April 10, 2009

Kairos A Publication of the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Community Issue #178

Be prepared to exercise your right to vote, because Student Body Elections will be starting at the end
of this week! Elections will be taking place over the next few weeks for Student Body President, Middler and
Senior Senators, Elections Commissioner, and Student Representatives to Faculty Committees. If you are
interested in running for any of these positions, please contact Charissa Ellis ASAP
(charissa.ellis@austinseminary.edu).
The schedule for elections will be as follows:
President

• April 8th at Manna: Open nominations from student body floor.

Student

Nominations for
Body

• April 11th at noon: Close nominations. Voting begins.

• April 14th at 5 PM: Voting closes. Student Body
President
• April 15th at Manna: New President announced!
Opened at Manna
on April 8 and will
Senior and

continue until April

Senators
Middler

• April 15th at Manna:
• April 18th at noon:
• April 21st at 5 PM:
• April 22nd at Manna:
Committee
Elections/
Open nominations from student body floor. 11 at noon. Don't
Close nominations. Voting begins. let the short time for
Voting closes. nominations pass
New Senators announced! you by! All that's
necessary to nomi-
nate someone is to
1) get the nomi-
nee's agreement to

• April 22nd at Manna: Open nominations from the student body run and 2) send the
Reps.

floor. person's name to

• April 25th at noon: Close nominations. Voting begins. Charissa Ellis.
• April 28th at 5 PM: Voting closes.
• April 29th at Manna: New Elections Commissioner and Student
Representatives announced!
Note: The duties of the faculty committees are described on page 8

Please note that elections will all take place online. Each Saturday at noon, an e-mail will be sent out to appro-
priate voters with a link to the online voting site. (Note: Only those who will be Middlers next year can vote for Middler
Senators, and likewise only Seniors can vote for Senior Senators.) Because of therecently approved changes to our
Student By-laws, all voting will take place by ranking all possible candidates in order of the voter's choice. The most pre-
ferred candidate will be ranked as "First Choice," the next
preferred candidate as "Second Choice," etc. This method
allows for instant run-off voting and makes overall voting Inside This Issue
less time-consuming. Only a few days are allotted for each Chapel Schedule 2 Commencement Information 6-7
separate election, so please vote as soon as you receive Announcements & Events 2-3 What I Learned in Seminary Today 9
the e-mail with the link to the voting site. Please exercise Explorations in Identity 4-5 Weekly Calendar 10
your right to vote. The greater the participation from the
© 2009 Austin Presbyterian
Theological Seminary
 Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html
Chapel Schedule
April 13—April 17
Monday: Service of the Word
Chris Kirwan, preacher
Tuesday: Service of Word and
Sacrament, Dr. David
Johnson, preacher
Thursday: Morning Prayer Service
Student-led
Friday: Service of the Word
Sherry Higdon, preacher
Senior MDiv students preach in chapel on
Monday and Thursday this week.
New McMillan Art Exhibit
Jasper, Texas:
The Healing of a Community in Crisis
A new photography exhibit has been in-
stalled on the second floor of the McMillan
Building. These pictures portray the people of
Jasper, TX, in the aftermath of the hate crime
committed there several years ago—the brutal
murder of James Byrd, Jr. The photos are pow-
erful, and the subject matter is compel-
ling. Many of the photos document the role of
the clergy in the town in struggling to hold the
town together and heal it in the aftermath of ra-
cial violence.
Interviews and text by Ricardo C. Ainslie, and
Photos by Sarah Wilson.
A project of Humanities Texas, the state affiliate
of the National Endowment of the Humanities.
Parents’ Night Out
Mark your calendar for Friday, April 17,
Hicks Community House, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
RSVP by Wednesday, April 15, to Laurel Dixon,
Babysitting Coordinator 473-8797 or
laurel.dixon@austinseminary.edu
Space is Limited!
Page 2
Commencement
Corner
Mark your calendars!
Baccalaureate
Sat., May 23
6:00 p.m.
Commencement
Sun., May 24
2:30 p.m.
Both Events Will Be Held At
University Presbyterian Church
See Alison in the dean’s office
for more information.
NOTE: Detailed commencement
information on Pages 6-7!
Support the Faithful Flyers
The Hill Country Ride for AIDS is fast ap-
proaching, and the Austin Seminary team, the
Faithful Flyers, needs your help! The ride raises
funds to support ten agencies in the Austin area
that provide services and resources to those
struggling with the challenges of living with HIV/
AIDS. Each rider raises a minimum of $500.
Go to www.hillcountryride.org to donate online
to the team or to individual. Also, it’s not too
late—new team members are welcome! Sign
up now for the ride on April 25!
EASTER VIGIL BREAK-FAST
Following the ancient Christian tradition
of gathering to share King Ranch Chicken and
Green Bean Casserole – the Easter Vigil will
conclude with a Break-Fast Pot Luck meal. The
service should end between 10:30 and 11:00
p.m., at which time we will continue our celebra-
tion of the Light of Christ with food and fellow-
ship. Needs for the Pot Luck include savory
and sweet dishes, plastic ware, plates and cups.
Refrigeration and microwave reheating will be
available. E-mail Kathy Escandell and let her
know what you’d like to bring
(kathy.escandell@austinseminary.edu).
 Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html Page 3

