Alumni Updates

Alumni Updates and News

1900s

Raymond Guterman, DMin ’80

is the Interim Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Mariana, FL, since June 16, 2022.

Daniel Sansbury, ’81 started his new ministry as Pastor at Limestone Presbyterian Church, Gaffney, SC, on March 16, 2020.

Mark Jumper, MDiv ’82 recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of his commissioning as an Ensign in the Navy Chaplain Corps. The commissioning oath was administered by CTS President J. Davison Philips in his office. Dr. Philips served as a Navy Chaplain in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Mark retired from the Navy in 2006, then pastored for seven years in Chicagoland. He is now an Associate Professor and Director of Chaplaincy and Military Affairs at the Regent University School of Divinity in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Kathryn (Kate) Thoresen, ’84 has served for over 30 years on staff of several congregations in the Detroit area. She pursued a DMin in Spiritual Formation through SFTS and led numerous retreats in Michigan and other states. She helped to coordinate a CTS satellite program in the Certificate in Spiritual Formation at Skyline Camp and Retreat Center, MI. Kathryn and her husband, Tom, became licensed foster parents. They founded the all-volunteer grassroots network known as the Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care. She is the state-wide director of this movement which seeks to increase awareness of the traumas of our kids in care and educate about what happens when they age out. Currently she serves as a Parish Associate at First Presbyterian Church Birmingham, MI. This congregation generously provides the support needed to communicate with congregations of all faiths throughout Michigan. It also offers a foster closet which coordinates in-kind and financial donations to meet urgent needs for anyone involved in foster/adoptive or kinship care.

E. Jones Doughton,’93 is the incoming President of the Mesquite Rotary Club in Mesquite, Texas, as of July 1, 2022.

Tom Watkins, MDiv ’94 is the Senior Pastor at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC, since February 6, 2022.

Joe Brice, MDiv ’94 is Parish Associate of Pastoral Care at First Presbyterian Church Marietta, GA, since May 6, 2022.

Meghan Gurley, MATS ’97 is an independent minister and owner for 13 years of Beyond I Do, a wedding and marriage ministry in Atlanta, GA.

Richard Floyd, MDiv ’99 has been called as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Hickory, NC, as of September 6, 2022.

2000s

Andrew Casto-Waters, MDiv

’01 accepted a new position at Columbia Theological Seminary as Columbia Connector, in the Enrollment & Student Affairs team, on March 25, 2022.

Dorie Griggs, MDiv ’02 moved from a volunteer chaplain with the Roswell (GA) Fire Department to part-time chaplain on May 2, 2022. Dorie continues to serve as a PRN chaplain for Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

Mark Miller, MDiv ’02 graduated with his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, MO, on May 20, 2022. The title of his work is “BAPTISMAL IDENTITY AND THE MULTICULURAL CHURCH: Intersectionality, Black Liberation Theology, and the Original Baptismal Creed in an Intentional Multicultural/ Multiracial Congregation.”

Elizabeth Cole Goodrich, MDiv

’03 is co-owner of a general interest, independent bookstore called Thank You Books, located in Birmingham, AL.

Wes Brandon, MDiv ’03

transferred from PCUSA to Church of Scotland in 2018. Became the new minister at The Border Kirk in Carlisle in January 2022.

Hope (Italiano) Lee, MDiv ’03 was called as the Lead Pastor of Vienna Presbyterian Church—the largest PC(USA) congregation in Virginia —since October 2021. There are currently only 4 women Lead Pastors of congregations more than 1600+ members.

Rebekah LeMon, MDiv ’03 was called as Senior Pastor, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA, on May 11, 2022.

Jan Nolting Carter, DMin ’04

specializes in Transitional Ministry. She is now serving her eighth church in a transitional capacity, First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA. She works with congregational systems to explore history and patterns of decisionmaking as they discern God’s promised future. Jan also serves as Co-Leader of Pittsburgh Seminary’s Art of Transitional Ministry Program. During the pandemic, the team worked to move the residential program to an online format using a reverse classroom model and an emphasis on cultivating online community. Currently the team is developing an Advanced Transitional Ministry model. Jan has two children: Seth (20) and Sarah (14).

Shelton Latham, MDiv ’05 joined Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation as the foundation’s president in January 2022.

