in the United States. "Quilting captures the qualities of black liberation, it takes time and it needs to be done in community... As a work of art, the quilt is an active participant in the journey to freedom."

Former resident Braxton D. Shelley was among the consultants and commentators for the PBS documentary series, Gospel, which was hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. The documentary aired on February 12 and 13.