Windows Winter 2011

WINTER 2011

LOOKING OUTWARD

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The President’s Preaching and Speaking Engagements January 3-8, Host, Annual Meeting of the Moveable Feast, Austin Seminary January 16, Preacher, Westminster PC, Austin January 30, Preacher, First PC, Covington, Georgia February 10, Evening with the President, Midland, Texas February 13, Preacher, Sunday, First PC, Santa Fe, New Mexico February 16, Evening with the President, Marble Falls, Texas February 27, Preacher, Preston Hollow PC, Dallas March 8, Partnership Lunch, Little Rock, Arkansas March 13, Preacher, Hope PC, Austin March 27, Preacher, Sunday Morning, First PC, Conway, Arkansas March 31, Evening with the President, Tyler, Texas April 10, Preacher, First PC, Temple, Texas April 13, Partnership Lunch, Shreveport, Louisiana

epending on who you listen to, the Protestant mainline in general, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in particular, is either (a) going to Hell in a handbasket as one year after another yields new depressing statistics about our membership losses, organizational dysfunction, decline in revenue, and other institutional challenges, or (b) experiencing new winds of the Holy Spirit blowing across our people and congregations— blowing away old certainties and entitlements, and blowing in new possibilities signaling what may finally be discerned, beyond our lifetimes maybe, as another Reformation. In my work, I encounter almost daily those who believe fervently that Option A is in full force and want to know what I and other church leaders are going to do about it, as well as those who are certain that Option B is happening all around us and beg me and others to kindly get out of the way. This interpretive challenge is simply the way it is (and Christians have been through such transitions before) when momentous things are happening and we’re not sure, exactly, what they are and what to make of them and what we will look like when they have done their work.

Two things are for sure: the church is changing, and quickly; and Jesus Christ is still the head of the church. This means that, in spite of the misplaced anxiety that tempts us to conclude that “it’s just us down here” and thus to step forth with acts of premature heroism as those who would “save” the church, it is more likely that our Lord is reminding us once again to “be not anxious” and to search instead, amidst the altars of the past, for the flame and not the ashes.

This issue of Windows seeks to explore, non-anxiously, some of this new terrain in which we find ourselves. Alumna Carol Howard Merritt has written and spoken extensively on the nature of the landscape into which we are now journeying, and what she has to say about it in her lead article is fundamentally more challenging—even encouraging—than frightening. Tom Are Jr., pastor of one of our communion’s largest congregations and vice-chair of Austin Seminary’s Board of Trustees, is a leader in a refreshing new conversation going on among numerous Presbyterian clergy and laypeople which is seeking to apprehend the “Next Church,” and he writes from a hopeful perspective about what that church may, and may not, be. Numerous other friends and alums offer glimpses of newness sprouting up in surprising ways and places among the people of God. In sum, these various contributions leave me more expectant than anxious.

I’m left to conclude, thankfully, that God is not finished with God’s church! I hope you will conclude from this issue that for Austin Seminary, as with the church, the best days are ahead of us!

We thank you for your support of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and we look forward to welcoming you warmly when you get back to campus—hopefully in 2011. Meanwhile, know of our best wishes for a blessed New Year.

Faithfully yours, Theodore J. Wardlaw President

CONTENTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Cassandra C. Carr, Chair Karen C. Anderson Thomas L. Are Jr. Susan Beaird F. M. Bellingrath III Elizabeth Christian Joseph J. Clifford James G. Cooper Marvin L. Cooper James B. Crawley Consuelo Donahue (MDiv’96) Elizabeth Blanton Flowers G. Archer Frierson Richard D. Gillham Walter Harris Jr. Bruce G. Herlin Roy M. Kim J Carter King III (MDiv’70) James H. Lee (MDiv’00) Michael L. Lindvall Catherine O. Lowry Blair R. Monie Lyndon L. Olson Jr. B. W. Payne David Peeples Jeffrey Kyle Richard Cynthia L. Rigby Teresa Chávez Sauceda (MDiv’88) Anne Vickery Stevenson Karl Brian Travis John L. Van Osdall Sallie Sampsell Watson (MDiv’87) Elizabeth Currie Williams

Trustees Emeriti Stephen A. Matthews Max Sherman Louis Zbinden

2 - 13 Refor med (And always in need of being reformed.)

2

A new look @ being church BY

5 6 8

CAROL HOWARD MERRITT

Connexion House Ministries BY JOSH GAHR The Vine BY TREB PRAYTOR The “Social Media” Hour CHRISTOPHER HARRIS What Next? BY TOM ARE JR. BY

12 14

Breaking Bread Together BY

16 22 23 24

MELISSA WIGINTON

Community news Faculty news Development news Alumni/ae news To read or add your hope for the future of the church, go here: www.austinseminary.edu/hope W I N D OW S Winter 2011 Volume 126

Number 1

EDITOR Randal Whittington

CONTRIBUTORS Jack Barden Shuhan Chan Nancy Reese Allie Utley

Publisher & Mailing Statement Windows is published three times each year

by Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

ISSN 2056-0556 Non-profit bulk mail permit no. 2473

Austin Seminary Windows Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary 100 E. 27th St. Austin, TX 78705-5797 phone: 512-404-4808 e-mail: windows@austinseminary.edu fax: 512-479-0738 www.austinseminary.edu

Theological Education Fund (1% Plan)

The theological schools of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) no longer receive funding from the basic mission budget of the General Assembly. Churches are asked to contribute 1% of their operating budgets to the fund, which is then distributed to the seminaries.

Reformed.

A new look @ being 2

A

And always in need of being reformed.

BY CAROL HOWARD MERRITT s we think of our particular landscape as church leaders, it’s help-

ful to remember the stories that sustain us. We remember Moses, who led people wandering through the wilderness for

decade after decade. He kept pointing to the hori-

zon and letting people know that there was milk and honey just beyond that dry sand. Even though all they could see was desert, Moses filled their minds with the Promised Land. As the sun set, I imagine him sitting down by the fire and describing to all who could hear his voice how sweet and sticky the honey would be and how the milk would be heavy with fat. The taste would almost be on their lips as the descendants of Abraham and Sarah dreamed of giving a satisfying drink to their children. Moses was a leader who was called to a wondrous promise and he led his people to join him in the journey.

church WINDOWS / Winter 2011

The Reverend Carol Howard Merritt (MDiv’98) is associate pastor of Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. A regular contributor to The Huffington Post and host of God Complex Radio, she is the author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation (Alban, 2007) and Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation (Alban, 2010). Portions of this essay were taken from Reframing Hope with the permission of the publisher.

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Reformed.

We recall Esther, the young woman who was different. They had a hope swelling up in them that groomed as a beauty for the king’s harem, though enabled them to lead their people to salvation. They I’m not so sure that becoming the king’s wife was could look at their changing landscapes and wake up such a great promotion for her. Esther couldn’t even to God’s work stirring among them. These men and enter her husband’s presence without fear for her women testify to the creative power of God, the God life. This man maintained that it was his job to keep who speaks to us in dreams, and then wakes us up to his queen oppressed so that all the women of the live those visions out. And in a time when our kingdom would live in subjugation to their husmouths feel full of dry desert, God calls us to that bands. Yet, even in the midst of this brutal reality, same hope. God invites us to taste honey. even when she was subject to the cruelest forms of As church leaders, it seems that many of us are tyranny, Esther began to see herself as the savior of feeling parched. In some congregations, the ecoher people. This woman, who ought to have had her nomic crisis has turned our communities upside spirit and will crushed, had so much prophetic down. We are faced with difficult decisions about imagination that she our ministries and our staffs. learned to see herself as a We are looking at our shifting great liberator. landscapes, wondering where Of course, our God is leading us. Yet, as we thoughts turn to Mary, point to our own horizons, This is a moment of this young teenager, we know God has placed us looking down at her here.

We can sense that creinspiration for our swelling belly, knowing ative presence, the work of that if anyone knew the Holy Spirit, swelling churches, denominations, about her secret, they within us and among us, givand seminaries, and we would gather around her ing us a new sense of who we in an angry mob. They are.

This is a moment of can see that in the would call her names, inspiration for our churches, pick up stones, and then denominations, and seminarordinary lives of our faith, they would throw them ies, and we can see that in the we are being called to a at her, as hard as they ordinary lives of our faith, we could, until her brown are being called to a great great hope. skin turned black and hope. blue, and she would What is shifting in our crumple to the ground, wilderness? What sort of lifeless. Mary must have change is happening on the played that scene in her horizon? Where is our hope? mind a hundred times, As I study, research, and write about generational haunted by the legal ramifications of her condition. changes and cultural transformations, I see three And yet, even in the midst of this threat upon her major shifts occurring—how we form communities, life, Mary looked down at those swollen ankles and how we communicate with one another, and how itchy belly and sensed that the fruit of her womb we tell our stories. Watching how faithful commuwould become her salvation. She was the most nities respond to these transitions gives me great blessed among all women. hope.