PCUSA ORDINATION EXAM INCOME TAX ISSUES FOR CLERGY

PREPARATION WORKSHOPS
Ordination Exam preparation workshops are
offered only once a year, so do take advantage
of these if you plan to take ordination exams
this August or next January. One of the main
reasons people fail to pass an exam is a failure
to read the question thoroughly or a failure to
follow general directions. Don’t be one of
those failures. All workshops will be held in
McMillan 210. Contact Ann Fields for more
information.
Worship & Sacraments
Wednesday, April 29, 6:00-8:00
Led by Jen Lord
All students, as well as ordained faculty and ad-
ministrators are invited to our second annual
Seminar on Income Tax Issues for Clergy.
• Thursday, April 23
• Presented by Debbie Steinbach, CPA and
spouse of Rev., Phil Steinbach, an Austin
Seminary graduate
• 6:00-8:00 PM
• McCord 204
This seminar is strongly encouraged for all sen-
iors. If you are a junior or middler, please be
aware that we plan to offer this seminar again
next year. This is not your only chance. Con-
tact Ann Fields for more information.

General Overview PCUSA SENIOR SEMINARS

Monday, May 4, 6:00-7:00
Led by Lesley Davies from GA in Louisville, The remaining Senior Seminar is listed below.
and Shane Webb, APTS MDiv Student Please plan to take advantage of them. Con-
tact Ann Fields for more information.
Biblical Exegesis
Monday, May 4, 7:00-8:00 Pastoral Ethics
Led by Andy Dearman (required by many presbyteries)
Led by David Johnson
Church Polity Wednesday, April 15 & Thursday, April 16
Wednesday, May 6, 6:00-8:00 6:00-8:00
Led by Fred Morgan McCord 204
Theological Competence Both Sessions are Required for
Thursday, May 7, 6:00-8:00 Pastoral Ethics credit
Led by Dave Jensen

Student Senate Minutes

April 8, 2009
Present: Melissa Koerner, Sarah Hegar, Matthew Thompson, José Lopez, Lindsay Hatch
Excused: Chris Kreisher, Amy Wiles