Meghan Foote, MDiv ’06

graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction and Graphic Narrative from the MileHigh MFA program at Regis University in Denver, CO, on January 8, 2022. Tricia Dillon Thomas, ’06 and Kate McGregor Mosely, ’06 have teamed together to co-create Soul Ventures International. They curate travel for women, by women, with the intention to foster connection to ourselves, other women, and God. For more info: https://www. soulventuresintl.com.

Sharon Junn, ’08 has accepted the position of Associate Director of Spirituality Programs in Columbia Seminary’s Center for Lifelong Learning, as of July 5, 2022.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Turner, MDiv

’09 is the Interim Pastor at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA, since March 2022. Betsy and her husband reside in Atlanta with their three children.

2010s

Leigh Ann Minn, MDiv ’10 was installed as Pastor of Pearisburg Presbyterian Church, Pearisburg, VA on May 22, 2022.

Wylie Hughes, MDiv ’10 is the Pastor of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church in Orchard Park (just outside Buffalo), NY, since February 2022.

Richard Carr, MDiv ’11 joined Upstate Forever in 2021 as Land Conservation Specialist. He previously served as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, SC.

Kristin Stroble, MDiv ’11 is Pastor at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, East Lansing, MI, since January 2018. Rob White, MDiv ’12 graduated with a DMin from McCormick Theological Seminary through the Association for Chicago Theological Seminaries on June 2022. His focus was in preaching.

Shavon Starling-Louis, MDiv ’13

was installed as Pastor, Memorial Presbyterian Church, Charlotte Presbytery, on April 24, 2022. She was also elected to serve as co-moderator of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. on June 18, 2022.

Jeromey Howard, MDiv ’15 is the Pastor of both First Presbyterian Church of Montgomery, NY, (since Oct 2017) and Hopewell Presbyterian Church of Thompson Ridge, NY, (since Feb 1, 2022).

Betsy Stow, MDiv ’18 has recently accepted a call to Woodstock Presbyterian Church, in Woodstock, GA, as a parttime Stated Supply Pastor. Betsy continues in her role as the Assistant Director of Public Services in the John Bulow Campbell Library at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Melva Lowry, MDiv ’18 is Assistant Director of Youth Ministry at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and co-director of Asheville Poverty Initiative, one of Grace Covenant’s Ministry Partners, in Asheville, NC, since March 2022.

Sarah Bumgarner, MDiv ’18

accepted a new position at Columbia Theological Seminary as a Columbia Connector in the Enrollment & Student Affairs team, on March 1, 2022.

Rachel Matthews, MDiv ’18

and her husband had their first child, Benjamin, in March of 2020, and their second baby, Maria Willie Mathews, born June, 2nd. They recently moved to Birmingham where Rachel began as the Assistant Director for Development at Living River: A Retreat on the Cahaba. Their family enjoys being outside as much as possible and exploring the places they live.

Keith Thompson, MDiv ’19 is Temporary Associate Pastor at The Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC, since November 2021.

2020s

Anna Grace Claunch, MDiv ’20

has been called as Associate Pastor at Larchmont Avenue Church (PCUSA) in Larchmont, NY, and will be ordained and installed at Larchmont Avenue Church on September 18, 2022. Nell Herring, MDiv ’21 began her new call in June 2022 as the Mission Specialist for Volunteer Ministries at Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Nell is employed at the Presbyterian Center and is seeking validation for this position at an upcoming examinations commission meeting.

Sarah (Macy) Ruple, MDiv ’21

married Sarah Bozai Ruple on October 9, 2021. Macy is currently Associate Pastor of Copper Creek Church, in Champaign, IL, since October 1, 2021.

Rachel Sutphin, MDiv ’21 received a call as Pastor for Families at First Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, VA, since June 2022. Rachel’s focus is programs and activities involving children, youth, and their families.

John Daniel DeBevoise, MDiv ’22

received a call as Associate Pastor of Youth and Campus Ministries at First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg, VA. John Daniel will be ordained at Park Lake Presbyterian Church, Orlando, FL, on July 9, 2022. Marissa Carver, MDiv ’22 is the Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Ormewood Church, Atlanta, GA, since June 2022.

Lauren Scott, MDiv ’22 received a call as Associate Pastor for Youth and Families at Riverside Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, FL, as of July 1, 2022.

Mary Kate Sykes, MDiv ’22

started with Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA, October 2021, as their Ministry Coordinator for Church Programs. Mary Kate will provide administrative support for Adult Education, Spiritual Formation, and Small Groups.

Paulo Mendez, DMin ’22 is the Organizing Pastor for Living Torch Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Dunwoody, GA.

