faculty news & notes

The Reverend Bobbi Kaye Jones installed into Zbinden Chair

Photograph by Alison Riemersma

The installation of a faculty member into a named chair recognizes a faculty member’s distinctive contributions to a field of study, the importance of that field of study for theological education, and the Seminary’s affirmation of that faculty member as a scholar and teacher of the church. On April 29, Professor Bobbi Kaye Jones (MDiv’80) was installed as Professor in The Louis H. and Katherina S. Zbinden Distinguished Chair of Pastoral Ministry and Leadership.

Professor Jones was invited in 2019 to be the fourth holder of the Louis H. and Katherine S. Zbinden Distinguished Chair of Pastoral Ministry and Leadership. She teaches the practical areas of pastoral ministry: church administration, congregational leadership, stewardship, and liturgy.

An ordained minister in The United Methodist Church (UMC), Jones retired in 2018 from her appointment to Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas, where she served for six years. She was District Superintendent from 2008-2012, preceded by tenures in Austin and Corpus Christi United Methodist congregations. She served as senior pastor of St. John’s UMC in Austin (2001-2008), co-pastor of Grace UMC in Corpus Christi (1997-2001), senior associate pastor of First UMC, Austin (1984-1997), and associate pastor of Memorial UMC, Austin (1981-1983).

A graduate of Austin Seminary, Jones has been actively involved in all facets of her alma mater since earning her degree in 1980. She has been an adjunct faculty member (1995-2011) and served on the alumni association board (1998-2001) and board of trustees (2017-2019). She was named a Distinguished Alumna in 2004.

Jones’ ministry has extended to several state and local organizations such as Texas Freedom Network, Common Good Community Development, Freestore Austin, and The Ecclesiastes Project—for all of which she was a founding member—along with Campfire Organization of Central Texas, Imagine No Malaria, and Interfaith Action of Texas (iACT). She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin Plan II honors program.

faculty notes |

Gregory Cuéllar (Old Testament) will be an Academic Visitor at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Criminology from June 2021 to January 2022 where he will be conducting research for his next book, Religion in Immigration Detention: Securing Faiths in a State of Removal. Project description: In examining the role of religion in immigration detention, this project not only reveals the unsuspected tentacles of elite power but also the overlooked power of faith in freeing immigrants from inhumane capture and deportation.

Bridgett Green (New Testament) has been elected vice president for publishing for the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and editorial director of Westminster John Knox Press. She begins that new chapter of her career in January 2022.

Carolyn Helsel (preaching) preached on June 20 at Prairie Circle Unitarian Universalist Church in Grayslake, Illinois, a community northwest of Chicago, and she gave a presentation about her newest book, The ABCs of Diversity, to several public libraries in the Chicago area. Her article, “Spiritual Practices for AntiRacism,” appears in the August 2021 issue of Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts 55.2. She is the keynote speaker for the Rethinking Preaching Conference, August 20-21, 2021.

This summer Bobbi Kaye Jones (pastoral ministry and leadership) taught the Downtowners Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church, Austin.

David White (Christian education) gave the keynote address, “Tending the Fire at the Heart of the World—Beauty and Christian Formation,” at the Godly Play national conference on June 17.

board actions |

The Austin Seminary Board of Trustees took the following actions during the 2020-21 academic year: Reappointed Dr. Bridgett Green as assistant professor of New Testament.

Promoted Dr. Asante Todd (MDiv’06) to associate professor of Christian ethics.

Reappointed the Rev. Dr. Paul Hooker, associate dean for ministerial formation and advanced studies.

Reappointed the Rev. Dr. David W. Johnson, associate professor of church history and Christian spirituality.

Reappointed the Rev. Dr. Andrew Zirschky, director of the MAYM Nashville extension and research professor in youth ministry.

Approved a six-month sabbatical leave for Dr. Jennifer Lord, effective February 1, 2022.

Approved a six-month sabbatical leave for Dr. Suzie Park, effective August 1, 2022.

Accepted the sabbatical reports of the Rev. Dr. Timothy Lincoln, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Rigby, Dr. Asante Todd, and The Rev. Dr. David White.

Approved a search for a faculty position in Evangelism and Missions and a faculty position in Church History.

Endorsed the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

Approved a solar installation project and a plan to sell the duplex housing known as Mission Ranch and invest the proceeds into the Seminary’s endowment.

Approved a proposal to form a committee to develop renovation plans for Shelton Chapel. Approved a proposal to provide 100% tuition discounts and to create nine new full-ride fellowships (three per year) exclusively for students of color (see story page 4).