Moses, Esther, and Mary—and we could go on.

The pages of our biblical narratives are heavy with Forming communities women and men, who, even in the most difficult As I was sipping coffee in our Courtyard Room after circumstances, envisioned something completely the service, Al, a congregant in his seventies, began 4

And always in need of being reformed.

Connexion House Ministries

By Josh Gahr

Two blocks off the main artery that runs through the St. Johns Neighborhood in Austin, Texas, is a community house. It comprises three women, previously unknown to each other, who sensed they ought to live and practice their faith in community. In the span of two weeks the three are hashing through life together: attempting to live a life of friendship, shared meals, prayerful support, and worship.

Four blocks northeast, a household of six college friends venture beyond being mere roommates. Two months after forming, they now join together in prayer at regular intervals and give their home over to hospitality as an open space to serve the neighborhood.

Ten blocks northwest are two more communities, rooted in apartment complexes where married couples and individuals have clustered. The vision? Micro-neighborhoods that embrace Christian practices to overcome the sense of being partitioned by apartment life.

These communities and many others like them comprise a scattered network of connection houses founded by dedicated Christian laypeople and operated on a local scale. Connection houses are invigorating neighborhoods and leavening churches in Austin and in other cities across the country.

Connexion House, Inc. (CXH) is a ministry based in Austin, Texas, which comes alongside individuals and nascent Christian communities, endeavoring to offer support, guidance, and a network of resources. The connection house, which is the centerpiece of our ministry, is the short-hand term we use to describe a community housing option provided for Christians. Connection houses are Christ-centered households; intentional residential communities that provide a real context—a seedbed—for Christian practice. Unlike more traditional ministries, CXH tends to the seedlings by tending to the seedbed, aiming to provide a context in which discipleship must flourish. We have borrowed a form so ancient and tried by the church that it has often seemed novel: community.

Most essentially, CXH is a ministry of discipleship. We share a common goal with other church ministries, to cultivate faithful and coherent disciples of Jesus Christ.

Think early church meets cooperative housing.

Think cenobitic monasticism meets urban neighborhood.

Think Calvin’s Geneva on the household scale.

We ask three things of connection houses: they draft a clearly stated and simple rule for their community house, they meet periodically to deal openly with house business, and they gather regularly to share meals. Once established, communities receive facilitated discussions, visioning, and mediation sessions from CXH. Our small staff of clergy and tentmakers currently manage one CXH-owned property that has supported several iterations of community since 2004. We have also found property owners who are eager to establish management agreements with our organization, recognizing the benefit of having responsible and community-minded individuals inhabiting their properties. CXH staff also actively supports the life of connection houses through

Continued on page 11

Josh Gahr (MDiv’08) is director of Connexion House and editor of The Common Voice.

WINDOWS / Winter 2011

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Reformed.

The Vine

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By Treb Praytor verybody has a story. All of our stories are filled with smiles, tears, triumph, and heartache. They have heroes, and friendship, villains, and betrayal. While none of our stories are alike, they have at least one thing in common … they all have a beginning. The story of our community (The Vine) is just beginning but it’s rooted with a deep history and at its core is a story about the faithfulness of God. In November 2008 a group of people in our church, Westminster Presbyterian (WPC) in Oklahoma City, became deeply convicted with two questions: Who or what is the church? And what is the role of church in the world? With these questions burning holes in our hearts and minds, we began searching scripture for a clear picture of who we are called to be and how we are called to live as followers of Christ.

Seeking first and foremost to be obedient to the Lord; we prayed, dreamed, and studied the scriptures.

Specifically, we studied the early church described in the book of Acts and began to talk about what it might look like to live as a sent people and see the world through the eyes of Jesus. We began finding ways to serve those who were suffering. Our hearts were broken by the children and people of Africa who have no clean water, as well as those in Oklahoma City who are homeless and forgotten. We became very intentional about following Christ. We were moved to feed and clothe the homeless, tutor underprivileged kids in impoverished neighborhood schools, provide care for those in need, and take part in a global mission. We felt God moving among us in a very tangible, viable way.

As we met together, prayed, visioned, and dreamed, the story of The Vine found its beginning. The vision was cast to the WPC leadership, and with great excitement and anticipation, WPC decided to obediently follow the Lord and plant a community. A community that would meet outside the traditional walls of the “established” church building. A community that would attempt to meet people where they are, physically, emotionally, and spiritually with the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ. A community that would be unapologetically Gospel focused and deeply committed to simply being authentic. And thus in May of 2009 the story of The Vine had its formal beginning.

As a community we believe we exist to live as sent people. We believe we’re called to think differently about what it means to be church. Empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, our approach is simple: Love God. Love people. Follow Jesus. God calls us to live as missionaries in this culture whenever and wherever we are. We want to view the relationships with individuals, our neighborhood, our city, our nation, and the world intentionally through the eyes of Jesus. We recognize that if we truly are going to live this way it will require a radically altered worldview.

We are passionate about worship, community, and mission. Opportunities abound at every turn. We believe every person is made in the image of God and has a story worth telling. But more so we believe that the greatest story of all— that of Jesus Christ—is also the one that gives life. At The Vine we are a community

Continued on page 11

Treb Prayer (MDiv’05) is associate pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City and lead pastor of The Vine (thevineokc.com).

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And always in need of being reformed. to reflect on how different our church community is we know that economic autonomy is no longer from the one in which he was raised. “Things have working. As a result, there is a shift toward commuchanged so much,” Al reminisced. “When I was nity and networks. People long to engage, question, growing up, there was the pulpit. And there was the and participate. This affects so many areas of our man in the pulpit. And there was no questioning the lives, especially our churches. man in that pulpit.” I smiled and wondered what Pastors realize the truth of what Al shared with that would be like. I feel far away from the world Al me over coffee. We know that our pulpits are no described, and he inspired me to reflect on the longer seen as the center of moral power and influchanges that have occurred. ence in society. Men and women are now rarely conAs a result of the evolving nature of society in tent to sit in the pews and take as gospel truth every the last fifty years, we have a different relationship word that a pastor utters: they would rather actively with our citizenry, our economy, and our instituquestion it and wrestle with it. tions. In the post-World War II era, our national Our congregations are learning to shift as well. efforts were focused on building up our institutions, But how? By inviting the questions and conversainfrastructure, and families. In the sixties, as the tions. By making space in which people can doubt Civil Rights movement called out with a clear voice, and argue. By discovering ways such as blogging, we began to see the injustice in the way that we podcasting, and social networking so that our sertreated certain people. Then disillusionment and mons might become viral and the news of our misdistrust began to seep into the culture with the sions of social justice can reach out to the world. By Vietnam War and Watergate. With this destabilizaembracing the many ways in which we can get the tion and distrust of institutions, we began to quesword out beyond our sanctuary walls. By imagining tion authority and seemed to rely more and more on the “ends of the earth” as a collection of people who the individual. are on the outside of our religious mainstream, and Independence became the goal of parenting, and welcoming them into our communities. By rethinkthe faster a son or daughter could prove his or her ing our pastoral boundaries. By allowing our weakautonomy, the quicker he or she was recognized as nesses to be seen. And by loving each other through an adult. Greed became the driving force of our all of it. economy, and there Many conwas a sense that gregations are not everyone could ready for this shift. make it in our They still want to country, as long as see their pastor as the Our church, Community Presbyterian in Oakland, Oregon, he or she worked untouchable, unquesis very small, and there is no senior center in our town, so hard enough. tioning expert who sits I started a drop-in afternoon two days a month. The idea Yet, as a new high atop the pyramid was to have coffee and conversation, play games, or do generation tries to of the congregation. stitchery, inviting friends in. What has happened is a small navigate the shiftAnd there will still be a group (mostly widows) from our church playing Mexican ing economy, we place for that sort of Train dominoes. No people from outside our church, but a realize the lonelileadership in the years group of people forming community around the love of ness and despair to come. However, playing games together, getting to know each other better. that our greed and some people now tend Next step: Invite friends! independence to seek conversation —Rev. Kathleen Brinegar (MDiv’08) haveproduced. rather than lecNow we have a tures. They hunger keen distrust of after leaders who institutions and can point out the WINDOWS / Winter 2011

