Volume 113, No. 9
Houston, Texas
November 2010
St. James’, Austin, Living a “Sticky” Gospel
Bishop Rayford High announces his retirement, page 2.
St. James’ leaders share stories in oral history project. Pictured are (l-r): Ora Houston, Mary Lou Adams, Reuben McDaniel, Georgetta Maderas-Bryant and Catherine Thomas-Petite. Steven Tomlinson not pictured. Photo: Bob Kinney
By Bob Kinney
A
fter 16 African-American students and faculty from Huston-Tillotson College in Austin could not find a hospitable Episcopal church in which to worship during the 1940s, they decided to start their own. Sixty-some years later, several parishioners shared stories of how St. James’ grew for an oral history/video project envisioned by the Rev. Reggie Payne-Wiens, St. James’ rector. Karen Hartwell, an active member of the 450-member East Austin church, organized the video project. “At St. James’ it is important for us to share our heritage with all who come after us,” Payne-Wiens said. “We believe this is one of the primary ways that we can extend our mission of being a church community that will always welcome those who are not welcomed anywhere else.” The interviewees recalled stories stretching back to the 1950s, shared how they feel about their parish and recapped what they have done over the years to grow their church. Remembering the discrimination they once experienced, parishioners opened their church doors to all from the beginning. “We who were once rejected will reject no one, not even those who have rejected us,” recalled Ora Houston,
who first joined St. James’ in 1959. “Here at St. James’ we have a four-legged Episcopal stool – hospitality, ministry, liturgy/music and healing,” said Houston, who has been active in parish, diocesan and General Convention work for decades. “At St. James’ there are very rich people and there are very poor people and there are people of all colors and all languages. There are gay, straight, Republicans and Democrats. It is not a very stable mix of people, but somehow the thing that brings us there is very sticky, and so we stay,” said Steven Tomlinson, a graduate school professor and playwright. When Tomlinson first came to St. James’ in 1991, he describes that sticky force he felt – “This feels like the gospel to me. This feels like God’s love in action. I want to be part of this.” St. James’ members “have reached out to all because they have been touched. The AfricanAmerican roots of their church are a source of compassion, welcome and fellowship. Above all, it provides a sense of home to share with all,” said Dr. Reuben McDaniel, University of Texas professor and chair of health care management. He credited his spouse Myra, who died earlier this year, with being the family member who contributed mightily to her parish for 35 years. Wishing to honor the work See St. James’, Austin, page 11
INSIDE Bishops’ Calendars......................... 20 Bishop’s Column.............................. 2 Calendar of Events......................... 10
National & International..... 14-18 Parish News............................ 4-9 Sam Todd’s Column..................19 1
Features: Human Trafficking ..................................5 Sport, Obsession or Secret .....................12 Texas Episcopalian
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November
2010