Kairos Issue 189

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kairoj kairos A Weekly Newspaper Invite to Write

Issue 189, Oct. 12- Oct 16, 2009 Meet the Juniors

MATS student, Bryan Law reflects on balancing work & seminary.

Find out more about the new students on campus

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Interview with the Cabinet Find out what Jack’s favorite car to rent while traveling and recruiting new students.

Prayer from Manna President Ted Wardlaw gave a great opening prayer at Manna on Wednesday - here it is in print!

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Free Stuff to do around Austin The financial aid office offers activities that are free around the Austin area.

Student Senate Meeting Notes Student Senate makes their notes public. Read them here.

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The Challenge of the Working Seminary Student

The main problem I've confronted as a working professional and a student is the dualism that can emerge. Do I have one foot in the world and one in my faith? Maybe! Bryan Law is the MATS Student Senator and a part of the Southern

However, over time my worlds have started Baptist church. He works full-time at the Texas Capitol. to integrate. At the Capitol my colleagues know I attend school at Austin Seminary and now they

Work and study have always gone hand in know more about the school, including, for starters, hand for me. My first job right out of high school the location. I've had great opportunities to discuss was building houses for Habitat for Humanity in my faith at work. My friends at seminary know more Abilene, Texas. This was a summer job and ended about the Legislature and the important issues facing when I left to start my undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin. During the span of my our state.

On a personal level, I now think more undergrad life I worked a total of nine jobs, theologically about public policy issues and pray including two part time jobs in one semester!

I went into seminary having the same work/ more over my work. Further, my involvement in local political events has allowed me to meet new school mindset with the following questions. How people in the community, talk about Austin do I balance the two? How do I integrate into the seminary community with the limited time I have on Seminary, my faith and God's calling on my life. campus? © 2009 Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

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There is an old saying that "religion and politics don't mix." I absolutely agree. Yet, for Christians I think a new saying could be that "faith and public engagement do blend." I believe this saying is true for all of us who are working our way through school. I would ask my fellow Christians to pray for and be mindful of those who work and attend school, specifically the challenge we face in balancing and integrating the two. -Bryan Law

Taking time out Christian Schmidt is a Junior MDiv Unitarian Universalist student in the care of the Southwest Unitarian Universalist Conference.

The last two weeks were rough. Between half a dozen personality profiles and autobiographical questionnaires for my upcoming career counseling, and two midterms for school (have I mentioned I love your classes, Cindy and John? :) ), there’s been too much going on and not nearly enough time to do it. Not nearly enough.

And, when two different people, out of the blue, stressed self-care to me on the same day, I

few weeks ago for one meal), and sometimes I run errands, since they only have one car themselves. But the best days, by far, are days when I get to talk to Lynn.

She’s been operating the house for almost 20 years, though she sold her old house and moved to a bigger location a few years ago. And before that, she ran a ministry that provided food to day laborers, men who work hard labor each day after being picked up by contractors.

And before that, in the 1970s, she ran a Montessori school in East Austin that taught children, mostly from low-income and minority families.

Hearing Lynn talk about her work is to hear about God’s call. She ties it directly to her life. When she’s following God’s call, she’s right, and when she’s not following it, she isn’t right. And for her, this isn’t some abstract thing. She nearly died at one point, and became a Christian as a result of the experience. She also gave up drinking, and has been sober for more than 30 years.

In short, if there are saints among us today, I’m pretty sure Lynn is one of them.

And it reminds me of what I need to do. I

thought that it might be time to take a little time for myself. And for me, being the overachiever that I am, have to stay true to the authentic religious life, whatever form that might take for me. If I don’t, that means volunteering.

So, I did what I had to do. I went to see Lynn. things won’t be right for me. Lynn Goodman-Strauss is a Catholic Community Worker. She runs a house, her house, in which she welcomes guests. Her guests are people who have no where else to go. They’ve often been living on the

For me, visiting with her is replenishing. It’s inspiring, even if I can scarcely imagine myself ever undertaking a ministry like that.

street, many are sick, some are dying, and all of them Thanks, Lynn. need a place to live.