BUSINESS
• Spring Fling Follow-up
• 27 total people attended. It was a good day with food, fellowship, and fun.
• Manna
• April 15 – Hill Country Ride for Aids with Will Heimbach and a video.
• April 22 – Corpus Christi will talk about Covenant Network, Melissa will ask Chizason if he would like to give
a reflection on his time here.
• Spring Flung, 5:30-7:30pm, April 30.
• Matthew looked into Hey Cupcake! for dessert and we are waiting for their pricing.
• Budget: blow up toys, food, games, advertising = $1,100.
 Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html
A Miniseries of Reflections from Travels Abroad
By Mary Elizabeth Prentice, MDiv Middler
Part Eight, Conclusion
My Identity
Over the course of the semester I have spent
time reflecting on: trying to identify with others, dis-
tinctive characteristics of identity, wanting to assert
my identity, walls as a forced expression of identity,
identifying ourselves via negativa, and the labels that
cause us to assume things about identity. In all of
this I have not answered the question: What is my
identity?
I have decided to conclude my wanderings in
identity this Holy Week. Holy Week seems to be the
perfect time to reflect upon what has shaped my iden-
tity and who I believe I am. From the table of Thurs-
day to the cross of Friday and anticipation of Satur-
day and finally the joy of Sun-
day, I cannot help but attempt
to find my identity somewhere
along the journey.
I think my identity is
still being shaped and formed
as I progress through the
many experiences of life and
especially during my time
here at seminary. My “inner
Presbyterian” is often what I
revert to when my identity is
questioned and this inner
Presbyterian tends to focus
on depravity, and can neglect
the grace of God. There were
many times in January in Isreal/Palestine where I
found my inner Presbyterian challenged and affirmed.
I have decided I do not identify well with relics.
(Ironic, is it not, that I traveled to the Holy Land be-
cause, in general the whole land, is considered a
relic?) I say this specifically because my inner Pres-
byterian froze as we entered The Church of the Holy
Sepulcher, the time-honored traditional place of Je-
sus’ crucifixion and burial. My overall impression of
the church was one of reverent disbelief. I watched
as pilgrims prostrated themselves onto the stone
where Christ’s body is said to have laid and then
gazed at the church’s ornate golden relics, which
stunned me. I breathed in the heavy air laced with
incense and all of this made my inner Presbyterian
squirm. “If I say I am Christian, am I supposed to do
like the other pilgrims? Am I supposed to see God
Page 4
somewhere in here?” I asked myself.
I was more comfortable seeing the images of
the devastation, death and destruction of the Israeli
incursion into the Gaza Strip than the demonstrations
of piety I witnessed in some of the holy places. My
inner Presbyterian was comforted by the depravity of
our human brokenness plastered on televisions and
in the newspapers. “See, we are not getting it right.”
I would say to myself upon braving a glance in the
newspapers.
When this all really hit me was at the house of
Caiaphas where Jesus was tried and tortured before
being crucified. It had been a long day already. We
started the day at the mosque of the Ascension of
Christ, then preceded to the Pater Nostrum – where
the Our Father was written in hundreds of languages,
then it was on to the Garden
of Gethsemane, followed by a
steep walk down to David’s
Old City, and concluding with
the Church of the Last Supper
– And this all before lunch!
For a late lunch we traveled
to Bethlehem and were
treated to a spectacular feast,
yet the restaurant was eerily
quiet because its view was
now marred with the wall be-
ing built around the West
Bank, and we were the only
customers.
But our day was not
over after lunch. We were off to the Church of Peter’s
(the apostle) denial and finally finished the day at the
house of Caiaphas. Peter, our guide, had pulled me
aside and asked me to pray at the house and I
quickly agreed. Peter and I had formed a friendship
by now and we had shared several engaging conver-
sations getting past the surface of issues and into the
meat of conflict and tragedy. I shared my experi-
ences of division with Peter from my time in Northern
Ireland and I think he felt I understood his circum-
stances. I am not sure why he sought me out to pray,
but I accepted the opportunity and began to formulate
an eloquent prayer, which was to be theologically
relevant and tastefully pertinent.
