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Endowed Chair:
The William M. Elliott Jr. Chair in Christian Ministry
Faculty Bio:
As a lifetime Presbyterian and an alumnus of Austin College I feel as though I spend my professional life tending the ground from which I grew. I am motivated by my desire to help Austin College live out its Church-relatedness in a way that benefits all students, faculty, and staff–regardless of their particular faith commitments–while also benefiting the Presbyterian Church USA and other religious communities. I seek to encourage and enable the College to approach each student and community member with humility, hospitality, and honesty.
I am especially interested in helping Austin College, its students, and American Presbyterians articulate our distinctiveness in ways that embrace pluralism, cherish diversity, and value inclusion.
Recent Courses:
- “Bible Stories, Liberal Arts Eyes”, January Term 2019
- “Castles, Crosses, Kilts, and Celts: The History and Culture of Scotland,” second faculty working with Dr. Wayne Crannell, January Term 2015, 2018
- “The History and Practice of Passover Seder,” with Austin College President Marjorie Hass, Spring Semester 2012
- “Why Presbyterians Are Like That: Presbyterian History, Doctrine and Polity,” January Term, 2008, 2011
Research Interests:
- Articulating Authentic Faith in a Multi-Faith Context
- Church-Related Higher Education
- Conflicts and Schisms among American Presbyterians
Links:
Publications:
- “Walking the Labyrinth Together During Lent,” Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Lenten Devotional, March 2019
- “’PC(USA)-related college’—What’s that?,” Presbyterian Outlook, April 28, 2014
- “Between the Labyrinth and the Abyss,” Insights: The Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary, Spring 2012.
- “Embracing Religious Diversity at Presbyterian-Related Schools,” Presbyterian Outlook, October 5, 2009.
- “A Different Way”, Austin Seminary Windows, Summer 2007
- “Faith and Higher Education,” Horizons Magazine, July /August 2006.
- “…and that is what we are: One Approach to Ministry with At-risk Youth,” Insights: The Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary, Fall 2001
- “Responses” (Response to an Interview with Harry Smith), Insights: The Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary, Fall 1996
- “Religious and Biblical Arguments for Church-State Separation,” Reflections on Religious Liberty. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, 1995.
Faculty Extras:
I am Founder and Director of the ACtivators, a program which, since 1995, has involved 591 Austin College students who have traveled over 178,000 miles to plan and lead 711 ministry events involving over 57,000 children, youth, college students, adults, and senior citizens. Sixty-Five former ACtivators have attended seminary. Forty-seven former ACtivators currently serve as full-time clergy or educators in 29 Presbyterian congregations in 11 states. Twenty-five ACtivators have served as PCUSA Young Adult Volunteers.