- Christian Schmidt

And I, in the tiny amount of time that I can spare, volunteer there. Often that means I listen to the residents tell their stories. Sometimes it means I make dinner (I made a huge amount of gazpacho a 2

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From your local financial aid assistant Mary Ann Kaiser With midterms underway and hundreds of pages of reading under your belt, it is easy to forget there is a world out there! Take a break from the books without emptying your pocket by exploring this list of free (that’s no dinero, people!) upcoming events in the community.

Take a break and explore Austin…for free! Friday, Oct 9th “House of Yes” performance at 8 p.m. by the Austin Drama Club at 1612 E 7th St. Austin, Tx. 78702  Saturday, Oct 10th Guided hike at the beautiful trails of Bright Leaf Preserve, 9am for 4 miles (approx. 2 ½ hours) http://www.brightleaf.org/d.html Sunday, Oct 11th Get your abandoned bike out of the bike barn and take it for a ride on the Barton Creek Greenbelt! www.austinbike.com Monday, Oct 12th Visit the AIDS Memorial quilt at UT at the SSB Atrium (Open through Friday, Oct 16th). http:// www.aidsquilt.org/ Tuesday, October 13th Ruta Maya is hosting open-mic poetry at 6pm followed by open-mic music at 9 p.m. http://www.rutamaya.net/ Wednesday, October 14th UT is hosting a viewing of the 2007 movie “Music Within” from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Mezes Hall on UT campus. Thursday, Oct 15th Enjoy a performance of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” at UT’s Harry Ransom Center at 7 p.m. http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/events/

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BYOL to Mission Speaker Please join Prof. Arun Jones and Revs. Diego Hiquita-Arango and Sarah Henken for Bring Your Own Lunch on Monday, October 12, in McCord 201, to learn more about mission in Colombia.  Rev. Diego Higuita-Arango is executive secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia.  Rev. Sarah Henken is the current coordinator of the Colombia Accompaniment Program and works closely with the World Mission office in Louisville and the Peacemaking Program. She has made six trips to Colombia and before that was a YAV (Young Adult Volunteer) for two years in Argentina and Uruguay. Please RSVP with Alison Riemersma by 10/9.

Prayer from President Wardlaw at Manna 10/7 O God, who gives us this great big world in which to

play, and work, and rest and serve: We thank you for giving us this day, as well. We come to you in this hour ready to socialize with

friends and experience the community into which you call us here.   Some of us are students, some are faculty, some are

staff. Some of us are muggles, wizards, vampires, or

shape-shifters (like Michael Jinkins). Some of us are happy, some of us sad, some of us

energetic, some of us tired. Some of us are Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians,

Presbyterians, or even undeclared. Whoever and whatever we are, or think we are, use

us today, we pray, for some holy purpose.   And make us glad that, in this moment, whatever it is that we have told you we most want; what you give us instead is each other, and such evidence of your being in our midst that it takes our breath away.   Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. 3

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Naomi Ingrim Licensed Pharmacist. Grace Presbyterian Church, Temple, TX. She plays the bassoon and piano and would travel back to the Renaissance if she could go back in time.

Mitch Kolls

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Mary Ann Kaiser

Liz Klar

BA in Communication Arts, University of Florida - Pensacola.

Just retired from being a coach and teacher of 30 years!

Cokesbury United Methodist Church, Pensacola, FL.

First United Methodist Church, Pflugerville, TX.

She just returned from a year of service in Nigeria. She is adventurous and is learning to ride a motorcycle

She commutes daily from Pflugerville and is interested in chaplaincy.

Meagan Ludwig

BA in Christian Ministry - Abilene BA in Spanish with a minor in Christian University. Latin American Studies. Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX.

Covenant Presbyterian Church, Wichita, KS.

The last non-seminary book he read was Harry Potter and would return to the eighties simply for parachute pants. He would take Dwight Schrute to a deserted island.

She is fluent in Spanish. Meagan would take Bear Grylles (host of Man vs. Wild), along with her husband and sunblock to a deserted island.