Right before we got to the pit where Jesus
was said to have hung for hours after being beaten,
Peter explained that we would be entering into the pit
Continued on page 5
Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html
Continued from page 4
– all 32 of us–and Ruth Martin, a former student,
would read Psalm 88. The Psalm concluded with
“darkness” and Peter would then turn out the lights
and I would pray. Not a problem I thought.
The Psalm was read and the day flashed
before me. I began to tear up, then the lights went
out, and it was my turn. I began with “God of Dark-
ness and of Light” and then my voice cracked and
the tears flowed. I did not make it through the
prayer without choking up on every sentence and I
hardly remember much of what I said. I do remem-
ber ending the prayer the same way we began the
day, inviting people to join me in “Our Father.” Then
everyone silently filed out of the pit. I was one of
the last ones out and at that point I really just
needed to get out into the fresh air. My classmates
and friends wordlessly expressed their concern and
thanks for the emotion I showed, but I really wanted
to explain myself.
I was not crying over the place or “relic,” I
was crying over the circumstance. I was crying be-
cause there was/is so
much hurt, terror and
hatred in this world, yet
through all of this we
believe. For me I had
reached a point and my
heart silently yearned:
“God I believe, help my
unbelief! I believe we
are loved enough to
receive the grace-filled
gift of Christ as our
Savior: One person,
fully human, and fully
divine who saved us
from ourselves. I be-
lieve there is more grace and mercy in God than
there is sin in us, but for the love of Christ, why do
we still hurt, and why can I not see it now?
I do not believe we are always getting it right
in this life. I do not believe hoarding and division
are what lies beyond this life. I cannot believe that.
I desire to make glimpses of that hope of bounty
and oneness possible in this life. I wanted to gulp
down the not yet, but I was stuck in the now. Maybe
even gulping would not be enough to describe my
thirst. . . I wanted a 64-ounce-ice-cold-unlimited-
free-refills-of-lemonade-on-a-hot-summer-day-in-
Texas gulp of communion goodness. I wanted to
plop down and demand a full cup, but all I got was a
sip. . . enough for sustenance.
I got this sip as Robert and Lindsay stood
Page 5
like centurions beside me as I wept outside of
Caiaphas’ house. I got this sip as I heard Peter re-
count his daughter’s fears for the children in Gaza.
But I also get this sip from my cousin who collected
money in memory of a friend who died of cancer
instead of asking for birthday gifts. I get this sip
from friends and their children, classmates, and pro-
fessors. I get this sip when two-year old Maya runs
up to me in the library to gives me a giant hug. I get
this sip when 19-month-old Lucas does NOT run
away from me and cry. I get this sip holding eight-
week-old Naomi and watch her open her eyes and
smile at me. I get this sip in looking at others
through Jesus of Nazareth. So I get sips and a
break from the now, but hold tightly to firm and cer-
tain knowledge of the not yet.
And this is where I found my identity, my in-
ner Presbyterian – in the now and not yet. I live in
the dialectical tension of my brokenness and God’s
boundless gift of grace.
I walk away from my musing in identity con-
tinuing to ponder. I pray
that along the way I con-
tinue to identify myself with
efforts to build bridges
rather than walls. I hope
that my identity does not
get in the way of finding
commonalities in people
and I hope that I can be
pro-human rather than
pro-certain causes.
I rest easy in com-
paring God’s love and
grace to what Anne Lamott
calls “Loved and Chosen.”
She identifies each child
and adult in her Sunday school class with a unique
attribute of their physical appearance and then calls
them by name and invites them onto the couch by
saying something like, “Mary Elizabeth, you are
loved and chosen, come and sit with me.” In the
end everyone is loved and chosen, but in this proc-
ess she uniquely identifies each person. I would
like to think this is how identity could be used to
build bridges and not walls. Yes, we are all differ-
ent, but we are also ALL human. We all need to
end up on the couch in order to respect the human-
ity in one another.
Photo Credits
“Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” by Mary Elizabeth Prentice.
“The Gulp” by Matthew Stottlemyer , FPC Waco, taken at Iona
Island, Scotland
 Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html Page 6

DETAILED COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION

MEMORANDUM

To: Class of 2009, Board of Trustees, Faculty, Administrators, Staff and Students
From: Michael Jinkins, Academic Dean
Date: April, 2009
Re: 2009 Baccalaureate and Commencement Activities
Held at: University Presbyterian Church, 2203 San Antonio Street
Directions are provided at the end of this memo.

Regalia for Graduates

• Cap and gown pickup
• Caps and gowns will be available for pickup, upon receipt of the completed graduation checkout
form, from the Registrar=s office during the week of May 18 and until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May
22nd (details to follow). Note that gowns will be wrinkled and will require pressing.
• Graduates can make arrangements for someone to pick up their regalia if they are unable to do
so.
• Cap, gown, and academic hood return (graduates are hooded during the commencement ceremony)
• All items are rented by the seminary and must be returned following the ceremony on the day
of graduation to the library at University Presbyterian Church.
• Failure to return regalia will result in a fine of $300 to cover the cost of the items, and a hold will
be placed on the graduate’s record.
Baccalaureate Service and Celebration of the Lord=s Supper
• Saturday, May 23, 2009, University Presbyterian Church, 6:00 p.m.
• All graduates are expected to attend the Baccalaureate service, and all other students are encour-
aged to attend.
• There is no academic procession at this service.
• Graduates and Faculty will not robe.
• There is no assigned seating.
• Childcare will be provided at the church during the Baccalaureate service for children age 6 and
younger only. Register childcare needs no later than May 15, 2009 with Mona Minjarez in the Busi-
ness Office.
Baccalaureate Preacher: The Rev. Dr. J. Andrew Dearman
Celebrants: The Rev. Dr. David Johnson and The Rev. Jacquline Saxon
Commencement Service
• Sunday, May 24, 2009, University Presbyterian Church, 2:30 p.m.
• All graduates are required to attend the Commencement service, and all other students are encour-
aged to attend. (To graduate in absentia, one must request permission in writing from the Academic
Dean).
• There is an academic procession at this service. Allan Cole will serve as marshal.
• Graduates and Faculty wear academic regalia, including caps.
• There is assigned seating for Trustees, Faculty, and graduating students.
• Childcare is provided at the church for children age 6 and younger only. Register childcare needs no
later than May 15, 2009, with Mona Minjarez in the Business Office.

Commencement Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Joseph J. Clifford, Senior Pastor,

First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas
 Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html Page 7

Before the service — for Graduates and their Families

• Rehearsal (without robes) for graduates will be conducted in the church sanctuary at 1:15 p.m. Robes
and personal belongings can be left in Room 212 (the Youth Room) at University Presbyterian Church
between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. The room will be monitored and locked.
• Families may gather in the fellowship hall or courtyard until rehearsal is finished, approxi-
mately 1:45 - 2:00.
• Immediately following this rehearsal, graduates will gather in Room 212 to robe and pose for the class
photograph.
• After the photograph, graduates will be lined up in processional order.

Before the service — for Trustees and Faculty

• The Board of Trustees and Faculty gather for instructions no later than 2:00 p.m. in Room 210 (the
room next to the Youth Room upstairs) at University Presbyterian Church.