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Reformed. manna in the desert, tremble in Is it a community garden or a new church? speak of lands flowing each voice has not Yes. with milk and honey, waned in imporWe expect a new Presbyterian congregation to form and and yet also have the tance; it is just call the East Broad Outreach Center home. We imagine tenacity and love to walk that we have varibuilding a green, ecumenical facility that is itself a mission alongside their neighous other tools statement. While we raise money for the building, we will bors, conversing with that can enhance be launching mission projects. We're inviting gardeners to them along the journey. our personal help develop a large plot of the land as a community They search for comexpressions and garden. People of all faiths or no particular faith are invited munities that empower make our interto participate in the outreach center and garden. Initial the members to serve personal, face-togoals including teaching environmental stewardship, and make decisions, and face communicafeeding the hungry, and building community among bodies that encourage tion even deeper. neighbors. —Rev. Shane Whisler (MDiv’95) and Rev. Pat an increasingly incluJust as the Felter (MDiv'94) sive leadership base. printing press In this time when revolutionized we are moving away the written from trust in our instituword with its tions, away from striving ability to disfor independence, and toward a hope for deep and perse information in an inexpensive and efficient meaningful community, church leaders are learning manner, we are experiencing the same sort of transto preserve the richness of our traditions, while formation in our communication. Now, connecopening up to new ways of communicating. tions of like-minded people no longer have to congregate in one location to share ideas, organize, and Communicating with one another spark one another’s imaginations; they can instead My mind turns to Moses, standing in that desert form constellations of thought no matter how far landscape in the scorched heat. Just as Moses saw apart their geographical locations. that desert and imagined the promises just beyond Even with the dangers of on-line communicathe horizon, we can begin to allow the Holy Spirit to tions, and even though such communication will work in and among us, envisioning what might be never completely replace face-to-face interaction, we before us. We can begin to get a glimpse of the direcrecognize that blogging and social networking comtion-giving light of the constellations that shimmer munities can be important avenues for ministry and overhead. pastoral care, empowering people to communicate There is another sort of constellation now, one freely their ideas, passions, questions, and doubts. that connects our brilliant ideas and passions Genius constellations have often formed through vast space. Through the Internet and our throughout our history, pockets of brilliance, where ability to publish our theories, disseminate ideas, we can see people working together and feeding each and organize people, community forms and friendother’s creativity. Whether it was the Harlem ships emerge, and people who were once segregated Renaissance or the Paris Impressionists, there have are able to hear one another and live together in a been points in history where men and women have different way. gained courage, challenge, and inspiration from each Our communication has changed so that we can other’s ideas. easily move from face-to-face interactions to interSimilar constellations are forming right now. facing communications, or communication involvLandon Whitsitt, Shawn Plunkett, and I see it each ing computers or other device. Speaking to one Monday as we host the God Complex Radio podcast. another, seeing the expressions, and hearing the We have no budget, and yet we can invite some of 8

And always in need of being reformed.

The “Social Media” Hour

A

By Christopher Harris

t first, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter made no sense to me. I did not understand why individuals had the desire to broadcast what they were up to for the entire world to see. I also did not understand why anyone would want to read up on the seemingly mundane happenings in another’s life.

I didn’t get it until I tried social networking out for myself. Social Media is experiential and interactive. As such, it is not easy to understand until you dive in and participate. Still leery of these new tools and not knowing why people would want to know what I was doing, I simply read others posts or what I now refer to as “listening to the feed.” I learned interesting things about my friends and those I minister to by simply listening. Listening to my feed became for me a spiritual practice. It brought people to my mind that I needed to connect with or simply pray for. I learned more intimately of some individuals’ joys and struggles and saw opportunities for pastoral care. I became more aware that a large number of my connections were suffering with various medical conditions, in fact I now see what seems to be an overwhelming amount of suffering that my community is enduring.

Listening to my feed has become a time of prayer and reflection. A time when I am pushed outside of myself and become aware of the needs of others; a time of prayer when I join the voices of all the saints raising supplications and joys on behalf of my community. Listening to my feed has also helped enrich my IRL (in real life) encounters with individuals. I feel abreast of the goings on in their lives and have a richer picture of the complete person, something not as easily seen in the few hours we spend together each week at church.

After several months of listening to my feed with little interaction, I took the plunge and began to share more of myself. This is when I learned that social media is truly meant to be interactive between individuals.

Location became irrelevant as I connected with colleagues around the world who are caring for me and my ministry and lifting me up in prayer.

Now I can’t get enough of social media. It connects participants to the mundane, the joys, and the sorrows of life. It has made me more aware of people outside myself. It has connected me to people who care for me from miles away. It has enabled me to better connect with those to whom I minister.

Social media can be an ideal tool for helping your congregation connect in times between formal gatherings at the church building. It also provides your congregation the opportunity to connect with the larger world-wide body of Christ. In fact, these tools help us connect in ways we’ve never imagined. My favorite example of connection happened at First Presbyterian Church, Dallas. Recently, they performed a baptism on Sunday morning in the church with a Skype (video conference software) feed including the child’s father who was deployed in Iraq.

I invite you to join me … create a social network and begin listening to your feeds. Observe how that connects you to those in your community. Do it for ten minutes a day for two weeks and then reflect on your experience. I bet you will find that it enriches your ministry.

Social media is not some panacea that will solve all your ministry woes. But as communication in society changes, it changes the context into which we speak the Gospel. Tools that help us connect bring me hope for the Church of Jesus Christ as we live out our call in these ever-changing times.

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Christopher Harris (MDiv'08) helps congregations connect with social media. Check out his web site at faithgrowth.com <http://faithgrowth.com>.

WINDOWS / Winter 2011

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Reformed.

Greystone Presbyterian Church has been involved in a multi-

the most interesting with one anothyear process of ministry evaluation asking the question, Christian thinkers er. From the "Where / to whom is God calling us today?" That prayerful and theologians mundane to the discernment process resulted in Greystone selling the church from across the memorable, we property and beginning the relocation process to the Deer country to join us relate the Creek-Edmond area of metro Oklahoma City. The mission of for a conversation. moments of our this new ministry will be to connect young adults and others in And that dialogue own lives. the Deer Creek area to Christ and the community around them. grows: as people The business We believe that faith is found and grows in community through begin to communiworld has disJesus Christ. This new church will work to provide opportunities cate with one covered that a for connection, faith development, and mission another on Facenarrative is the throughout Deer Creek. book and Twitbest sort of —Rev. Timothy Blodgett (MDiv’07) ter, they begin to m a rk e t i n g talk about the tool. New ideas in their companies congregations. like StoWe can sense ryQuest have something interesting developed in happening, as the creativity of our guests becomes a order to help businesses identify and harvest the stocatalyst for the church. ries people tell and tie them to the larger mission of Landon explains, “The great thing about God their corporations.

Complex Radio is that, when our guests say someThese innovative business models should be no thing, our listeners are struck by it and are inspired surprise to those of us in the church; they are simply to approach their lives and ministries in a new way. reinventing the long-standing wisdom of But it doesn’t stop there because then come the conChristianity. In congregations, we have used testiversations between the listeners [in chat rooms, on monies to reach out and spread the good news for our blog, on Twitter, etc.] and the individual impresthousands of years. And in a new generation, we sions of the same idea come together and get comevangelize in much the same way we always have. It pounded.” is just that along with a renewed cultural interest in Yet, the communities do not form, and the tools narrative, we have more tools to spread the word. of communication are useless, without another So, how do we reach out in a new generation? important component—and that is the content.

Evangelism does not come easily for most of us.

More specifically, the narrative plays an important When we think of the “e” word, we might imagine role in what we communicate. tracts of “Four Spiritual Laws,” wily street preachers, or uncomfortable family dinners. And yet, the heart of sharing the good news is simply telling one’s Telling our stories story—letting friends know what happened in our Esther and Mary remind us of the vitality of the narlife and how our community of faith helped. rative. Reading of their daring narratives arouses Reaching out begins with the practice of testimony, courage in our own hearts. Their story whispers to of sharing our lives with one another, and being fluus when we feel disempowered or overwhelmed, and ent in talking about our spiritual journeys. When we we are reminded of how their testimony can lend us initiate this vital discipline, we learn to speak more great strength of character. fluidly about spiritual things to the world around us.

These ancient accounts remain vital, even as we In developing the art of storytelling within our can sense that the narratives themselves are taking faith communities, we encourage people to put on new forms. We learn from blogging, social networds around the movement of God in our lives. working, texting, and twittering how to share stories 10

And always in need of being reformed.

Most often, this craft is best taught by modeling it.

In other words, as church leaders become more comfortable with talking about God in their lives, their congregations will become more adept at using the language.

Church leaders are privileged to hear different narratives, and some of the deepest moments in our faith communities occur when people begin to recognize the spiritual struggles in their lives and put them into words. They take these resonant insights, they identify those points where their lives intersect with God, and they begin to form a vocabulary for those deep stirrings. It’s a powerful process.

We might recall the fortune cookie message that sounded a lot like a message from God, the Christmas Eve service that moved us to tears, or a wonderful mentor who affected our life. We all have these experiences of the Holy, but we rarely get a chance to articulate them. One of the most sacred things we can do as people of faith is to share the story of our lives, look back, and reflect. Often we do not see God at work unless we look into the rearview mirror. Until we have the chance to tell our stories, we may not realize how all the right roads converge so beautifully, or how the rough, uneven patches form us.

By verbalizing our stories within our congregations, it becomes easier to share them also with our wider community. As we practice the art of telling these accounts, we become comfortable with our spiritual journey. When we have a vocabulary to describe that path, the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us, moving about the people.

As we reach out in a new generation, we can tell so many stories of how we form deep community, communicate good news, and recount vital narratives. As we look at each development, may we sense God’s Spirit stirring up our prophetic imaginations. As we point our chins to the horizon of our shifting landscape, as we have a new sense of who God has called us to become, may we sense the divine presence growing up within us in this time and in this place.

L

WINDOWS / Winter 2011

Connexion House

Continued from page 5

seed grants, roundtable discussions, and a print journal called The Common Voice.

It is both our conviction and our experience that discipleship is catalyzed in community, happening in a more meaningful and accelerated way. In fact, we confidently assert that disciples cannot be formed without the presence of other Christians—saints who can boldly confront the disciple with his/her sin, demand the practice of the Christian skills of truth-telling and peacemaking, mediate Christ’s grace in reconciliation, draw each other into accountable living, and offer the consolation of the quotidian support that every human needs.

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The Vine

Continued from page 6

made up of people from all ages, backgrounds, and walks-of-life.

We welcome those who’ve grown up in the church and those have never darkened the door. We welcome those who are frustrated, disenchanted, searching, or just looking for something new. We are a community made up of flawed and broken people with an absolute love for Jesus Christ and a passion to reflect that love to the world around us.

L

Into the trunk go watercolors, oatmealbox drums, fabrics of all hues, clay. Then we motor off: to a low-income apartment complex housing persons who have survived abuse; to a center for persons with developmental delays; to an event for families who are homeless or living in shelters. We unpack, pray, and prepare a rich environment for creative exploration and expression. At A Spacious Place, the nonprofit that emerged from my Austin Seminary doctoral project, we believe people connect with God through their own creative process. Because we're all children of the Creator, we're all creative.

After all, it's in the DNA. —Rev. Kaye McKee (DMin’09)

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What next?

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BY TOM ARE JR.

n the past year, fifteen pastors from across the country met to begin a conversation. It is, I think, part of a collection of conversations taking place across the church. We are not alone in seeking discernment regarding where God is leading the church today. Those of us who have begun talking with one another about the direction of the church want to broaden this conversation. We do so because we all love Jesus Christ and his church and believe that the world needs the particular witness of the Presbyterian Church today as much as ever.

There are, however, big questions as to what it means to offer our particular witness in our day, and

questions as to how to do this most effectively and faithfully. But to this purpose of bearing witness to Jesus Christ—as Presbyterians—we are eager to devote our passion, our theological creativity, and our leadership.

I remember the days when Presbyterians in more vivid and vital fashion contributed to the repair of the world. We had leaders. They challenged us. They charted a strategy for mission. They motivated us.

As a result, we built schools. We built hospitals. We planted churches in Kansas and Kenya and Korea.

We sent doctors, teachers, farmers, and theologians to serve in ways that made the church more

Tom Are Jr. is pastor of Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas, and vice-chair of the Austin Seminary Board of Trustees. The remarks here comprise excerpts from comments he shared at a meeting of pastors in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in July 2010. This conversation, called “NEXT,” will continue February 28 through March 1, 2011, at Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. Additional information is available at www.secondchurch.org/NEXT 12

And always in need of being reformed.

Christian and the world more human. We may not say it more clearly, they don’t reject Jesus, they just have been an exhibition of the kingdom of heaven don’t like us. They think we hate gay and lesbian for the world, but we did bear witness to it. This was persons, we are judgmental, hypocritical, and ignothe church of my childhood. This was the kind of rant of the spiritual questions they are asking. They church that made me proud to be Presbyterian. see us as elevating “belief ” while they elevate “expeBy everyone’s account, the church is not what it rience.” used to be. The Presbyterian “ecosystem” in which I Most significantly, in the midst of such revoluwas raised is today the stuff tionary change, many of of museum display. Yet, as the leaders of Presbyterian much as the church has congregations (pastors and changed, the culture has elders) were born and We speak of reformed changed even more. raised in a Presbyterian The means of establishecosystem of a previous and always reforming, ing community have day. Many are aware that changed. We live in a time this glorious day has died, but this has to be more of “social networks” in but they are at a loss for than a theological claim. which technology is not how to respond to the pressimply a means to commuent situation. For some, the Our reforming theology nication, it is a means to old ecosystem still works create connection, even well enough—as a shadow needs to bear fruit in community. It is not only of its former self—even if reforming strategy, the fact, but the speed of they knew how to change, such change that is signifithey lack the motivation to model, and forms of cant. Consider this: It took do so. radio 38 years to reach 50 We speak of reformed being church. million viewers. It took TV and always reforming, but 13 years to reach 50 milthis has to be more than a lion viewers. Facebook theological claim. Our reached 100 million particreforming theology needs ipants in nine months.1 Or this: ABC began broadto bear fruit in reforming strategy, model, and forms casting in 1948 and until 2008 broadcast 24 hours of being church. a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. The The Presbyterian Church thrived in a day when total number of viewing hours logged by ABC over the culture valued institutions. Our governing bod60 years was surpassed by You Tube in the last six ies (institutions) could network, strategize, and months of 2008.2 All of this has implications for coordinate strategic plans for mission at home and community and therefore for being church. around the world. As a result, dollars, volunteers, Calendars have changed. According to some and prayers from congregations would flow polls if you ask a Presbyterian in their 60s if they upstream, making of us a collection of congregaattend church regularly, a positive response means tions whose impact far exceeded our numbers. In they attend 3+ times a month. The same question that day, we paid attention to the needs of the world and same positive response from someone in their as well as the strengths of the culture in which we 20s means they attend church 10-12 times a year. lived. Based on both, we developed strategies that How the church is viewed has changed. Michael maximized our impact. But our culture no longer Kinnaman’s UnChristian (Baker Books, 2007) provalues institutions. Institutions as such do not comvides unsettling data, revealing 38% of 16-29 year mand loyalty, trust, and certainly not generosity. olds in this country are hostile to Christianity. To This cultural shift reflects a change in the pew.

WINDOWS / Winter 2011

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Reformed.

Breaking Bread Together

By Melissa Wiginton

Sitting at a lovely dinner with a handful of gifted young pastors—a Lutheran, a Mennonite, a Cooperative Baptist, a Presbyterian, and a UCC minister from around the U.S.—the question was asked: What would you tell someone about why he or she should become a Christian?

It was as if a group of English majors had been handed a calculus problem. They recognized it as a real question, but they didn’t really know what to do with it. Everyone took either another bite of dinner, swig of wine, or piece of bread to dip into the imported olive oil and felt silence like another presence at the table.

The questioner was middle-aged, a Baby Boomer who had been taught from childhood the answer to why someone should become a Christian (autonomic top three: salvation from sin, eternal life, obedience to God.). But, to be honest, she found the reasons so well internalized unsatisfying. Her question to the young pastors was not a test or a trap; she was looking for answers that would hold in the post-modern, postChristian, post-past reality.

But maybe it was the wrong question for these young pastors. Maybe it was not the question that would open the way into their own hard-won answers to Why Christianity? These pastors were seminary-educated and ordained; they had each been poked, probed, and prodded about their knowledge of Christian doctrine— and about their own personal beliefs—and had been found worthy of leadership in the faith.

Okay, said the Boomer, setting down her glass. Let me ask you a different question: Why would you encourage someone to come to your church?

Responses rolled out like friendly soft clouds in a hot Texas sky: To find community. People are lonely, they are looking for connection and friends and we can be that. To be with people who will take care of you when you need help. For a place to belong. Sharing food, life, love. Common commitments for the good of the world. Because when we share the sacraments we commune with Christ. (That last from the Lutheran.)

A respected friend and colleague, Michael Hryniuk, director of Theosis Resources, said recently that what we are suffering in the church is not a crisis of belief but a crisis of experience. Thus the question of why someone should become a Christian lands with a thud. People all around us aren’t asking What should I believe? They are asking Where do I belong? How can we as ministers, teachers, and healers create space for the experiences of belonging—to each other, to the life yearning to be born, to God? Because, as Christians, we do believe that through the ways we practice being together, we are met by Christ and through Christ we are transformed. The young pastors sharing the meal know this—they come at it first through experience rather than through a more abstract teaching of beliefs.

As leaders looking for new ways to do church, let’s don’t waste a lot of time tinkering around the edges. Let’s get the questions right and then spend our lives living into the answers. Gathering around the table together is not a bad place to start.

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Melissa Wiginton is vice president for ministry programs and planning at The Fund for Theological Education and served on Duke University’s Pulpit and Pew project. She has been called to be Austin Seminary’s new vice president for Education Beyond the Walls in 2011 (see page 21).

