Denise D. Kettering has been named as assistant professor of Brethren Studies. She will begin in this part-time position July 1, 2010.

Kettering received a masters degree in theological studies from the Candler School of Theology and a PhD from the University of Iowa in 2009. Her dissertation was entitled "Pietism and Patriarchy: Spener and Women in the Seventeenth-Century Pietist Movement." In 2002-2003 and again in 2009-2010, she worked in the Brethren Historical Library and Archives. She served as an adjunct professor at Bethany during the past academic year.

Julie Mader Hostettter, director of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, received a doctor of ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Va.

Malinda Berry, instructor in theological studies and director of the master of arts program, has written "Changing the Bulb and Turning on the Light: The Power of Personal Agency in Feminist Work” which will appear in the forthcoming Keeping the Light: Women of Faith: Scholarship, Activism, and the Next Generation. Her chapter entitled “The Gifts of an Extended Theological Table: MCC’s World Community Cookbooks as Organic Theologi” will be included in A Table of Sharing: Mennonite Central Committee and the Expanding Networks of Mennonite Identity.

Russell Haitch, associate professor of Christian education and director of the Institute for Ministry With Youth and Young Adults, gave a paper entitled “A Generation of Artists? Youth and the Language of Creativity” at the Association of Youth Ministry Educators. 

Tara Hornbacker, associate professor of ministry formation, presented a workshop at the Evangelical Association of Theological Field Educators Biennial Conference and was called to co-chair that association for the next two years. Her article “The Artful Practice of Testimony” has been published in Visions, the journal of the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm, associate professor of preaching and worship, gave a lecture at the International Bugenhagen Symposium on Preaching in Munich, Germany. The paper entitled “New Hermeneutics, New Homiletics, New Directions” will be published in an edited volume of presentations from the symposium.

Dan Ulrich, professor of New Testament studies, and Elaine Wainright are editing a volume of essays for the Matthew section of the Society of Biblical Literature. During his sabbatical leave next spring semester, Dan will focus his attention on his own book entitled New Testament Visions for Ministry.

Kendall Rogers, professor of historical studies, directed a cross-cultural study trip to Germany during the May intensive. While there, he and the group of students led a Love Feast celebration with their German hosts and colleagues and shared worship leadership on Pentecost Sunday at the Lutheran Church of Saint Mary. The congregation has worshiped in this church since the twelfth century and became Lutheran in 1525.

Scott Holland, professor of theology and culture and director of peace studies and cross-cultural studies, gave the Menno Simons Lectures at Bethel College in Kansas in fall 2009. The lectures, “Prophets, Poets, and Pragmatists: The Historic Peace Churches and Public Theology” will be published as a book. At the invitation of the World Council of Churches, Scott joined a circle of international and ecumenical theologians meeting in Bogota, Colombia, to write a manuscript entitled “An Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace."