faculty news notes
class notes | 1990s Septemmy Lakawa (MA’96) was named president of Jakarta Theological Seminary in 2019. She is the first female president of the 87-year-old seminary.
Professors Johnson and Hooker retire
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n December, Austin Seminary celebrated two cherished members of the faculty who retired in 2021, The Reverend Dr. David Johnson, associate professor of church history and Christian spirituality, and The Reverend Dr. Paul Hooker, associate dean in the Office of Ministerial Formation and Advanced Studies. David Johnson joined the faculty in 2002 to direct the Supervised Practice of Ministry and Certificate in Spiritual Formation programs. He later assumed supervision of the DMin program and additional teaching responsibilities. He is the author of Trust in God: The Christian Life and the Book of Confessions (Geneva Press, 2013). Much beloved by colleagues and students alike, Johnson was honored this spring by an issue of Insights: The Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary. In the introduction, President Wardlaw wrote, “David is, all at once, a seasoned pastor, a brilliant theologian, an enchanting and honest preacher, a connoisseur of fine wines and exotic teas, and a remarkable intellect who also appreciates whimsy.” A student wrote, “His quiet ability to bring an entire classroom into an introspective, empathetic, and thoughtful mindset is one of the most impressive things about him.” Paul Hooker joined the faculty in 2012 to oversee the Doctor of Ministry, Certificate in Ministry, and Supervised Practice of Ministry programs (following Dr. Johnson). Prior to coming to Austin Seminary, he was executive presbyter and stated clerk in the Presbytery of St. Augustine for thirteen years. Hooker’s extensive experience in writing and interpreting the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was a gift to the church and Austin Seminary students—as was his bass accompaniment as a founding member of the faculty band, Faculty Meeting. Dr. Hooker wrote a commentary on 1 and 2 Chronicles and co-authored a book on biblical history and literature. In recent years, his intellect and heart turned to less prosaic expression as he published two volumes of poetry: Days and Times: Poems from the Liturgy of Living (Resource, 2018) and The Hole in the Heart of God (Resource, 2021). Excerpts from the latter were used in Austin Seminary’s Easter Vigil last spring. Austin Seminary has been richly blessed by these two amiable and poetic scholars among us. Their wit, wisdom, and creative imaginations will long be treasured by this community. v 18 | Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Tom Paine (MDiv’98) has retired from a 27-year career in the military, including many serving as a chaplain. He now serves as transitional pastor for Lakewood Presbyterian and First Presbyterian, Tenino, both in Washington.
2000s Robert Lowry (MDiv’01) has been called as pastor to Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Arkansas. John Billingsley, husband of Marialice W. Billingsley (MDiv’01), died November 7, 2021. Jason Cashing (MDiv’06) recently accepted a new call and stepped into the pulpit of The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, New York. Returning to his home area, he and his wife are “excited to be a part of this dynamic community of faith lived out, celebrating the kin-dom of God in their midst!” Bill Cotman (MDiv’06) has been called as yoked pastor to First Presbyterian Church of Alpine and Marfa, Texas. In February Juan Sinmiedo Herrera (MDiv’07) was installed as the moderator of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
2010s Anna Bowden (MDiv’12) has been named assistant professor of New Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She will begin her service in the fall of 2022. Bowden has most recently served as visiting professor of biblical studies at Albion College
in Albion, Michigan. Ellen and Chris Reyes (MATS’15) welcomed their son, Matthew Scott Reyes, born December 2, 2021.
2020s Savannah Demuynck (MDiv’20) finished her residency and has been called as associate pastor for spiritual formation for Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.
in memoriam | J. Pat McClatchy (MDiv’53), January 13, 2022, Brownwood, Texas Fred H. Babb (MDiv’59), December 24, 2021, Burleson, Texas R. Clement Dickey Jr., (MDiv’59), January 12, 2022, Mathews, Virginia Carl Zimmerman (MDiv’62), February 18, 2022, Las Cruces, New Mexico Leo M. Constantino (ThM’64), August 10, 2021, Chicago, Illinois Lanis S. Smith (BD’70), January 14, 2021, McGregor, Texas Murdoch H. McRae II (MDiv’77), May 13, 2021, Odenville, Alabama Stephen W. Plunkett (MDiv’80), January 18, 2021, Denton, Texas James (Jim) Gooch (MDiv’82, DMin’93), February 14, 2022, Lampasas, Texas Charles E. Miller (MDiv’91), November 7, 2021, Las Cruces, New Mexico Nilah Meier-Youngman (DMin’93), August 31, 2018, Anderson, Indiana Pat Clark (MDiv’95), February 3, 2022, Fulshear, Texas