Order for Commencement Procession

st nd rd th th
• 1 — Commencement Leaders; 2 — Marshal; 3 — Board of Trustees; 4 — Faculty; 5 — Class
of 2009.
• Entering the sanctuary from the rear:
• The Board of Trustees will sit in the front rows on the left (spouses sit in rows behind trustees)
• Faculty will sit in the chancel (spouses sit in sanctuary in rows behind trustees)
• Graduates will sit in the front rows on the right.
• An alphabetical processional list of all graduates participating in the Commencement ceremony will be
sent out prior to graduation.
*** Don’t forget to return your regalia to the church library after the service * * *
Reception
• All are invited and encouraged to attend a reception in the courtyard of University Presbyterian Church
immediately following the Commencement exercises.
Directions to University Presbyterian Church
• From IH-35:
th
• Take the Dean Keaton exit (26 Street) and drive west to Guadalupe Street. Turn south (left) on
Guadalupe Street and proceed to 22nd Street.
nd
• At 22 Street, turn west (right) and drive one block to San Antonio Street. The church is located
on the northeast corner of 22nd Street and San Antonio. San Antonio Street is one way going
north, and parking is in the University Co-Op Garage one half-block north of the church on the
west (left) side of the street, across the street from the church.
• From Mopac:
• Take the Windsor Road exit and drive east to Guadalupe. Turn south (right) on Guadalupe to
22nd St.
nd
• At 22 Street, turn west (right) and drive one block to San Antonio. The church is located on the
northeast corner of 22nd Street and San Antonio.
nd
• Note: If driving north on Guadalupe from MLK Blvd., a left turn on 22 is prohibited. Instead, from
MLK Blvd., go one block west of Guadalupe, turn north on San Antonio and continue to 22nd
Street.
Parking
• Free parking for Baccalaureate and Commencement is available in the University Co-Op Garage one
half-block north of the church on the west (left) side of the street, across the street from the church.
 Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html Page 8

SAVE THE DATE

Retirement Reception for Rev. Dr. Ann Fields

A retirement reception for our dear friend and colleague Ann Fields will be held in Vickery
Atrium of McCord Center on Friday, April 17th at 3:30 P.M.
Ann is retiring, effective the end of this month, from her successful and much-appreciated
role as Vice-President for Student Affairs and Vocation; and we are gathering to say farewell and
godspeed.
Please plan to join the rest of the APTS community in thanking Ann for her good work and in
wishing her well in the next chapter of her life.
Please know as well that this event is open to all family members of all students, staff and
faculty in this community.

