alumni news & notes

class notes |

1960s

Linda Williams, wife of John L. Williams (MDiv’65), died February 22, 2021, in Skillman, New Jersey. John and Linda were married for fifty-one years.

2000s

Last May, Margaret Talbot (MDiv’09) earned the PhD in biblical interpretation from Brite Divinity School. Her dissertation was: Bat-Yiphtach And Her Bleeding Body: A Child-Oriented Reading Of Judges 11:29–40.

2010s

Melanie Tucker (MDiv’11) earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Antioch University in December of 2018. She currently serves as a chaplain at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital as she works on her certification for chaplaincy and license as a marriage and family therapist. She recently married Sean Butler and reports they, “love playing music and singing together, golfing, camping, and going to the beach.” Sean’s son joined Melanie’s five children as part of the family.

Scott Spence (MDiv’12) has been called as pastor to Somers Congregational United Church of Christ in Somers, Connecticut.

Charles and Cynthia Eschliman Mood (MDiv’15) welcomed Cyrus Alexander Mood (above) into the world on Thursday, February 18, 2021.

Andrew Lemlyn (MDiv’16) has been called as pastor to First Presbyterian Church, Seguin, Texas.

Christopher Kennedy (DMin’17) has written a book on spiritual warfare, Equipped: The Armor of God for Everyday Struggles, Concordia Publishing House.

Jackson Hayes Kennedy entered the world on February 25. He is the son of Danielle and Trevor Kennedy (MDiv’17).

Adam Anderson (MDiv’18) has been called as pastor to South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, Florida.

ordinations & commissions |

Allie Utley (MDiv’13) was ordained by Redwoods Presbytery on January 31, 2021. She serves as interim chaplain at San Francisco Theological Seminary and will become the Liturgy and Practical Theology Faculty Member at Phillips Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on July 1.

Jennifer Hallberg (MDiv’19) has been called to be the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jasper, Florida; she was ordained by the Presbytery of St. Augustine on January 10, 2021.

Madeline Hart-Andersen (MDiv’19) was ordained by Presbytery of Twin Cities Area on November 1, 2020. She has been called as pastor to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Alex Pappas (MDiv’19) was ordained by Grace Presbytery, December 6, 2020. She has been called as associate pastor to First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, Louisiana.

Savannah D. Demuynck (MDiv’20) was ordained September 27, 2020, by Charlotte Presbytery. She is the pastoral resident at Meyers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

in memoriam |

Floyd G. Kinser (MDiv’52), December 6, 2020, Fort Worth, Texas

Charles J. Freeland III (MDiv’65, DMin’79), June 26, 2020, Owasso, Oklahoma

Sam Lanham III (MDiv’68), November 29, 2020, Salado, Texas

Lonnie H. Dillard Jr. (MDiv’71), December 18, 2020, Austin, Texas

Dick Dodds (DMin’80), February 18, 2021, Peachtree City, Georgia

Richard Gilmer (MDiv’87), April 29, 2020, Paris, Texas

Jim Gresham (MDiv’02), November 27, 2020, Houston, Texas

In this time of Covid-19, presbyteries have gotten creative with the ritual laying on of hands during the Ordination Service: above, Alex Pappas, ordained by Grace Presbytery in Dallas and Lex Allum, ordained by the Presbytery of Detroit.

Austin Seminary Association 2021 Awards for Service

Cindy Kohlmann and Steve Miller honored with ASA Awards

Cindy Kohlmann (MDiv’99)

The Reverend Cindy Kohlmann (MDiv’99) was elected Co-Moderator for the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 2018, a role in which she served as ambassador, visionary, teacher, and leader for the entire denomination, taking her passion to places both foreign and domestic.

While in seminary, Cindy served in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a chaplain candidate. Discerning a call to parish ministry, she was ordained in 1999 and called to pastor the New Jersey Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, Ohio. In 2006, she was called to Clinton Presbyterian Church in Massachusetts where she helped the church become multicultural in worship, leadership, and fellowship, welcoming immigrants from West Africa and Brazil into all aspects of the church’s ministry. In 2010, Cindy added a temporary position with the Presbytery of Northern New England and two years later was asked to stay on in the newly designed role of resource presbyter. In 2015 Cindy began a full-time position shared between the Presbyteries of Boston and Northern New England. Her ascent to denominational leadership came through her passionate work there, leading congregations to be more affirming and inclusive as well as helping them envision how congregations can meet the multicultural world around them. She has a passion for justice issues and has been at the forefront advocating for churches and congregants fearful of painful decisions surrounding immigration.

Cindy recently began her new call in New Castle Presbytery as their connectional presbyter and stated clerk, and she has been admitted into Austin Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program. She and her husband, the Rev. Eric Markman, live in Wilmington, Delaware.

Steve Miller (MDiv’15)

The Reverend Steve Miller (MDiv’15) is founder of United States Christian Leadership Organization. Since graduating from Austin Seminary, Steve has demonstrated his commitment to living out his faith and calling.

Steve created and gives leadership to the HBCU Truth & Reconciliation African American Oral History Project which received nationwide recognition for recording and preserving the stories of African Americans and their experiences of racism. His project collaborates with historically black colleges and universities along with other colleges with seminaries. Stories are professionally archived, and Miller has plans to publish a book with Baylor University Press. Through his work in racial reconciliation, he has been recognized as an Ashoka Fellow and interviewed by Forbes and Christianity Today magazine.

In 2019 Steve worked to organize an impactful and effective trip to the United States/Mexico border for hundreds of clergy, engaging them in meaningful dialogue around the issue of immigration and the church’s response. Steve is amplifying the voice of the church in a time when society is listening for a voice of reason, morality, and justice.

Steve resides in Mt. Enterprise, Texas, with his wife, Kim, and their two children.