People
Sarah B. Drummond becomes dean of Andover Newton Seminary
She is the first woman to lead the school in its 212-year history.
Jonathan L. Walton becomes dean of the School of Divinity at Wake Forest University
“Research and teaching are not simply academic exercises for me,” Walton said.
Chris Hobgood, Disciples leader and anti-racism advocate, dies at age 83
Hobgood was the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) general minister and president from 2003 to 2005, and founded the Disciples Center for Public Witness.
Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, a cardinal and former head of the Maronite Church, dies at age 98
Sfeir became patriarch amid Lebanon’s civil war. He became known as a voice against injustice.
Cecilio Perez Cruz, Salvadoran priest, shot to death
Several colleagues believe he was murdered for being outspoken about deforestation near his parish.
ELCA pastor deported to Colombia
Betty Rendón, who is also a doctoral student at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, was arrested when ICE raided her home.
Jean Vanier, author who shaped theology of disability, dies at age 90
Through the L’Arche network of communities and his books, he lifted up the brokenness of people with and without developmental disabilities—and their potential for transformation.
The doors that Rachel Held Evans wedged open
She pointed toward a God who loves us in ways we can’t yet comprehend.
Christian educator James Tebbe receives high-level civilian honor in Pakistan
Analogous to the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the award honors Tebbe’s leadership at Forman Christian College in Lahore.
Jean Vanier and the gift of L’Arche
Vanier found fullness of life in those snatched from despair and placed in homes based on mutuality, respect, and care.
Rachel Held Evans, Christian writer and speaker, dies at age 37
Evans’s books A Year of Biblical Womanhood, Searching for Sunday, and Inspired traced the evolution of her faith.
J. Peter Sartain to retire as archbishop of Seattle and Paul Etienne to step into role
Sartain, who is in poor health, had requested a coadjutor archbishop serving alongside him in a transition period. Pope Francis chose Etienne.
Timothy Dalrymple to lead Christianity Today as Harold B. Smith retires
“I couldn’t be more pleased,” Smith said about turning over the role of president and CEO of the media ministry to Dalrymple.
Wilton Gregory to lead Catholic archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
Gregory helped navigate the church’s response to the 2002 sexual abuse scandals—including new policies and norms to address it.
Xavier Arbex, priest in Peru, advocates for victims of gold mining
Peru is among the world's top sources of precious metals. Mining is poisoning people and turning forests into wasteland.
Two leaders of faith-based immigrant rights group charge ICE with violating their rights
Kaji Douša and Ravi Ragbir of the New Sanctuary Coalition point to recent reports as evidence that they are being targeted for being outspoken advocates for immigrants.
Dean Peerman, a Century editor for 60 years, dies at age 87
In March 1965, he and fellow editor Martin E. Marty participated in the second civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.
Mary Hinkle Shore becomes rector and dean of ELCA seminary in Southeast
Shore will deepen relationships with congregations and other ministries served by students of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Robina Winbush, ecumenical and interfaith leader, dies at age 61
Winbush worked for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and with global organizations, “envisioning together how justice can be lived and reflected in the life of the church,” one colleague said.
Ernesto Cardenal, Nicaraguan poet–priest, restored in Catholic Church
Cardenal was suspended for his role in the 1980s Sandinista government—considered a partisan public office prohibited for clergy.