People
Elpidophoros Lambriniadis becomes head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Succeeding Demetrios Trakatellis, he is the first new US Greek Orthodox leader in two decades.
Schubert Miles Ogden, Protestant theologian, dies at age 91
Ogden engaged “the credibility of the Christian witness,” he wrote in the Century’s How My Mind Has Changed series. “Christian faith itself claims to be credible in terms of common human experience.”
Leah Gaskin Fitchue, a trailblazer in theological education, dies at age 78
As president of Payne Theological Seminary from 2003 to 2015, she was the first African American woman to lead a seminary belonging to the Association of Theological Schools.
Dean Obeidallah wins lawsuit against neo-Nazi website
The Muslim comedian and radio host pledged to donate any money he receives in damages to activists countering hate groups.
Mohamed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood ‘party consensus candidate’ in Egypt, dies after six years in jail
Egypt’s first freely elected president failed to allay fears his party was laying the groundwork for theocracy.
David M. Mellott becomes president of Christian Theological Seminary
Mellott has written on a wide range of topics, including liberation for gay clergy and ethnography as a theological practice.
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.