Faculty Committees

Program of Study Committee oversees the academic
programs of the Seminary. The committee:
• Makes recommendations to the faculty concerning all
aspects of the curricula of degree programs, including
courses offered, the shape of degree programs, and
the Seminary Catalogue;
• Reports the use of Hoxie Thompson Lectureship
Funds;
• Advises the academic dean and the president on rela-
tionships with other academic institutions and asso-
ciations; and,
• Receives information and recommendations from the
DMin committee, faculty departments, and, via the
academic dean, the Houston Extension Advisory
Board.
Includes two students elected from the student body.
Student Life/Student Standing Committee cares for
non-academic areas of student life, including student gov-
ernment, diversity, and concerns articulated by students
themselves. The committee:
• Reviews the progress of students toward completion
of degrees;
• Makes recommendations for academic probation and
dismissal; and,
• Makes recommendations to enhance student-faculty
relationships.
Includes one MATS student and one MDiv student, both
elected by the student body.
Library Committee advises the library director on library
services and policies. The committee:
• in concert with the academic dean, reviews and ap-
proves library planning documents; and,
• makes recommendations to the faculty on library ser-
vices and policies.
Includes two students elected by the student body.
Worship Committee provides oversight of the public wor-
ship of the Seminary and makes recommendations to the
faculty. The committee:
• Recommends to the faculty a schedule for regular and
occasional worship services;
• Recommends to the faculty themes for preaching se-
ries;
• Arranges for leadership of chapel worship, making
use of the gifts of faculty, students, and Seminary
staff; and,
• Evaluates the quality of public worship to encourage
the proclamation of the gospel among the Seminary
community.
Includes two students elected by the student body.
Admissions Commission is responsible for admitting
students into the degree programs of the Seminary. The
commission:
• acts for the faculty to admit students in the MATS,
MDiv, and DMin programs;
• admits special students and ecumenical students;
• determines which students shall be admitted with pro-
visional status;
• nominates to the faculty recipients of Jean Brown Fel-
lowships and Jean Brown Scholarships;
• Brings to the faculty its recommendation for admitting
or readmitting students to degree programs whose
circumstances or credentials are unusual;
• makes recommendations for changes in admissions
policies or the Catalogue description of admissions
standards; and,
• advises the director of admissions on all aspects of
the director’s work.
Includes two senior students elected by the student body.
 Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html
A Weekly Column Offering Musings, Insights, and Reflections on the Seminary Life
‘Preparation’
By Paul Dubois, MDiv Senior
During a break this morning I found myself
discovering the new photography exhibit on the sec-
ond floor of the McMillan Building. The exhibit de-
picts people and places that surround a recent and
horrific event in American and Texas history: The
brutal murder of James Byrd, Jr., in Jasper, Texas
(see page 2 for a description of the exhibit).
The story was familiar. I remember hearing
of the 1998 murder when it happened. The shocking
details too inhuman to believe, yet all too true, all too
familiar. Even now I shun the details, not wanting to
know too much. A black man given a ride by three
white men was attacked, beaten, and then chained
to the back of a pickup truck. He was dragged for
three miles, dying somewhere along the way. The
murderers were caught; two are on death row, the
first time in Texas that a white man received the
death penalty for the murder of a black man. The
third murderer will spend his life in prison.
It sounds like something out of the 1920s, but
it was only 11 years ago, and only 250 miles from
here. It has the feel of “same planet, different
worlds”, but I know that this is a comforting lie told to
ensure and perpetuate my own comfort. It could
never happen now, it could never happen here...
I’m not sure whether there is an official start-
ing point for the exhibit–whether the photographs
and narrative captions flow in a prescribed order. I
started by the stairs. After viewing the third or fourth
photo, I came to feel like I was praying the Stations
of the Cross. Before me was an image–a country
road, a county prosecutor, a murderer–and I saw my-
self in all of these places, and in all of these people.
I thought of the Passion liturgy wherein I shout with
glee and wave the palm fronds welcoming the pro-
cession of the king, only to find myself also demand-
ing “Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!”
A photo near the student lounge reminded
me of Station 6 (in the Catholic tradition of my child-
hood)–Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. This non-
canonical story tells of a woman who used her veil to
wipe Jesus’ face as he carried his cross towards Gol-
gotha. The picture before me was that of Jasper’s
Catholic priest, Fr. Ron Fosage. When Fr. Fosage
Page 9
learned that no one would sit by the father of Bill
King, one of the murderers, during the trial, he went.
He went and sat with a lonely father in his darkest
hour–at the murder trial of his son. Imagine a father
struggling to come to terms with what his child has
done, unable to comprehend how it came to this, and
yet not forsaking the son, either.
But the caption under Fr. Fosage’s picture
held another story, too. Fr. Fosage was a member of
the Ministerial Alliance of Jasper, a group of trans-
denominational and trans-racial clergy. Here is what
Fr. Fosage said: “It was a real blessing that we had
grown to be good friends on the Ministerial Alliance
before this tragedy.” He goes on to say that the Min-
isterial Alliance was a legitimate and respected entity
in Jasper during this time. The Ministerial Alliance
held the trust and confidence of the black commu-
nity, the white community, the law enforcement com-
munity, and the media. But what is striking to me are
the words “before this tragedy.” That is, the founda-
tion for survival in the aftermath of this heinous mur-
der was established before the incident. Relation-
ships across communities were formed intentionally
and purposefully by the ordained Christian leaders.
Indeed, it was a real blessing–for Fr. Fosage, the
other clergy, and for the community of Jasper–that
when the sunrise revealed the insidious murder of
James Byrd, Jr., and began the chaotic dismantling
of normalcy, the friendships and relationships estab-
lished within the Ministerial Alliance became the fab-
ric of sustaining life until the resurrection.
I hope that something like this couldn’t hap-
pen here and that it couldn’t happen now. But I know
better. Something will happen–a little crisis, or a big
crisis. Something to upset our normal, something
new. Of that we can be sure. Something always
happens. The sun rises and we find ourselves con-
fronted with something we would rather not have to
see. Death, illness, unemployment, poverty, despair.
But the sun rises and we have to see it. We have to
face it. What have we done to prepare ourselves?
Not for anything in particular, but how do we live in
relationships with God and with one another so that
we can be strengthened in Christ not after crisis hits,
but when it hits?
Since the last crisis hit, what have you done
to be prepared for the next?
 Issue 178 www.austinseminary.typepad.com/portal/kairos.html Page 10