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And always in need of being reformed. woman in Afghanistan Members of our The congregation I serve, First Presbyterian Church, or every kid in Palestine churches do not need Colorado City, Texas, has begun a bicycle ministry or every preschooler in or want a governing called Bicycle Blessings. We perform minor bicycle downtown Detroit has body to determine misrepair, refurbish bikes that are no longer being used a chance to go to sion priorities or possiand donate them to others, provide bicycle helmets to school? bilities for them. They children, help kids learn how to maneuver their bikes We look at our want to make those through an obstacle course, educate kids on bicycle world, our political sitdecisions themselves. A safety and help all to know that bicycle transportation is uation, as well as the wonderful result of this fun as well as good for you. All of this is provided at no testimony Presbyterians change is that the cost to any of the families. have offered much of touch of mission is —Rev. Dana Mayfield (MDiv’05) the past twenty years more grassroots than and it makes you it has been in the wonder. As a friend history of our of mine once said, “It church. But there is a seems like someone significant loss in colopened the door and all the grown-ups left the laboration. With reduced collaboration we see room.” We need to act like grown-ups. That is a call reduced impact. to civility, but more than civility. It is a call to fideliIf congregations are to provide the leadership for ty, but more than fidelity. We need to reclaim the mission, then we must discover new ways for conrole of being sense-makers3 for a culture that is so gregations to collaborate. skeptical it no longer trusts that sense can be made.

There is a second factor to consider regarding We need to exhibit hope in a culture that is stricken congregational leadership for mission. Every congreby fear. Paul tells us that everything we preach, gation makes a difference, but not every congregaeverything we see, everything we know, our very tion shares the same responsibility to the whole. existence as a church is rooted in God’s choice for The PCUSA has 10,700+ congregations. Fully resurrection. As sense-makers, we need to offer a 50% of these congregations have 100 members or voice of hope in the storm of fear; and more than fewer, and 25% have 50 members or fewer. Ministry speaking, we need to demonstrate that hope in our happens in all congregations; however, congregatreatment of one another. tions play different roles on our collective life.

So what now?

We need to ask ourselves what our responsibiliOur small group of fifteen pastors does not have ties are in this new day. I suggest that one of the new answers, but the word “Next” has stuck in our critical roles that any congregation with the capaciminds. Understand clearly, “Next” is a question not ties to reach beyond itself must assume in this new a proclamation. It is a theological confession. “Next” day is to explore and engage a new model of conis ultimately a declaration of faith that God is doing nectionalism. something, something new. It reminds of the promWhat would it look like for congregations to ise of the old prophet, “I am doing a new thing!” collaborate directly with each other? Toward what But there is an exhortation as well … “Do you not purposes could we collaborate? Let us dream togethperceive it?” My confession today is that I do not see er. Could we be more intentional about who we this new thing with clarity; but I have the faith to send to seminary? Could we be more complete in believe that together it can be seen.

L providing mentoring for graduates of seminary? Can we discover ways to increase the number of congreNOTES gations planted and increase the chances that they 1 . Socialnomics.com thrive? Could we dream of ridding the world of 2 . Dr. Michael Wesch, Kansas State University. inadequate access to clean water? Or ensuring every 3 . I am indebted to Ted Wardlaw for this metaphor.

WINDOWS / Winter 2011

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COMMUNITY NEWS MidWinters features lectures, events for Classes of 1961, 1971, and 2000s

Historians, the James A. Rawley Prize for best book on the subject of race, and the Outstanding Book Award from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights in North

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ach year MidWinters at Austin Seminary provides a place to reflect on the promises and challenges of Christian ministry.

Now in its seventh decade, MidWinters, January 31-February 2, 2011, welcomes Timothy Tyson, Michael Jinkins, Marcia Riggs, and Agnes Norfleet to lead the process.

The 2011 Currie Lecturer is Timothy B. Tyson, Visiting Professor of American Christianity and Southern Culture at Duke Divinity School, who will speak on “Teaching the Dog to Say Grace: A Spiritual Autobiography—Freedom Politics, Public Education, and the Religion of Jesus.” Individual titles of his lectures are “Blood Done Sign Our Names: God Almighty, Christian Bootleggers, Rebel Church Ladies, and My Crazy Uncle Earl,” “Running from Jesus: The Ongoing Education of a Reluctant Pilgrim,” and “Write When You Find Work: The Religion of Jesus and the Public Schools—Why We Can’t Wait.”

Tyson is an American writer whose books include Blood Done Sign My Name (Crown, 2004), a memoir and history of the murder of Henry Marrow in Oxford, North Carolina, in 1970. His books Radio Free Dixie: Robert F. Williams and the Roots of Black Power, (UNC Press, 1999) and Democracy Betrayed: The Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 and Its Legacy (UNC Press, 1998, coedited with David S. Cecelski) won the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize for best first book in U.S. history from the Organization of American 16

America. Accompanying Tyson during his presentation will be gospel singer Mary D. Williams.

Former Austin Seminary Dean Michael Jinkins returns to deliver the Jones Lectures, “Unfinished Business: What’s Next for the Reformed Project.” Jinkins became the ninth president of Louisville Seminary in September. He served on the faculty of Austin Seminary from 1993 until 2010, teaching in the areas of leadership and vocation. The author of more than one hundred published papers, articles, and reviews, Dr. Jinkins has published fourteen books, including: Invitation to Psalms (Abingdon Press, 2008), Letters to New Pastors (Eerdmans Press, 2006), and Called to be Human: Letters to my Children on Living a Christian Life, (Eerdmans, 2009).

Jinkins was a founding member of the Academy of Religious Leadership and served as an associate editor and board member of its journal, the Journal of Religious Leadership, from 20012006.

Marcia Y. Riggs, The J. Erskine Love Professor of Christian Ethics and director of the ThM Program at Columbia Theological Seminary, will be the Westervelt Lecturer, speaking on “Dreaming Beloved Community.” Her two

lectures are “Evoking and Provoking Moral Imagination” and “The Dreamer as Religions, Ethical Mediator.” In addition to her academic career, Riggs served as associate pastor at Hemphill African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Summerville, Georgia.

She has published numerous articles and books including Can I Get a Witness? Prophetic Religious Voices of African American Women, An Anthology. (Orbis Books, 1997) and Plenty Good Room: Women Versus Male Power in the Black Church (Pilgrim Press, 2003). Riggs speaks regularly on topics ranging from restoring communal integrity, gender and race in theological education, and models for women in leadership. She received the Distinguished Alumnae Achievement Award from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 2006 and has served on the editorial board of The Westminster /John Knox’s “Feasting on the Word” Lectionary Commentary Series since 2006.

Leading worship during MidWinters will be Agnes Norfleet, pastor of Shandon Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina. She has sermons and articles published in The Abingdon Women’s Preaching Annual, The Presbyterian Outlook,

Lectionary Homiletics, Interpretation: A Journal for Bible and Theology, and Presbyterian Survey, and is associate editor and a regular contributor to Journal for Preachers. She wrote the introduction and commentary on Genesis for the Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible, edited by Walter Brueggemann and Eugene Peterson.

In addition to the lectures, there will be a Dinner Under the Oaks, dedication of the Austin Seminary Bookstore with faculty book signings, a hospitality suite with free WiFi, and wonderful opportunities for dialogue with the lecturers and other participants.

Austin Seminary Partners are invited to a special luncheon on Tuesday. Especially for our alumni/ae are reunion luncheons on Tuesday, February 1, for the Class of 1961 and the Class of 1971 and a get-together hosted by Dean-elect Allan Cole under the tent after worship on Monday for those who graduated in 2000-2010 (our “Aughts”). The Austin Seminary Association (ASA) Banquet and Annual Meeting, on Wednesday, February 2, features the 2011 Distinguished Service Award presented to Carlos Ham (DMin’99), Secretary for Evangelism at the World Council of Churches, and Army Chaplain (Colonel) Gilly Richardson (MDiv’86).

Register online at www.austinseminary.edu/midwinter s2011 or call 512-404-4886. There are reduced-rate rooms at the Drury Inn (6711 IH 35 North, 800-325-0720, discount code “Austin Seminary”) and LaQuinta Austin Capital (800-753-3757, discount code “ASEM10”).

Discounts at the Drury end on Friday, January 14, 2011.

WINDOWS / Winter 2011

Campaign Steering Committee announced

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wenty-two friends of Austin Seminary have agreed to serve on a new Campaign Steering Committee. The mission of the Committee is to guide the Seminary through its $44 million campaign to raise funds for student fellowships, faculty chairs, Stitt Library renovation, endowing the College of Pastoral Leaders, and the next phase of student housing.

John Van Osdall, executive vice president of USI Southwest, an Austin Seminary trustee, and a member of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston, will serve as chair of the Campaign Steering Committee. Serving as vice-chairs of the committee are Cassandra C. Carr, a senior advisor at Public Strategies Inc., chair of Austin Seminary’s Board of Trustees, and a member of University Presbyterian Church, Austin; The Reverend Dr. John M. McCoy Jr. (MDiv’63), of Dallas, Texas, a former chair of Austin Seminary’s Board and a member-at-large of Grace Presbytery and participant in the life of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas; and John Hartman, retired managing director of Lubrication Systems Company and also a member of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church.

