People
Eugene Peterson, author of The Message and pastor to pastors, dies at age 85
“I’ve loved being a pastor, almost every minute of it,” Peterson once told the Century.
William J. Barber II awarded MacArthur “genius” grant
The Moral Mondays and Poor People’s Campaign leader looks at public policy through the lens of moral values.
Robert Wood Lynn, leader in religion scholarship, dies at age 93
In 15 years at the Lilly Endowment, he went beyond merely giving grants, fostering study of core issues in American religious life.
Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, advocates for women harmed by war, win Nobel Peace Prize
The Congolese Christian surgeon and Yazidi activist have seen each of their homelands devastated by violence.
Óscar Romero and Paul VI now Catholic saints
The Salvadoran archbishop and Vatican II–era pope were among the most prominent and controversial figures of the Catholic Church in the 20th century.
Metropolitan Bishoy, Orthodox and ecumenical leader, dies at age 76
The Egyptian bishop was influential locally and globally.
Syrian migrants build bridges with Swiss church
Anna Shammas and Rami Ziadeh are founders and pastors of an Arabic-speaking United Methodist congregation that reaches out to other migrants—and to the German-speakers in the church.
New Testament and preaching scholar Gail O’Day dies at age 63
O’Day was known for her integrity in biblical interpretation.
Terry Brensinger demoted as a seminary president, Greg Boyd let go as a visiting scholar
Fresno Pacific University announced it was taking Brensinger and Boyd out of their respective roles. The cause—and any connection between the two actions—is unclear.
John Victor Samuel, Pakistani ecumenical leader, dies at age 87
Samuel was also the first Pakistani bishop in the Methodist Church.
Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to be first Muslim American women in Congress
Both women are seasoned organizers who emphasized economic justice among their priorities.
Steed Vernyl Davidson named VP of academic affairs and dean at McCormick Theological Seminary
The faculty voted unanimously to make him dean.
Anya Krugovoy Silver, poet, dies at age 49
“Making meaning out of suffering and loss,” Silver wrote, is “one of poetry’s most fundamental aims.”
Aretha Franklin influenced sacred and secular music
Franklin, who died at 76, embodied “the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R & B, rock and roll.”
Coptic world mourns death of Anba Epiphanius, Egyptian bishop and scholar
Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church said Epiphanius was "a true monk whose life was steeped in meekness and humbleness."
David H. Crawford becomes president of McCormick Theological Seminary
Crawford came to the seminary from a career in law and business.
Katie Geneva Cannon, groundbreaking womanist ethicist and theologian, dies at age 68
Teaching was her ministry.
Elaine Heath steps down as Duke Divinity dean; Greg Jones steps in
During Heath’s tenure the school faced conflict with some students and faculty related to racial diversity and sexuality.
Nadia Bolz-Weber embarks upon being a full-time public theologian
Her last Sunday with the church she founded was earlier this summer.
Raymond Hunthausen, Catholic archbishop who advocated for progressive causes, dies at age 96
The Vatican investigated his pastoral and administrative practices in the 1980s.