In Memoriam

Daniel F. Kendrick’92 ..........August 29, 2014 Edwin G. Townsend BD ’58 ........ July 11, 2021 Jasper N. Keith STD ’79 ..........July 27, 2021 Wayne W. Hoffmann BD ’62 .September 7, 2021 Jerry F. Conner BD ’63 ...... October 11, 2021 William J. Holmes MDiv ’73 .. October 28, 2021 Robert Piephoff BD ’67 .... November 10, 2021 Eugene B. Norris BD ’59 ... November 21, 2021 James P. Dickson MDiv ’92 . December 19, 2021 George W. Jones (non-degree) ......January 28, 2022 William M. Schotanus BD ’53 .. February 4, 2022 James J. Therrell MDiv ’71 ... February 16, 2022 Susan E. Bennett MDiv ’97 .. February 18, 2022 J. P. (Phil) Noble BD ’45 ....... March 12, 2022 Mary B. Love MDiv ’75 .......... April 13, 2022 Joseph W. Berry BD ’66 ........ April 26, 2022 Hyun W. Lee MDiv ’13 .............April 2022 Julian R. Cameron (Diploma) ’65 ...... June 21, 2022 Nancy C. Kinzer MDiv ’11 ....... June 28, 2022

WELL DONE THY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT

The Rev . James Phillips “Phil” Noble

The Rev. Dr. James Phillips Noble, 100, died Saturday, March 12, 2022 at home in Decatur, Georgia. He was born on August 18, 1921, at Learned, Mississippi, the son of William Alexander Noble and Ida Pecquet Phillips Noble. He was married to Betty Pope “Popesy” Scott of Decatur.

After graduating from King College (now King University) in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts, Noble earned a Master of Divinity in 1945 from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, where he later served 26 years on the Board of Trustees.

The couple served first at two churches in McDonough, Georgia — McDonough Presbyterian Church and Timberridge Presbyterian Church (1945-47) — and then at Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina (1947-1956). They then arrived at Anniston’s First Presbyterian Church (1956-1971), about five years before the KKK firebombed the Freedom Riders bus on Mother’s Day 1961.

A year or two after the firebombing, two Black ministers were searching Anniston for what one would later describe as “some brave white soul” they could talk to about the barriers facing Black people in the town. One white minister after another refused to sit down with them — until Noble invited them to his office at First Presbyterian.

The three men prayed together. They cried together. And the Rev. Nimrod Q. Reynolds of Seventeenth Street Baptist Church and the Rev. William McClain of Haven Chapel Methodist Church believed they had found the “one white Christian in Anniston.” It was nearly a half-century before Noble was able to sit down to chronicle the Ku Klux Klan firebombing of a Freedom Riders bus in 1961 and the effect it had on Anniston, and on him, but, Noble was transformed by the violence against Black people he witnessed in the 1960s, becoming one of the first white leaders in Anniston, Alabama, to actively support desegregation. “The Christian faith required that we deal with these issues in the name of Christ, for the sake of a people who had suffered unjustly for too long,” he wrote in Beyond the Burning Bus.

Revs. Noble, Reynolds and McClain are credited with launching desegregation in Anniston. They helped bring about a merger of the white and Black ministerial associations, eventually wielding enough influence to persuade the city in May 1963 to create the biracial Human Relations Council. President John F. Kennedy praised the action in a letter to city commissioners, saying the Anniston council should serve as a model for other cities. After serving at First Presbyterian, Noble studied for a year at Cambridge University, England, and then became minister at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, in Charleston, South Carolina (19721982).

Dr. Walter Brueggemann, the prominent Old Testament scholar, likened Noble to “Moses and his ilk” — people whose lives were suddenly “taken up in a struggle for the things of God.” Noble was “front and center in the struggle for racial justice, a struggle he pursued with grace, wisdom, and passion,” Brueggemann wrote in praising Beyond the Burning Bus.

Phil Noble is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Betty Pope Scott Noble, and a son, Milton Scott Noble. He is survived by a daughter, Dr. Betty Scott Noble of Decatur, and a son, J. Phillips Noble Jr. (Nancy Madden), two grandchildren, James Phillips Noble, III, and Lizzie Madden Noble, all of Charleston, SC, and an informally adopted daughter, Jean Cleveland of Greenville, SC. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

This obituary was excerpted from Presbyterian Mission. The full article can be found at https://www. presbyterianmission.org/story/jphillips-noble