The other members include: The Reverend Dr. Joseph J. Clifford, a Seminary trustee and pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas; Reverend Dr. Marvin L. Cooper, Seminary trustee, president of Anadarko Basin Oil & Gas Exploration, and a worshipper at First Presbyterian Church, Canadian, Texas; James B. Crawley, Seminary trustee, chairman of Crawley Petroleum Corporation, and a

member of First Presbyterian Church, Norman, Oklahoma; Jackson Farrow, General Counsel and Managing Director, Stephens Inc, and a member of Second Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Arkansas; G. Archer Frierson of Frierson Plantation, a Seminary trustee and member of First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, Louisiana; Dr. Walter Harris Jr., a Seminary trustee, retired provost and vice president for academic affairs of Loyola University, and a member of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, New Orleans, Louisiana; The Reverend Aquanetta Hicks (MDiv’08), chaplain, Vitas Innovative Hospice Care in San Antonio, Texas; Dr. Eugene M. McKelvey Sr., a member of St. Philip Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas; The Reverend Dr. Blair R. Monie, a Seminary trustee and pastor of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas; Ambassador Lyndon L. Olson Jr., a Seminary trustee, senior advisor to Citigroup Inc., and a member of Central Presbyterian Church, Waco, Texas; Charles H. Pistor Jr., former CEO of Republic National Bank of Dallas and a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas; The Reverend Dr. Cynthia L. Rigby, The W. C. Brown Professor of Theology at Austin Seminary, a Seminary trustee, and a participant in the ministry of University Presbyterian Church, Austin; Anne Vickery Stevenson, a Seminary trustee, Director/Investments at Tradition Bank, Katy, Texas, and a member of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston; Asante U. Todd (MDiv’06), PhD Candidate in ethics at Vanderbilt University; The Reverend Karl B. Continued on page 18 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

New students bring denominational and experiential diversity

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ustin Presbyterian Theological Seminary welcomed thirtyeight master’s-level students representing ten denominations, at the start of its 2010-2011 academic year.

During opening convocation on Tuesday, September 7, the Reverend Jennifer Lord, associate professor of homiletics, delivered the convocation address, “Being the Body: Liturgical Theology’s Images of Corporate Worship.”

Thirty-three students enrolled in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program, including two in the dual

degree program with The University of Texas School of Social Work, and five in the Master of Arts (Theological Studies) program.

The median age of students in the incoming class is 29 and 21 percent are racial or ethnic minorities.

This year’s entering class includes students who have served as volunteers in ministry in places such as New Orleans, Hollywood, Romania, and Peru. The diverse incoming class includes, among various occupations and denominations, a registered nurse, a personal chef, a former employee of the Embassy of Kuwait, and a

Steering committee continued from page 17 Travis, a Seminary trustee and pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas; Elizabeth C. Williams, a Seminary trustee, retired treasurer at Southern Methodist University, and a member of NorthPark Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas; Hugh H. Williamson III, a former trustee, CEO and Chairman, XeDAR Corporation, and a member of Central Presbyterian Church, Denver, Colorado; and The Reverend Dr. Louis H. Zbinden Jr., retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, and trustee emeritus for Austin Seminary.

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football player for the University of Illinois. Four of the students have master’s degrees in fields such as global studies, religion, history, family ministry, and social work.

Austin Seminary offers financial assistance to more than 80 percent of its students, including merit and need-based support.

Seven merit-based awards have been named: Jean Brown Fellowships to Alex Cornell (University Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas), Greg AllenPickett (Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Denver, Colorado) and Jean Brown Scholarships to Elizabeth Wallace (Grace Covenant Church, Austin Texas), Barrett Abernethy (First Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama), JoAnne Ramsey (First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado), and Lisa Rush (Bracken United Methodist Church, San Antonio, Texas). The Crawley Fellowship was awarded to Kimberly Rogers (Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church, Pipe Creek, Texas).

New Trustees elected to Seminary’s Board

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ix new trustees were commissioned to serve on Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s Board of Trustees on November 8, 2010, including two graduates and, for the first time, a Seminary professor.

A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Consuelo Donahue is a 1996 graduate of Austin Seminary and chairs Mission Presbytery’s Committee on Representation.

Her ministry has been primarily in the area of hospice chaplaincy and she also served as pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. She serves at the national level on the boards of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and the Clergy Advisory Board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and locally on the Board of Planned Parenthood of San Antonio.

Archer Frierson is a member manager of Frierson Brothers LLC of Shreveport, Louisiana. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, he serves on the board of the Washington Society of that school as well as on the boards of Centenary College, the LSU Tiger Athletic and the Health Sciences Center Foundations, and on the Military Affairs Council at Barksdale Air Force Base. A lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, he has been a WINDOWS / Winter 2011

deacon, elder, and church school teacher for both adults and youth.

He most recently served on Austin Seminary’s Capital Campaign Planning Committee, and his father, Clarence Frierson, was a member of the Austin Seminary board for two decades, serving as board chair from 1978-1983.

Roy Kim has been an engineer at IBM since 1979. Among his achievements are six patents, earning him the 4th Level IBM Patent Invention Achievement Plateau and a Division Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement for PowerPC Platform. A member of Austin Korean Presbyterian Church, he is an elder and chair of the Building Committee.

James Lee, a 2000 graduate of Austin Seminary, is pastor of New Covenant Fellowship of Austin, a newly chartered multicultural Presbyterian church. He has worked as field staff for the General Assembly Office of Multicultural Ministries and the Austin Seminary Association (alumni/ae) Board. He currently serves on the African Council for the Synod of the Sun and on the board of Mo-Ranch.

David Peeples is the Presiding Judge of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas, located in San Antonio. He was an associate with Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston and

Tinsman & Houser in San Antonio before owning his own law practice; he has been a judge since 1981. A long-standing member of the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules, he chaired the Texas Supreme Court Task Force on Jury Assembly and Administration in 2006-2007. He was a founding member of the Advisory Board of Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) and the First Presbyterian Church Child Care Center. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, and a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

Cynthia L. Rigby, The W.C. Brown Professor of Theology, joined the faculty in 1995. Rigby has written more than thirty articles and book chapters; she is the author of The Promotion of Social Righteousness (Witherspoon Press, 2010) and is currently completing the book, Shaping our Faith: A Christian Feminist Theology (Baker Academic, forthcoming). Professor Rigby is co-chair of the Christian Systematic Theology Section of the American Academy of Religion and the “Continuing Resource Theologian” for the Central United States for the pastor/theologian program sponsored by the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, New Jersey. She is a highly sought-after speaker for academic, church, and denominational events, both domestically and internationally— most recently to an international conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the contributions of John Calvin. Rigby and her family worship at University Presbyterian Church, Austin.

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COMMUNITY NEWS STAFF NOTES Joe Ditta is the newest member of the maintenance staff, charged with providing support services for the Seminary’s physical plant, including both student housing and academic /administrative facilities. Though he is a native Texan, he and his family lived in Michigan for eighteen years. He spent two years in mission work in Indonesia and his hobbies are fishing and motorcycles (though presumably not at the same time).

Hector Hernandez joined the maintenance staff in August.

Hector is an Austinite, and most recently worked at American Youthworks Charter School, where he enjoyed working with the kids and staff.

Hector is a certified pyrotechnician, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, kayaking—anything outdoors—and spending time with family and friends.

Lisa Holleran is the new Senior Director of Development and Institutional Advancement.

Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado and her master’s degree from Texas State University. She comes to the Seminary with twenty 20

years of non-profit experience, serving for the past nine years as director of development for Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. She is an elder at Dripping Springs Presbyterian Church and enjoys outdoor activities including running, biking, boating, and gardening.

Ashleigh McClung is the new Seminary receptionist providing support services for visitor information and housing. Ashleigh was born and raised in Northwest Oklahoma and graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a BS in mass communications. She and husband, Patrick, a junior Seminary student, are parents to two little girls. She enjoys photography and spending time with her family.

Gary Mathews joined the Institutional Advancement Office in November as the development coordinator. Gary earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Texas at Austin and was an Austin Seminary student during the 1980s. He returns to Austin from Brookshire, Texas, where he worked in a residential facility for adults with special needs. Gary has one daughter, Macey, who is a senior in high school.

Mona Minjarez, administrative assistant to the Office of Business Affairs, married Joseph Santandriea on November 27.

Lori Rohre, director of Human Resources, is president-elect of the Austin Human Resource Management Association (ARMA). She attended the ARMA conference in Washington D.C. where she met with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congressman Lamar Smith.

She shared her personal story about using Section 127, the employer tuition assistance benefit, set to expire at the end of the year, and how Austin Seminary uses such benefits for recruitment and retention tools, and lobbied for their support in passing this bill permanently.

Seminary Archivist Kristy Sorensen received a $3855 grant from the Texas Cultures Online grant program of The University of North Texas. The funds will cover the costs of digitizing and describing 900 photographic prints and slides from the Texas-Mexican Presbytery Records and hosting them on the Portal to Texas History web site (http://texashistory.unt.edu/). This will greatly increase the exposure of these valuable materials to students, historians, and other researchers across the state, and will also help us to preserve the original prints from excess handling. The Archives will receive copies of the digital files.

