Briefly
President named honorary Kiowa member
Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry was inducted as an honorary member of the Kiowa Tribe April 2 at the OCU Native American Society Powwow.
Kiowa elder Bud Sahmaunt, former OCU athletic director, and David Wilson, superintendent of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and an OCU trustee, helped induct Henry.
"I am deeply honored to be named an honorary Kiowa," Henry said.
"We can all learn from the altruism of our great Indian nations, especially those in Oklahoma. As our greatest historian Dr. Angie Debo noted, the tribes have a ‘genius for collective effort.’"
During the ceremony, Henry read Kiowa poet N. Scott Momaday’s prayer from "In the Bear’s House."
Momaday previously wrote a poem honoring Henry, titled "To a Man Among Us," which Sahmaunt read at the ceremony.
The annual powwow celebrates OCU’s commitment to Oklahoma’s American Indians.
Missionary Marsha Alexander visiting in Oklahoma
Missionary Marsha Alexander, director of Asbury College in the Philippines, will be in Oklahoma through June 6 to visit her supporting churches.
The school, on the island of Anda in the northern Luzon Province of Pangasinan, has more than 400 students ranging from elementary level through college. It opened in 1947.
Rev. Alexander is an ordained deacon whose close connection to Oklahomans includes Chickasha-Epworth UMC. She also directed Manos Juntas Mexico, closely affiliated with Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission, more than five years.
She began her current assignment in the Philippines in 2010. Her missionary support code is 10772Z.
To arrange a visit, email Karen Distefano, Conference secretary of Global Ministries, okcsgm@gmail.com or 918-440-9213.
2 district offices move
The Heartland and Wichitas District Offices have relocated.
• The new address for Heartland is in Moore at 631 N. Broadway.
• The Wichitas staff moved to another space within the same building in Lawton: Suite B at 811 SW "B" Ave.
Phone and fax numbers are unchanged, according to District Administrators Stacey Sprayberry and Andrea Dollarhite.
Gaudreau among outstanding graduates
The Oklahoma City University Alumni Association honored Mary Hughes Gaudreau, a United Methodist deacon, and six more outstanding alumni during a special event April 23 on campus.
Rev. Gaudreau, Class of 1981, serves as director of emotional and spiritual care for the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, an interfaith group. She is responsible for that ministry by OCC in times of disaster. She especially has been training spiritual care responders engaged in long-term care for people affected by May 2013 storms in the state.
At OCU she earned a B.A., majoring in religion.
Saint Paul invites comments
Saint Paul School of Theology is seeking comments by Aug. 16 from the public in preparation for its evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. The institution will host a visit Sept. 19-20 with a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
Saint Paul has been accredited by the Commission since 1976. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.
Mail comments regarding the school to:
Public Comment on Saint Paul School of Theology
The Higher Learning Commission
230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411
The public may also submit comments at www.ncahlc.org.
From left are William Tonemah, OCU President Robert Henry, David Wilson, and Bud and Ron Sahmaunt.