Dean Mattox Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church, Austin, TX. If Dean were a vegetable he would be a tomato, because “everywhere else in the world it’s a fruit, but the US Congress has declared it a vegetable.” Dean would also prefer to go forward rather than go back in time. 4

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Student Groups Approved by Cabinet 2009-2010 Acts 2:42 CONTACT INFORMATION: Jose Lopez [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: The purpose of this group is to provide a comfortable environment for evangelical, conservative, and orthodox students to gather, eat, attempt to apply God’s Word to their lives, and pray with and for one another. Sponsor: Eugene March

Baptist Student Group CONTACT INFORMATION: Amy Wiles [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: To serve as a teaming, serving, and connectional support group for Baptist students. Sponsor: Jackie Saxon

Choir CONTACT INFORMATION: Caitlin Thomas Deyerle [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: To proclaim God’s love through song. Sponsor: Kristin Saldine

Community Edge (Spouses’ Group) CONTACT INFORMATION: Lauren Falco [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: To offer support for couples and families for the purpose of enhancing the atmosphere of Christian community at APTS. The group is designed to provide:

Faithful Flyers CONTACT INFORMATION: Cathy Stone [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: To form a team of APTS community members committed to serving the broader Austin community by riding in the Hill Country Ride for AIDS (KCRFA). To help meet the financial needs of the AIDS agencies supported by the ride through effective fundraising. Sponsor: David White

Fore God CONTACT INFORMATION: Jose Lopez [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: Accepting the gifts of humility -Transformation in the lives of the participants-enjoying the glory of nature and the community of God’s children and the benefits of grace in golf. Sponsor: Lewis Donelson

Harmonium - An Interreligious Forum CONTACT INFORMATION: Ron Phares [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: Provides a forum for distinct religious and religiously relevant voices to find resonance between traditions and deepen our understanding of our own spiritual and religious paths. Sponsor: Whitney Bodman

Kickin’ It Old School

MSSW/MDIV Support Group CONTACT INFORMATION: Nikki Stahl [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: To provide support to MSSW/MDIV students as they try to incorporate teachings from two different institutions. Sponsor: Allan Cole

Overcomers= Outreach Open 12-Step Meeting CONTACT INFORMATION: Doug Fritzsche [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: This is a Christcentered non-denominational 12-step recovery program. A variety of Apresenting problems@ including alcoholism, addiction, anger, gambling, co-dependency (Alanon) and others are welcome at the open meetings. Sponsor: Kristin Saldine

Still Small Voice: A Spirituality Resources Group CONTACT INFORMATION: Tina Broadway [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: To encourage students in their practice of spiritual disciplines by identifying and creating opportunities for spiritual growth. Sponsor: David White

Unitarian Universalist Student Society

CONTACT INFORMATION: Kate Loveless [email protected]

CONTACT INFORMATION: Christian Schmidt [email protected]

*Opportunities to minister to one another and build friendships;

MISSION STATEMENT: To promote a community-oriented, fun, and physical activity outside of APTS.

*Activities that promote community involvement.

Sponsor: Jennifer Lord

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide support, fellowship, and community for Unitarian Universalist and other religious seminarians, faculty, and staff at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

*Support for incoming couples and families to assist in the transition to the unique Austin Seminary experience;

Sponsor: Jackie Saxon

Corpus Christi CONTACT INFORMATION: Brandon Miles [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: To be inclusive and supportive of the APTS community and to serve the APTS community by creating a safe place where we can discuss and explore issues threatening the unity and/or the efficacy of the church. Our mission, in its broadest sense includes increasing awareness of and dialogue related to Social and Ecological Justice issues.

Methodist Student Group

Sponsor: Cynthia Rigby

CONTACT INFORMATION: Jenny Tucker [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT: To establish a connection to other Methodist Students for fellowship and discussion in a United Methodist ethos.For dissemination of denominational information from our connectional system. Sponsor: David White

Sponsor: Whit Bodman

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W W W . A U S T I N S E M I N A R Y. T Y P E P A D . P O R T A L / K A I R O S . H T M L

Interview with Vice President for Admissions Rev. Dr. Jack Barden As one of the six Austin Presbyterian Seminary Cabinet members, Jack plays an integral role in building the future of the student body. Probably one of the first faces you meet of APTS, Jack recruits students and keeps up with those interested in seminary for 3-5 years at a time. He sits on the cabinet to help prepare the seminary for incoming students. ‘Postle
Jack
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Stats:

Questions & Answers:

• B.A. in Religion from Sewanee

already engaged in ministry, so it is a great source for students.

