Divinity School Dean Margaret Mitchell led the Divinity School and the Disciples Divinity House Board of Trustees in remembering Don Browning at a service in Bond Chapel on Saturday, October 23, 2010. Tributes were given by Jean Bethke Elshtain, Laura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Social and Political Ethics; William Schweiker, Director of the Martin Marty Center and Edward L. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor of Theological Ethics; Kristine A. Culp, Associate Professor of Theology and Dean of the Disciples Divinity House; and Elizabeth Marquardt, a former student. The tributes will be published in Criterion, a publication of the Divinity School.

Don S. Browning, the Alexander Campbell Professor Emeritus of Ethics and the Social Sciences in the Divinity School, studied the influence of religion on American family life, as well as the intersection of psychology, the social sciences, moral theory, and religion. From 1977-83, he was the Dean of the Disciples Divinity House, and he served as a trustee until his death. He died June 3 at his home in Hyde Park at the age of 76. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Browning Family Fund at the Disciples Divinity House.

Brandon Cook and McKinna Daugherty have been named the 2010 Oreon E. Scott and the William Weaver Entering Scholars, respectively. Both are beginning their M.Div. studies.
Brandon Cook, a graduate of Transylvania University who majored in German Studies and Psychology, has a passion for congregational ministry and interests in ecumenical work and disaster relief and development. His home congregation is May’s Lick Christian Church, Kentucky. At Transylvania, Brandon served as an officer of Disciples on Campus, and participated in and planned learning opportunities in the Philippines for fellow student. He has been active in the national and world student ecumenical movement (STEP, SESCM, and the World Student Christian Federation).
McKinna Daugherty was born in Japan, but spent her formative years in Olathe, Kansas, where she became a member of Saint Andrew Christian Church. This past summer she spent a month in Japan and also returned to her home church as an intern. A graduate of Texas Christian University, who majored in Vocal Music and Religion, McKinna’s sense of call to ministry has been shaped by a global perspective and a commitment to social justice, as well as by her study of religion and music. At TCU, she received numerous scholarships and honors including election to Theta Alpha Kappa and vocal performances; she also volunteered in a homeless ministry and served as Media Coordinator for University Christian Church in Fort Worth.

The annual Convocation Service on June 11 celebrated graduating Disciples Scholars and DDH Residents. Graduates included Disciples Divinity House Scholars who received their Master of Divinity degrees or will receive them later this year: Rebecca Anderson, Aaron Smith, Michael Swartzentruber, and Beau Underwood. Underwood also received the Master of Arts in Public Policy degree. Also among the graduates were two ecumenical residents, Heather Mackenzie and Emily Rostkowski, and Alan Terlep, House Scholar from 2005-06, who received his PhD in the History of Christianity with certification in ministry. The service preceded the University-wide graduation, which was held in the main quadrangle on Saturday morning.

Verity A. Jones spoke on "The God of Hope," calling the graduates to a hearty, realistic engagement through their work and ministry, and not mere optimism. Publisher and Editor of DisciplesWorld magazine from 2003-10, Jones is the President of the Associated Church Press, works with the Wabash Pastoral Leadership Program, and serves on the advisory board of the Divinity School's Border Crossings project. She has written for the Christian Century and other publications, in addition to DisciplesWorld. A native of Richardson, Texas, she grew up in Enid, Oklahoma. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Yale College, and a summa cum laude graduate of Yale Divinity School. An ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, she previously served as pastor of Central Christian Church in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Invoking E. S. Ames, Stephanie Paulsell, David Kagiwada, and a host of other alumni/ae, April Lewton inaugurated the 2010-11 academic year with her homily on Monday, October 4, in the Chapel of the Holy Grail. Lewton, an alumna who serves as the Director of Annual Giving and Community Engagement at Chicago Theological Seminary, is also a current member of the General Board and Administrative Committee of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a past Moderator of NAPAD (North American Pacific Asian Disciples), and a member of the Alumni/ae Council of the Disciples Divinity House. For the full list of events for the fall quarter, click here.

