UC Santa Cruz has named Denise Dee Denton as its new chancellor; Denton has a doctorate in electrical engineering, and is the first open lesbian to hold such a post in the UC system. Her partner of seven years, Gretchen Kalonji, teaches engineering at the University of Washington, serving in the same department of which Denton was dean.
What I like best about the coverage of her hiring is how little attention was paid to her sexual identity. Clearly, it was not the reason she was hired at UCSC; rather, she seems to have been chosen for her skills as a fundraiser.
Even in dark times, progress abounds.
On an unrelated note (that I am determined to stick in the same post), Lee at Verbum Ipsum has an interesting piece on defining what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century. Here’s an excerpt:
…it seems clear from the New Testament that part of God’s purpose is to create a new community of people who bear witness to the victory and reign of Christ. There is no being a Christian in isolation from that community. Alfred North Whitehead may have thought that religion is what man does with his solitude, but following Jesus can only be done with others. This means the church is an essential part of the picture. Again, what exactly this entails in terms of church structure, authority, etc. is a matter of debate.
So, to sum up, my (again, somewhat arbitrary) definition of a Christian is someone who confesses Jesus as Lord, not just of my life ("my personal Lord and Savior," etc.) but of all creation, and is part of the community that seeks to witness to his reign.
Bold emphasis is mine. Good on you, Lee.
Hm. Didn’t say whether the UC system offered a job for her partner as part of the deal.
Hey - thanks for the link, Hugo! And a very Merry (non-individualistic) Christmas to you and yours! ;)