Q: If you got a tattoo of a theologian, that Q: How do you go about targeting could at anytime be removed, who would • MDiv from APTS with the intention of second career students? wanting to help people but no intention it be? A: I go to Presbytery meetings and of getting ordained. A: Paul Tillich - not because he is good conferences. Sometimes it is a matter of looking, but because he gave me the • During CPE discerned he needed to be keeping the name Austin Seminary in courage to BE. in the parish front of elders and deacons, so that when a parishioner begins to ask about Q: What is the oddest reason that you • Served 2 Associate pastorate in ministry, our name is in front of them. have heard for a student not to come to Houston; 2 solos in Eastern Kentucky. seminary? Other times it is about maintaining • DMin in Preaching from McCormick A: There was one guy that couldn’t come relationships for 3-4 years before a student decides to matriculate. Our because he could not sell his bar. • Fulton, Missouri (Near Westminster discovery weekends are helpful, but only College and William Woods University) Q: What is the most common reason to 1/3 of the people that attend apply that - his last pastorate where he found he come to seminary? year. Overall 1/2 of the students that enjoyed engaging in conversation involving questions about vocation A: Most people want to come in order to attend a Discovery Weekend end up entering seminary. fulfill a desire to help people, and they • 18 years in the parish know it has to do with God and church. Q: How do you keep connected with the It is fun to hear each person’s story and • Began working at APTS September student body? 2006 as Admissions Director, now a VP engage in conversations about A: Donuts, I mean Manna is a great place discernment. • Hates renting PT Cruisers while to see students, but really I most often see traveling Q: Where is the jackpot of potential new current students when they drop in to get students? a piece of candy between classes. • Cinnabon and Starbucks are his comfort food when traveling, but he tries not to eat at airports too often • Best APTS swag: Tattoos and Koozies • Favorite Movie of all times: Matrix and Lord of the Rings • Daughter at Centre College, Son at Fulton High School. • Travels 6-8 weeks in the fall

A: There is not one place. Statistically there are 14 Presbyteries that have 45+ Candidates under care. Three of those are in Texas, while Seattle and the Greater Atlanta area are also areas where many people are under care. But statistically our top feeder schools are UT, Texas A&M, Texas State, Schreiner, Austin College and Trinity. The Young Adult Volunteer Program of the PC(U.S.A) is a place where people are 6

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Senate Minutes 10/06 - In Attendance: Jackie Saxon – VP SA, Kaci Porter – SBP, Jose Lopez – S. Senator, Sally Wright – M. Senator, John Leedy – M. Senator, Shane Webb – S. Senator, Mary Ann Kaiser – J. Senator, Bart Smith – J. Senator, Bryan Law – MATS Senator - Also in attendance: Sudie Neisen – Corpus Christi, Brandon Miles – Corpus Christi, Mary Elizabeth Prentice – Kairos Editor.

Student Senate Meetings are held at noon on Tuesday in the office of Student Affairs and Vocation. • Bart asks what is the problem that we are trying to address. • Kaci responds by trying to offer a sense of the impression "change" or "transformation" is making on the community. • Jackie: Student is trying to put something positive out there. We have to be sensitive to what is new. We have lost 1/5th of our faculty to other offers. Plus on top we the economic downturn. Cokesbury left. Library closed on Saturday. Stotts Dinner service closed.

Sally Wright opened in prayer.

We just need to have positive forces in the community.

- Welcome to New Junior Senators: Mary Ann Kaiser, Bart Smith, Bryan Law

Meeting adjourned Recorded & Submitted by Sally Wright

- Corpus Christi Student Group: 1. Faculty Lecture Potluck – J. Lord – Women in Ministry need money for drinks and dessert and for a thank you gift. Tuesday, Nov. 17th (unconfirmed date) 2. Covenant Network – need hotel and flight money. CN is a group of Presbyterians who work toward the ordination of GLBTQ. Student supported themselves last year except for $200 last year. a. What is the benefit? Presentation at Manna last year and a write up. Would be willing to write articles for Kairos. b. Nov. 5-7th in Cleveland, OH. c. Would like to send two new people? 3. Would like to rejuvenate garden behind Currie. a. Have seeds being donated. Getting a composting bin and start composting. Need help with how to do it? b. Want to get community support and support from all student groups except the moderator of Acts (Jose). ;-) - Polity Bowl – Stephen Kidd at SSW – the Dec 5th is maybe not a good date? Jackie is going to talk to the SSW Dean of Students. - Trunk or Treat – Community Edge – go for inviting student groups for games, extend to SSW students. John Leedy is point person. Leedy is developing an action plan. 5:30 p.m. for set up and 6:30 start the trunk or treat. Go until 8:30ish. Saturday Oct. 31st. Start mentioning it at Manna. Everyone included not just people with children. - Community Edge hosting a kick off BBQ and stuff at 6:00 on Oct 16th. Staff, Faculty and Students welcome.