Pamela James Jones has joined the Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Religion and Philosophy faculty at Central Michigan University and an ordained American Baptist minister. She earned an AB from Spelman College and a JD from Temple University, and formerly was a Lecturer in Business Law at Wayne State University in Detroit. She earned the MDiv degree from the Divinity School in 1997 before beginning PhD work in the History of Christianity. A DDH resident during her MDiv and early PhD years, she also returned regularly while writing her dissertation on enslaved Christian women’s identity in the antebellum period (1830-65). From 2003-08 she was a staff minister at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Detroit. She and her husband, Ted, who is chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State University Medical School, have two adult children.

A series of presentations this quarter allow third-year House Scholars to present their culminating MDiv projects. Two are focused on preaching: on May 10, Michael Swartzentruber will explore "The Imaging Word: A Theology of Preaching"; on May 24, Rebecca Anderson will present "Mind the Gap: Preaching as Comedy." Beau Underwood's project on "Disciples and Democracy" brought former General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm to DDH to discuss resolutions and discernment as means through which Disciples engage public life. Finally, in late May, Aaron Smith will consider unity and polarization from a theological, biblical, and public policy perspective.

Michael Swartzentruber, a third year ministry student and Disciples Divinity House Scholar is co-chair with Emy Cardoza of the 2010 Student Ministry Conference, "Worship in Crisis," to be held April 23 at the Divinity School. House Scholar Aaron Smith and House residents Michael Le Chevalier and Jimmy Hoke are chairing committees in preparation for the event. In addition, alumnus Matt Rosen will be the speaker at the Divinity School's Ministry Alumni Reunion Dinner, scheduled in conjunction with the conference. He is the Director of Advocacy and Social Justice for So Others Might Eat (SOME), an interfaith, community-based organization in the District of Columbia that offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to caring for the homeless and poor.

Margaret Mitchell, Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature, has been named the next dean of the University of Chicago Divinity School. Her appointment takes effect July 1. She is an alumna of the Divinity School and a former ecumenical resident of the Disciples Divinity House. To learn more about her, her scholarship, and the appointment, read the University press release.

On December 31, Larry D. Bouchard concluded his service as president of the Board of Trustees. An alumnus, he joined the board in 1997 and has served as its president since 2005. He is an associate professor in Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, where he explores drama, theology, and what he calls “counter-intuitive” visions of personal integrity. As president, Mr. Bouchard kept the board focused on its mission, and framed decisions with their deepest implications in view. At the same time, he evidenced how good humor and deep affection can foster wisdom and purpose in governance.

The presidential gavel passes to Chad H. Martin, who has served as treasurer of the Board of Trustees since 2003 and as a member of the executive committee since 2001. As treasurer he led the Board in decisions about budget priorities through changing financial times. Mr. Martin has been the chief financial officer for Pacific Pulmonary Services since 2004. Previously, he worked in investment banking with Goldman Sachs. He earned an MBA from Stanford University. He also serves on the board of the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Chad and Crista Martin live in the San Francisco area with their daughter.

Mareta J. Smith, succeeds Chad Martin as treasurer. She has been a member of the finance committee since joining the board in 2006. She is an attorney who specializes in estate planning and tax law with Shook, Hardy, & Bacon, a Kansas City-based firm. She is a member of Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, where she also serves as a trustee. Eddie Evans Griffin, a retired social work administrator, elder at Park Manor Christian Church, and former regional moderator, continues as vice president. Alumna Lee Hull Moses, who is Senior Minister of First Christian Church, Greensboro, North Carolina, continues as secretary.

Several alumni/ae will have prominent roles at the upcoming General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which meets in Indianapolis, July 29-August 2. As the First Vice Moderator, Ayanna Johnson will lead prayer and reflection at the start of each day's business session; she has also been responsible for planning worship throughout the Assembly. Michael Kinnamon, who is General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, will give the 25th Peter Ainslie Lecture as a dinner co-sponsored by the Council on Christian Unity and the Historical Society. Among those leading workshops are Kinnamon, Ken Brooker Langston, Bonnie Carenen, Sandhya Jha, Tim Lee, Mark Miller McLemore, and Vy Nguyen. And don't forget our own luncheon, where Don Browning will be honored as Distinguished Alumnus.