Liz Williams to lead TPF Austin Seminary Trustee Elizabeth Currie Williams has agreed to serve as interim president and CEO of Texas Presbyterian Foundation following the retirement of Daniel W. Klein on January 1, 2011.

Melissa Wiginton called as Vice President

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ustin Seminary’s Board of Trustees has elected Melissa Wiginton to become Austin Seminary’s Vice President for Education Beyond the Walls. In this newly created position she will be responsible for re-envisioning and reinvigorating the educational programs that extend beyond Austin Seminary’s traditional degree programs.

“In circles considering the future of theological education in North America and the shape of the next generation of theological students, Melissa Wiginton is a primary voice and a creative thinker,” says President Theodore J. Wardlaw. “It is a pleasure to welcome her to Austin Seminary, and to anticipate the difference she will make within, and beyond, our walls!”

Wiginton has been vice president for Ministry Programs and Planning at Fund for Theological Education Inc (FTE) since 2005. In that capacity she oversaw three major initiatives: Ministry Fellowship Programs, Calling Congregations, and Volunteers Exploring Vocation; she also served as interim co-president for six months.

Melissa Wiginton earned a BA, magna cum laude, and JD from The University of Texas at Austin and an MDiv, summa cum laude, from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. She practiced law for thirteen years before enrolling in seminary. Her career has been conducted at the forefront of critical thinking about ministry and theological education; in addition to her work at FTE she served on Duke University’s Pulpit and Pew Project and was a consultant for the Pathways to Seminary Project at Auburn Center for the Study of Theological Education. Wiginton served for three years on the faculty of the Youth Theology Institute at Candler, teaching American Law and Christian Faith.

She will begin her work at Austin Seminary in January.

Asante Todd to teach Christian Ethics in 2011-12 Austin Seminary has invited alumnus Asante Todd (MDiv’06) to teach Christian ethics during the 201112 academic year. This teaching engagement will fulfill an externship, part of Todd’s graduate degree program at Vanderbilt University. He was one of five students in his class selected to be a Fellow in the Divinity School’s Program in Theology and Practice. The externship allows Vanderbilt’s PhD students to explore the vocation of teaching at seminaries. Todd will be teaching one introductory course and one elective course.

WINDOWS / Winter 2011

DMin program revised to focus on core strengths

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fter a year-long review of our Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program, a new curriculum will be introduced in the January 2011 term. The new structure helps students relate their particular ministry settings to each course’s content through both ministry projects and papers. The newly designed curriculum invites our outstanding resident faculty to teach from their particular disciplines and research passions.

Designed for pastors with at least three year’s ministry experience, students enrolled in the DMin program choose to study in one of four areas of concentration, which correspond to the departments in which our faculty serve: The Bible and the Practice of Ministry, Theology and the Practice of Ministry, The Church’s Life and the Practice of Ministry, and Proclamation and Worship.

After taking foundational courses and several electives, students spend eighteen months crafting, implementing, and evaluating a final doctoral project which integrates all they have learned with their particular ministry setting. This rhythm of study and reflection through courses taken in residence at Austin Seminary, combined with projects carried out in the student’s ministry setting, provides a balance of theory and practice that deepens both skills and knowledge for ministry.

For more information or to apply to the Doctor of Ministry program, contact the Office of Admissions: 512-404-4829 or admissions@austinseminary.edu.

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FACULTY NEWS Allan Cole to become Academic Dean

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n October 21, 2010, The Board of Trustees of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary extended the call to Allan Hugh Cole Jr., Austin Seminary’s Nancy Taylor Williamson Professor of Pastoral Care, to become the institution’s seventh academic dean in its 106-year history. He succeeds Michael Jinkins, who resigned the post in July to become president of Louisville Seminary.

“The Board of Trustees is excited to welcome Alan Cole as the new dean at Austin Seminary,” said Cassandra Carr, chair of the board and a member of the Dean Search Committee. “His love of teaching and dedication to scholarship combine with his proven administrative skills to make him the perfect choice for this important position.”

The Dean Search Committee comprised Trustees Cassandra Carr and Carter King; Professors Cynthia Rigby and Lewis Donelson; Vice President of Student Affairs and Vocation Jackie Saxon; with Interim Academic Dean David Jenson and President Theodore J. Wardlaw serving as ex officio members. They labored together for several months before bringing Professor Cole’s name to the board. Rigby, The W.C. Brown Professor of Theology, who chaired the committee, said, “In our work as a committee, we expressed the hope again and again that our new dean would guide the administration, faculty, and staff of Austin Seminary in working as a ‘team.’ Allan Cole intends to do just that. He is already talking less in terms of what he can accomplish, and more in terms of what we can accomplish—together.”

Professor Cole will become dean on January 1, 2011. Professor David Jensen has served as Interim Academic Dean throughout the fall term.

FACULTY NOTES At its November meeting, the Austin Seminary Board of Trustees took the following action with regard to faculty: • Granted tenure to Associate Professor Whit Bodman effective July 1, 2011.

• Elected Jennifer Lord as the first holder of the Dorothy B. Vickery Chair in Homiletics, effective July 1, 2011.

John Alsup, The First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, D. Thomason Professor of New Testament Studies, will be leading a seminary trip in January to the sites of 22

Martin Luther’s time and life.

Allan Cole, The Nancy Taylor Williamson Professor of Pastoral Care, participated in a discussion of his book, The Life of Prayer: Mind, Body, and Soul (Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) at BookPeople, which was hosted by Austin Area Interfaith Ministries.

William Greenway, associate professor of philosophical theology, was Keynote Speaker for The Meneilly Conference Lectures at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas, and delivered a lecture for the Global

Theology Network at the 2010 Meeting of the American Academy of Religion. He completed an entry, “Animals,” for the Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics, (ed. Joel B. Green, Baker Academic), a chapter for Being for the Other: Issues in Ethics and Animal Rights (New Delhi, India: Daya Publishing House), a book review for The Scottish Journal of Theology, and contributed to Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary Year A, Volume 4: Season after Pentecost 2 (Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox Press, all forthcoming).

John R. “Pete” Hendrick, who served on the faculty and administration between 1956-1995, has returned to campus to teach some elective classes during the fall and spring semesters. He is also supervising the final projects of several doctor of ministry candidates.

David Jones, director of the Doctor of Ministry program, published an article, “Liminal Space on the Edges of Life,” in the fall 2010 issue of Journeys, the magazine of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

He also led a workshop at the Small Church Pastor’s Conference at MoRanch on October 18 and 19.

Jennifer Lord, associate professor of homiletics, authored “Preaching: Reformation Day,” a centerpiece article for the Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington. She was a retreat leader for the Fellowship Parish Pastors’ Retreat in Austin in October and for the First Presbyterian Church, Waco, Texas, Annual All Church Retreat in November. She also served as Treasurer for the Academy of Homiletics annual meeting, November 18-20, in Atlanta.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS Malvern, Arkansas, church funds annual preaching award

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irst Presbyterian Church in Malvern, Arkansas, has made possible a new prize in preaching for students at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The Chidester Preaching Award, which includes a $5000 prize, will be given annually to the graduating senior who shows the greatest potential in the area of preaching.

The first prize will be given in 2011 and announced during Commencement.

In a letter from the Session, Charlotte Purdy said that the gift “is our way of helping the Seminary provide new pastoral leadership for our denomination and for the greater church of Jesus Christ.”

“The Chidester Award is an expression of trust in God as the giver and renewer of life, who continues to engage us in the Word proclaimed,” says Dr. Jennifer Lord, associate professor of homiletics at Austin Seminary.

“Through this award the people of the First Presbyterian Church of Malvern, Arkansas, are actively supporting the ministry of Word and Sacrament and the ways that Austin Seminary forms women and men to announce and summon all people to the justice and mercy of God.” Each year the winner of the Chidester Preaching Award will be invited to travel to Malvern to preach and worship with the congregation of First Presbyterian Church. The Reverend Carl McCormack (MDiv’95) said the congregation is already planning on the student’s visit next spring.

WINDOWS / Winter 2011

Giving Back—It’s the Reformed Way!

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fter graduating from Austin Seminary in 1994, Jerri Olszewski served churches in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and West Chester, Pennsylvania, where, after retirement, she and her husband, John, still live. She credits much of her spiritual formation to the theological education she received at Austin Seminary. She says she is able to articulate her faith thanks to the supportive, yet often engaging, debates with professors and fellow students.

She attributes her nurturing, servant leadership to the warm and caring family atmosphere of the Seminary’s residential community. Still, there’s one gift Jerri cannot trace to her Seminary days, because it goes back to her childhood—the art of giving back.