Monday, April 13th

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Institutional Advancement Staff Meeting – Laura Harris Knox Dining Hall
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Service of the Word Shelton Chapel
Chris Kirwan, preacher
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Spiritual Direction – Scott Quinn McCord 202
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Acts 2:42 – Jose Lopez McCord 203

Tuesday, April 4th

WEEKLY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Service of the Word and Sacrament Shelton Chapel
David Johnson, Preacher
Chapel Team: Megan Dosher and Paul Dubois
4:15 – 8:15 p.m. Reading, Writing, and Study Skills – Light German Knox Dining Hall
APRIL 13-APRIL 19, 2009

Wednesday, April 15th

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Midweek Manna – Student Senate Stotts Dining Hall
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Spiritual Direction – Jean Springer McCord 202
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. President’s Student Luncheon – Nancy Reese Knox Dining Hall
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Corpus Christi – Scott Spence McCord 203
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Student Senate – Melissa Koerner McMillan 206
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Theological Historical Department – David Jensen McMillan 209
12:45 – 2:30 p.m. Korean Bible Study – In Hye Park McMillan 204
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Spiritual Direction – Barbara Schutz McMillan 205
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. APTS Choir Rehearsal Shelton Chapel
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Admissions Committee – Bill Greenway McMillan 209
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Student Life/Standing Committee – Ellen Babinsky McMillan 210
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Program of Study Committee – Ismael Garcia Trull Boardroom
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Balcones Community Orchestra – Outside Group McMillan 211
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Senior Seminar: Pastoral Ethics McCord 204

Thursday, April 16th

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Morning Prayer Service, student led Shelton Chapel
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Call 2 – Gail Dalrymple McCord 204
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Spiritual Direction – Barbara Schutz McCord 202
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Senior Seminar: Pastoral Ethics McCord 204
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Corpus Christi Potluck Lecture – Brandon Miles Stotts Hall

Friday, April 17th

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Worship: Service of the Word Shelton Chapel
Sherry Higdon, preacher
8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Spiritual Direction – Joe Berry McCord 202
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Retirement Celebration for Ann Fields Vickery Atrium

Saturday, April 18h

No Activitiies Today

Sunday, April 19th

2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Austin Girl’s Choir – Sara McClure Shelton Chapel

Submissions to Kairos: Email submissions to the editor, Paul Dubois, at Kairos@austinseminary.edu. Calendar events and room reservation
requests should be sent to Katherine Sweet at ksweet@austinseminary.edu or made in person at the McCord desk. Editorial decisions are based
on urgency, availability of space, and editorial guidelines. Deadline is Wednesday at 5:00 P.M. Submissions made after deadline must be
accompanied by a dunkel.

Kairos Editorial Guidelines

1 Kairos is the voice of students at Austin Seminary.
2 Kairos generally carries no advertisement for sales of goods or services by individuals. An exception is the sale of a student’s library or other
study aids.
3 It is not possible to make all program announcements which are submitted by individual churches. Kairos is more likely to be able to run an-
nouncements which apply to ecumenical or interfaith groups or groups of churches.
4 No letters which attack individuals or groups will be run in Kairos. This is to be distinguished from letters which might criticize the actions of
individuals or groups.
5 Kairos will publish letters to the editor that contribute to Christian conversation on the APTS campus. All letters must be signed.

Do you have something to say to Kairos? Something to add… Something to refute?

If so, we’d like to hear. We are committed to dialogue.
Letters to the editor will be published. See page 7 of this issue for our editorial guidelines.