Kairos Guidelines Editorial Guidelines 1. Kairos is the voice of students at Austin Seminary. 2.Kairos generally carries no advertisements for sale of goods or services by individuals. An exception is the sale of a student or professor’s library or other study aids. 3.It is not possible to make all program announcements which are submitted by individual church. Kairos is more likely to be able to run announcements 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 letter which might criticize the actions of individuals or groups.

- Reformation Roast. On Oct 29th. 5:30 p.m.. Continue talk Wed. Oct. 12th.

5.Kairos will publish letter to the editor that contribute to Christian conversation on the APTS campus. All letters must be signed.

- Budget meeting on Oct 12th it is a Wed.

Submission Guidelines:

- Christian Schmidt was appointed to the Liquor [;-)]committee.

Email submissions to the editor, Mary Elizabeth Prentice, at [email protected]. Editorial decisions are based on urgency, availability of space and editorial guidelines. Deadline is Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Submissions made after the deadline must be accompanied by a dunkel or a bribe.

Jackie has nothing more from last week. - Conversation on Community • A student came to express concerns over changes in the community. We need to foster more cohesiveness and community. • Jackie and Kaci thought a good way to do this would be to look at our conversation circles and look at the clauses in the declaration of intent and look at one a month. • There are 5 articles. • Our seminary is going through changes, serious changes, it is affecting every group affiliated with the seminary. We need to be mindful of that. • We have to assume responsibility of the attitude around here. Reminding, Informing and Re-inspiring. The Declaration of Intent is our mission. At one manna a month to come speak on this clause to get the conversation on it. Or write on it.

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Discovery Weekend is Coming! Contact Jack Barden or Martha Lynn Coon if you can help the weekend of October 30-31, 2009. 7

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Campus Happenings Chapel Schedule Monday, October 12:

Twas A Dark and Stormy Night


11 a.m. Glenn Sampayan

Halloween music concert

Senior Sermon Tuesday, October 13: 11 a.m. Dr. Timothy Lincoln The Lord s Supper & a Reflection on the Psalms Wednesday, October 14: Community Wide Manna Thursday, October 15:

When: Monday, Oct. 26 Where: Shelton Chapel, APTS Time: 7:00 p.m. Cost: Free This long-time Austin tradition features organist Kevin McClure / Count Dracula and numerous hilariously ghoulish friends playing to a costumed audience of all ages.

11 a.m. Deb Schmidt Senior Sermon

Ghost artists include trumpeter Bob Cannon, the Dead Tenors, and the Horns of Doom. The hour of creepiness will end with ‒ of course! ‒ J.S. Bach's beloved Toccata in D Minor.

Boxes needed Friday, October 16: 11 a.m. Chapel Open for Prayer

We re collecting shipping boxes of various sizes for the bulk Advent devotional orders. Please bring your boxes, flattened, to the Institutional Advancement office by Friday, October 23. Contact Sandy Wilder (404-4806) with questions.

Mark Your Calendars Fall Break BBQ Kick-off Sponsored by Community Edge (Spouse s Group) Friday, October 16, 2009 6:00 p.m. Hicks House Lawn Potluck Dinner & Grill will be hot! BYOC (Chair)

Trunk or Treat Sponsored by Community Edge (Spouse s Group) Saturday, October 31, 2009 Since trick or treating is difficult amongst the housing, student groups, students, couples, couples without kids, EVERYONE, is invited to decorate their car/trunk in Hicks Parking Lot and hand out candy or host a fun game for the children of the community. Set up: 5:30 p.m. Start time: 6:30 p.m.

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