“I grew up with loving and humble parents. As a child I believed I was blessed—and wanted to give in return. My parents took to heart the words of Luke, “to whom much is given, much is required.” I was brought up that way; I don’t know how you can sit back and not give back. While that was our family way, years later during my education at Austin Seminary, I also realized it’s the Reformed way.”

Jerri and John have given back to Austin Seminary through gifts of time (she has served as a trustee) and money, supporting both the annual fund and the Letson Faculty Endowment, established in memory of her parents.

“If we want strong leaders in the church, we’ve got to offer them a good education; one that is supportive and makes them realize what an important job they are training for,” says Jerri. “The church needs healthy clergy to lead people, so Austin Seminary has a great responsibility—and it must compete with much larger seminaries. So, just as I benefited as a student, I feel it important that any way I can, I will help make sure others are trained in the same way.”

—Gary Matthews

Louis Zbinden joins campaign staff

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he Reverend Louis H. Zbinden Jr. has returned to Austin Seminary to assist the Institutional Advancement staff in the Seminary’s fund-raising objectives regarding the campaign.“In his new role, Louis will be nurturing and stewarding relationships with Seminary friends in support of Austin Seminary’s vision for preparing men and women for Christian leadership,” says Austin Seminary President Theodore J. Wardlaw. “It is truly a thrill, once again, to have the opportunity to work with my friend and colleague. Please join me in welcoming Louis to this good work.”

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ALUMNI/AE NEWS WELCOME TO… to Abigail Joy Curtiss, daughter of The Rev. Mr. John H. Curtiss (MDiv’00) and Megan J. Curtiss, born on December 18, 2009. to Melody H. White-Haar, daughter of Melea R. White (MDiv’10), born on September 28, 2010. to Caleb Alexander Murray, son of Jonathan A. Murray (MDiv’08) and Caressa L. Murray (MDiv’08) born on December 7, 2010.

NECROLOGY C. Rodney Sunday (Cert.’38, MDiv’48), Kerrville, Texas, October 3, 2010.

Joseph R. Cooper (Diploma’55), Fort Worth, Texas, July 31, 2010.

Shirl P. Butler (MDiv’65), Tulsa, Oklahoma, November 26, 2010.

Kathleen H. Moore (MDiv’89), Hico, Texas, July 2, 2009.

Carl S. Rogers (MDiv’92), Murray, Kentucky, May 20, 2010.

CLASS NOTES 1960s

Patricia “Trish” Holland (MDiv’68) has a new book of her poems and prayers, God is Not Nice: Growing Up in Christ in the Bible Belt, available from Glad2b4u Press.

1990s

Dana Carson (MDiv’92) launched a new Houston location of his Alvin-based ministry on September 25. His Kingdom message can be heard weekly on the WORD Network, TBN, Daystar, and BET. John Sowers (MDiv’96) was recognized in the Spokesman-Review as an “Internal Strength (that) Shines Through in Outreach.” As senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Spokane, Washington, he encourages and leads his members in ministry to live out their vocations in helping others.

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in San Angelo, Texas, was recognized for their diversity and inclusivity by the PC(USA) in response to its “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” initiative. Glenda Harbert (MDiv’98) is the senior pastor.

Student Eric Gates, left, is the recipient of the Edwards Ministerial Association student scholarship. The association was founded by Charles W. Edwards (DMin’89), right, a member of the ASA Board.

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Ruth Hempel (MDiv’98) received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in May 2010.

2000s

Diana Hartman (MDiv’01)

received a call in September to First Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Mitchell Holley (MDiv’08) graduated from Air Force Chaplain School in Columbia, South Carolina, on Aug 27 and was presented with the Top Graduate Award. He is now a staff chaplain at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio.

Alice Hernandez (MDiv’08) has been promoted to captain in the

ORDINATION Katrina T. Shawgo (MDiv’08) ordained on November 7, 2010, to serve as chaplain at Hospice Austin.

Josyph A. Andrews (MDiv’08) ordained on September 26, 2010, to serve First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Iowa.

Patrick D. Cherry (MDiv’09) ordained on November 28, 2010, to serve First Presbyterian Church in Findlay, Ohio.

Robert T. Quiring (MDiv’10) ordained on August 15, 2010, to serve Knox Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois.

Matthew T. Falco (MDiv’10) ordained on October 10, 2010, to serve First Presbyterian Church in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.

Melissa Koerner Lopez (MDiv ’09) ordained on September 18, 2010 to serve First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins, Colorado.

If you have been ordained recently, please contact Lana Russell at 512-404-4809 or alum@austinseminary.edu

Air Force and is currently working at Palmetto Healthcare as a CPE Supervisory Education Student in Columbia, South Carolina.

Seminary keeps on “Thinking Outside the Box”

Monica J. Hall (MDiv’08) wed Thomas Hoskins on September 25, 2010 in Echo, Utah.

Ramon M. Nunez (MATS’10) is currently teaching at Monterrey Tech and John Wesley Methodist Theological Seminary in Monterrey, Mexico. He is working on his second book Building up the Kingdom of God in Spanish.

Lisa “Nikki” Stahl (MDiv’10) passed her LMSW exam and is now a licensed master social worker.

Austin Seminary graduates gather for the Thinking Outside the Box event in Norman, Oklahoma, in September with Ted Wardlaw and David Jensen, right.

Alumni/ae Challenge news

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he Alumni/ae Challenge is a great experience for all—for alumni/ae to connect with the Seminary, talk with current students, and have a conversation with faculty post-graduation; it’s also a wonderful opportunity for us to hear alumni/ae news. This year we mailed out the initial Challenge in August, started the Phonathon in September, wrapped it up in October, and are planning one more push with an email and phone calls in March of 2011.

Last year alumni/ae giving to Austin Seminary was almost 26%, which is middle of the road compared to our sister seminaries— but we would like to see that steadily increase to 35%. During the fall semester we raised almost $30,000 with the help of nine alumni/ae, sixteen students, and three faculty callers. Our goal is to raise an additional $20,000 in the spring semester—so if you haven’t yet given to the Alumni/ae Challenge—expect a call!

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ustin Seminary took its expanded “Thinking Outside the Box” series to three communities in the fall: President Wardlaw and Professor David Jensen spoke in Norman, Oklahoma; Professor Cynthia Rigby, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and President Wardlaw and Alumni/ae Director Lana Russell, in Shreveport, Louisiana. The next event, “Today’s Church: Our Challenge—The Gift of Imagination,” will be at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas. President Wardlaw, Professor K.C. Ptomey, and Lana Russell will lead the two-day event, February 27-28. For more information or to register to attend the Events Monday lunchtime chat, call Lana Russell n io n u e R l ia Spec , at 512-404-4809, or online at 1 6 9 1 f o s e www.austinseminary.edu/totbph r the Class

fo 000-2010 1971, and 2 inters 2011!

W id M g in r du

At its September meeting the ASA Board voted to move to regional representation. The map shows the distribution of Austin Seminary graduates.

Spring Partnership Events March 8, 2011 Little Rock, Arkansas

WINDOWS Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary 100 East 27th Street, Austin, Texas 78705-5797

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Austin, Texas Permit No. 2473

April 13, 2011 Shreveport, Louisiana May 12, 2011 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma For more information or to attend one of these call: 512-404-4886

Winter 2011

Christian Leadership Education Monday, February 14, 2011 “From Sinners to Servants, from Death into Life” A Lifelong Learning workshop on the lectionary readings for Lent 2011 with Professor W. Eugene March

en d s i r f r u o y t e Me MidWinters!

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ebruary 2 January 31-F

AUSTIN SEMINARY ASSOCIATION (ASA) BOARD Belinda Windham (MDiv’91), President Richard Culp (MDiv’93), Vice President Patti Herndon (MDiv’93), Past President Judy F. Baskin (MDiv’02) Charles W. Edwards Jr. (DMin’89) Gerald Goodridge (MDiv’02) David Green (MDiv’95) Aquanetta Hicks (MDiv’08) Kathleen T. Hignight (MDiv’95) Dorothy C. “Dolly” Hunt (MDiv’03) Ryan M. Kemp-Pappan (MDiv’08) Brian L. Merritt (MDiv’98) Nancy Mossman (MDiv’88) A. Catherine Robinson (MDiv’86) Karen H. Stocks (MDiv’85)

March 14-18, 2011 Interim Ministry Training through the Synod of the Sun First and second weeks of training for ministers preparing to be interim pastors for churches in transition For more information and to register, contact Valerie Knox at vknox@synodsun.com.

Thursday, March 24, 2011 “All Creation Rejoices!

The Journey of the Great Three Days” A Lifelong Learning workshop with Professor Jennifer L. Lord March 30-April 1, 2011 Synod of the Sun Latino Pastors Association Annual Meeting at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary April 11-13, 2011 “Being Real: The Convoluted Simplicity of Young Adult Ministry” A Lifelong Learning workshop on youth ministry with Bruce Reyes-Chow

To register for these events, go to www.austinseminary.edu/cle2011 or contact Kathy Muenchow at 512-404-4857