James Howard Hill Jr. Wins Award
James Howard Hill Jr. (M.T.S. ’16) is the winner of the 2020 Rubem Alves Award for Theopoetics. Given by ARC: Arts | Religion | Culture, the award acknowledges the contributions of an emerging artist, scholar or activist whose work reflects a commitment to the role of imagination, art and embodiment in faith and reflection on religion. Hill is the fourth recipient of the award since it was established in 2016 in honor of the Brazilian theologian, author and teacher, Rubem Alves. Hill will speak and receive the award at the 2020 Theopoetics Conference in Chicago, March 20-22, 2020. ARC is a nonprofit organization founded in 1962 to support individuals and organizations that cultivate embodied and just ways of knowing and being through artistic and spiritual practices. Read more about the award here and about James Hill here.
Friends We Will Miss
Rev. Vernon Snider
Rev. Vernon Snider (M.Th. ’53), retired Great Plains Conference clergy, died February 18, 2020, at the age of 91. A United Methodist minister for more than 50 years, Rev. Snider served more than 20 churches. Survivors include his wife, Shirley, of Mankato, Kansas; sons Tim (Rita) Snider; Peter David (Milly) Snider; daughter Deb (Dave) Warne; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held February 22 at Harmony United Methodist Church in Mankato, Kansas. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made out to Harmony United Methodist Church or Mitchell County Resident Care Center in Beloit, Kansas, in care of the funeral home. Read the full obit here.
Dr. Earl Allen
Dr. Earl Allen (M.Th. ’63), a Perkins alum and civil rights leader, passed away February 16, 2020, at age 86. Allen was involved in Houston’s first lunch counter sit-in that helped integrate public places in Houston. He leaves behind his wife, Jeanette, sons and daughter, several grandchildren and a host of loving relatives and friends. A celebration of life for Dr. Allen took place February 22 at Windsor Village United Methodist Church. Read his full obit here.
Travis Eugene Jordan
Travis Eugene Jordan (M.Th. ’56, M.Div. ’70) passed away February 14, 2020. His career, which began in SMU’s Bridwell Library, spanned from June 1965 until he retired in October 1997. During his time as a theological librarian, teacher and administrator at SMU he established the Center for Media and Instructional Technology, which helps faculty members become better teachers through the use of technology. A service was held in February at Northaven United Methodist Church in Dallas.