alumni news & notes

Richard D. “Dick” Gould (MDiv’71) celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination on June 6 with the Presbyterian congregation he now serves in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico.

class notes |

1950s

Pat Brandenburg, partner of John R. “Pete” Hendrick (MDiv’52), died April 10, 2021, Tucson, Arizona.

1970s

In April, the Parson’s Porch Press published a book translated by James Currie (MDiv’79; ThM’89), And God Spoke with His People (Sermons from the 1980s by an East German Pastor), written by Werner Krusche.

1980s

Stephen Taylor (MDiv’85) retired from the Church of Scotland. He and spouse, Gillian, continue to live in Scotland.

1990s

Dan Walker (MDiv’96) has been appointed interim parish associate for care at Webster Presbyterian Church, Webster, Texas, effective July 1, 2021.

2000s

Pete Seiferth (MDiv’01) has accepted a call to be interim senior pastor and head of staff at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Tucson, Arizona.

Kevin Downer (MDiv’06) has been called as pastor to First Church of Woodstock, a UCC congregation in Connecticut.

2010s

Jody Maas (MDiv’11) has been called as a chaplain for Total Hospice & Palliative Care in Fort Worth, Texas. In May,

Allie Utley (MDiv’13) earned the PhD in homiletics and liturgics from The Graduate Department of Religion of Vanderbilt University.

Layton Williams-Berkes (MDiv’14) married Billy Berkes, March 20, 2021; they reside in Charleston, South Carolina.

Chris Reyes (MATS’15) has accepted a call to be associate pastor of discipleship at Memorial UMC in Farmington, Missouri.

Brianna Benzinger-Luckevich (MDiv’16) is a pediatric chaplain at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.

Meagan Findeiss (MDiv’18) has been called to First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, as associate pastor for care and belonging.

Devon Border Reynolds (MDiv’19) has been called as pastor to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lawton / Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

in memoriam

Keith F. Nickle (MDiv’58), May 21, 2020, Brenham, Texas

James “Jim” Walter Sawyer (MDiv’65), April 1, 2021, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Carol S. Wood (MDiv’80), November 12, 2019

Ila Mayes (MDiv’86), March 24, 2020, Amarillo, Texas

Dean Pogue (MDiv’05), March 10, 2021, Big Canoe, Georgia

Tom Mitchell (MDiv’07), June 21, 2021, Austin, Texas

ordinations & commissions

Don Moore (MDiv’16), ordained as an elder in full connection in the UMC by the Central Texas Annual Conference, June 21, 2021.

Janine Zabriskie (MDiv’17), ordained into the PC(USA) at her current home church, Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, on behalf of Mission Presbytery. She serves as chaplain and child life specialist with the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Matt Edison (MDiv’18), commissioned as provisional elder in the UMC by Rio Texas Annual Conference, June 12, 2021. He is an associate pastor at University UMC, San Antonio, Texas.

Randy Knighten (MATS’18), commissioned as deacon in the UMC by Rio Texas Annual Conference, June 12, 2021. He is an associate pastor at St. John’s United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas.

Victoria (Vikki) Schwarz (MAMP’18), commissioned as deacon in the UMC by Rio Texas Annual Conference, June 12, 2021. She is director of music at Berkeley United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas, and resident composer at Austin Children’s Theater.

Matthew Cardona (MDiv’19), ordained as an elder in full connection in the UMC by Rio Texas Annual Conference. He is a discipleship pastor at Bee Creek United Methodist Church, Spicewood, Texas.

Andrew Frazier (MDiv’19), ordained by the Presbytery of Detroit on Sunday, March 8, 2020, at First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor, where he has been a pastoral resident (see page 4).

Curtis Davis (MDiv’20), commissioned as provisional elder in the UMC by Rio Texas Annual Conference, June 12, 2021. He is an associate pastor at Westlake United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas.

Jacqueline Griffin Freeman (MDiv’20), commissioned as provisional elder in the UMC by Rio Texas Annual Conference, June 12, 2021. She is pastor at St. Luke United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas.

Jason Surdy (MDiv’20), commissioned as provisional elder in the UMC by Rio Texas Annual Conference, June 12, 2021. He is an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Carrie Winebrenner (MDiv’20), ordained May 23, 2021 into the PC(USA) by Whitewater Valley Presbytery. She is completing a pastoral residency at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

New ASA board members elected

Following ASA Board elections on June 17, the following alumni are filling vacancies for the class of 2023: Sarah Hegar (MDiv’09) and James Morley (MDiv’88). Completing the class of 2024 are: Candi Cubbage (MDiv’89), David Gambrell (MDiv’98), Amy Litzinger (MATS’15), Carl McCormack (MDiv’95), Amy Sergent (MDiv’92), and Tony Spears (MDiv’15).

Submit your nominations for the 2022 ASA Awards Deadline: September 13 AustinSeminary. edu/asa-nominate