People
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.
Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican interfaith leader, dies at age 75
In a decade in the post, he built relationships of respect with leaders of many religious groups.
Fred W. Meuser, Lutheran theologian and leader, dies at age 94
Meuser, a scholar of Martin Luther and American Lutheran history, also served on a multidenominational council and as a seminary president.
Daniel Lehmann to be first Jewish president of Graduate Theological Union
The consortium in Berkeley, California, includes research centers and seminaries of multiple faith traditions—but has been previously led by Christians.
Beth LaNeel Tanner becomes dean at New Brunswick Theological Seminary
She will continue as professor of Old Testament at the school, one of two Reformed Church in America seminaries.
Fidon Mwombeki to lead All Africa Conference of Churches
Mwombeki, a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, will head the largest association of Protestant, Orthodox, and indigenous churches in Africa.
After a fire destroyed his life’s work, an artist renews quest to paint Torah
Yoram Raanan lost hundreds of paintings. But from high-quality prints that remained, Meira Raanan created a book, Art of Revelation: A Visual Encounter with the Jewish Bible.
Since before #MeToo, Boz Tchividjian has held abusers in church accountable
Tchividjian, a grandson of Billy Graham, founded GRACE as the Catholic abuse scandal was emerging in the early 2000s—alerting Protestants to the issue in their churches.
King of Jordan wins Templeton Prize for fostering Muslim, interfaith cooperation
The Templeton foundation praised Abdullah II for building on "the power of principled pluralism."
Theodore McCarrick charged with sexual abuse
Catholic officials required the retired archbishop to stop ministry activities. McCarrick maintained his innocence.
Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Cindy Kohlmann become PCUSA comoderators
The "bold, unapologetic women" will share the second most important position in the 1.4 million–member denomination for two years.
Beverly Lapp will be vice president, academic dean of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
The school's board of directors praised her “exceptional background in pedagogy.”
Philip Wingeier-Rayo will be academic dean of Wesley Theological Seminary
Wingeier-Rayo is a fourth-generation missionary, having spent 15 years in Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Rio Grande Valley.
Alice Hunt to lead AAR as Jack Fitzmier retires
The American Academy of Religion is committed to helping its members face an uncertain field, the leaders said.
Alton B. Pollard III to lead Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
The scholar of religion and culture will become president in September.