alumni news & notes

class notes |

1990s

Septemmy Lakawa (MA’96) was named president of Jakarta Theological Seminary in 2019. She is the first female president of the 87-year-old seminary.

Tom Paine (MDiv’98) has retired from a 27-year career in the military, including many serving as a chaplain. He now serves as transitional pastor for Lakewood Presbyterian and First Presbyterian, Tenino, both in Washington.

2000s

Robert Lowry (MDiv’01) has been called as pastor to Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.

John Billingsley, husband of Marialice W. Billingsley (MDiv’01), died November 7, 2021.

Jason Cashing (MDiv’06) recently accepted a new call and stepped into the pulpit of The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, New York. Returning to his home area, he and his wife are “excited to be a part of this dynamic community of faith lived out, celebrating the kin-dom of God in their midst!”

Bill Cotman (MDiv’06) has been called as yoked pastor to First Presbyterian Church of Alpine and Marfa, Texas.

In February Juan Sinmiedo Herrera (MDiv’07) was installed as the moderator of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

2010s

Anna Bowden (MDiv’12) has been named assistant professor of New Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She will begin her service in the fall of 2022. Bowden has most recently served as visiting professor of biblical studies at Albion College in Albion, Michigan. Ellen and Chris Reyes (MATS’15) welcomed their son, Matthew Scott Reyes, born December 2, 2021.

2020s

Savannah Demuynck (MDiv’20) finished her residency and has been called as associate pastor for spiritual formation for Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

in memoriam |

J. Pat McClatchy (MDiv’53), January 13, 2022, Brownwood, Texas

Fred H. Babb (MDiv’59), December 24, 2021, Burleson, Texas

R. Clement Dickey Jr., (MDiv’59), January 12, 2022, Mathews, Virginia Carl Zimmerman (MDiv’62), February 18, 2022, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Leo M. Constantino (ThM’64), August 10, 2021, Chicago, Illinois

Lanis S. Smith (BD’70), January 14, 2021, McGregor, Texas

Murdoch H. McRae II (MDiv’77), May 13, 2021, Odenville, Alabama

Stephen W. Plunkett (MDiv’80), January 18, 2021, Denton, Texas James (Jim) Gooch (MDiv’82, DMin’93), February 14, 2022, Lampasas, Texas Charles E. Miller (MDiv’91), November 7, 2021, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Nilah Meier-Youngman (DMin’93), August 31, 2018, Anderson, Indiana Pat Clark (MDiv’95), February 3, 2022, Fulshear, Texas

Austin Seminary Association 2022 Awards for Service

Fred Tulloch and Martha Sadongei honored by the ASA

The Reverend Fred Tulloch (MDiv’62, ThM’69) has often stated that “giving up” is not something he believes in. He has certainly never given up a lifelong dedication in service to others as a pastor, counselor, and philanthropist.

From 1969-1987 he served as associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Dallas. It was during those years that Fred, along with fellow Austin Seminary alumni Bob Lively (MDiv’73), Jack Moore (MDiv’60), and John Anderson (ThM’53), encouraged and helped the congregation to start the Stew Pot. Over the years the Stew Pot has served more than 8 million meals to those in need. It has also launched dozens of other programs to address the needs of the hungry and homeless of Dallas County.

In 1988 Fred became chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and also started his own psychotherapist practice, specializing in marriage and family counseling. For eighteen years Fred devoted time two or three times a week to drive from his home in Grand Prairie to the Itasca campus of Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services (PCHAS), to provide counseling to the children. In 1987 Fred was named outstanding alumni at East Texas State University. He has been listed as a noteworthy minister, chaplain, and psychotherapist by Marquis Who’s Who, and he is a member of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (certified).

Congratulations to Fred, truly a faithful servant with a heart for those who are struggling.

The Reverend Martha Sadongei (MDiv’96) is an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma on her father’s side and of the Tohono O’odham Nation of southern Arizona on her mother’s side. This heritage formed her and she says, “I was reared with dual understandings of my cultural and Christian heritage, and God the Creator has gifted me with the knowledge that comes from each. First and foremost I am a pastor serving churches in Phoenix and in Livingston, Texas, and I have always been a teacher.”

Martha has worked within the PC(USA) to bring Native American issues to the forefront and to help address them. She recently encouraged her congregation (Central Presbyterian Church) to partner with Native Heath in Phoenix to help provide health services to those who don’t qualify for tribal health/hospital services. The church was instrumental in helping Native Health have space for walk-in vaccine clinics for COVID-19. Through workshops and podcasts Martha helps educate laity on what doing ministry here and now means for Native peoples and their European partners. Martha has also done presentations discussing EarthCare from a Native American perspective. She’s a co-editor and frequent contributor on Native American issues and theology and spirituality topics to the Church and Society Magazine and is a contributor to several other publications.

The ASA board appreciates the heritage Martha makes possible for others to understand and embrace and therefore recognizes her distinguished service. Congratulations and thank you, Martha!