The Rev. John Boone Trotti, who served as librarian at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va., from 1968-2002, has been named recipient of the 2012 Award for Excellence in Theological Education. He will be formally honored at the 220th General Assembly (2012) in Pittsburgh.

The award honors a person who has made an outstanding lifetime contribution to theological education in and for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Trotti, a graduate of Davidson (N.C.) College, received his B.D. from Union Presbyterian Seminary and his Masters in Library Science from the University of North Carolina. He has taught Old Testament or religion and literature at Union seminary, Yale and Randolph-Macon (now Randolph) College. Before coming to Union, he served as pastor of Altavista (Va.) Presbyterian Church.

In the theological library community, Trotti pioneered a program whereby books and periodicals not needed by the Union Seminary library were shared with theological schools all over the world. Over 29 years, the program contributed more than 135,000 volumes to libraries in 103 institutions in 49 countries and has sparked creation of the American Theological Book Redistribution Project wherein many libraries share print resources with their international counterparts. In retirement, Trotti is still involved in leadership of the programs.

In addition, Trotti has served as vice-president and president of the American Theological Library Association (1976-1978), president of the Presbyterian Library Association (1973-1974) and as a member of the board of directors of the Historical Foundation of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Montreat, N.C. (1979-1986.

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The International Association of Women Ministers (IAWM) has elected the Rev. Eunice Blanchard Poethig as president. The IAWM, founded in 1919, is an ecumenical, international organization promoting, encouraging, and celebrating the ordination of women. There are members in 22 countries belonging to a wide variety of denominations and Christian traditions.

Poethig, a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary with a Ph.D. from Union Thoelogical Seminary in New York, was ordained by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1979 and became associate executive of the Presbytery of Chicago focusing on congregational strategy and leadership development.

Previously she and her husband, the Rev. Richard Poethig, and their five children served as mission personnel for 15 years with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).

She also served as executive presbyter for the Presbytery of Western New York (1986-1993)  and as director of the Congregational Ministries Division of the PCUSA (1994-1997.)

In retirement in Chicago, she has continued to work for the full inclusion of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Presbyterians in the life of the church. The Poethigs are active in Lake View Presbyterian Church in Chicago.

The IAWM is recognized for its unique quarterly publication, The Woman’s Pulpit. Each issue brings news of women’s achievements, progress being made in policy toward women in denominations that do not yet ordain women, ordinations in women’s groups not recognized by their churches (such as the Roman Catholic Women Priests), and stories of the special ministries of women in their own communities.

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The Montreat Conference Center has called Lynn Tuggle Gilliland as vice-president for Development.  She begins Feb. 13, 2012, joining current development officer Bill Straughan, who will retire on April 30, 2012. . 

Gilliland currently serves as the executive director of first and second year experience at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va.  Her long association with the college has also included service as executive director of alumnae/i activities.

Gilliland holds an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina. She received her B.A. from Mary Baldwin College. She is an active member and ruling elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Staunton. 

Gilliland is married to her husband of 26 years, Bill Gilliland, and has two children, Mac, a senior at Davidson College and Matthew, a junior at The Asheville School.