Sherman, Texas -- Austin College will welcome six alumnae, now serving as clergy, as panelists for the Lowe Lecture Series titled, "She-Preachers: Austin College Women in Ministry." The discussion will focus on challenges and opportunities unique to female ministers, and the factors keeping them in ministry at a time when many are resigning. The panel will take place Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 231 of the Wright Campus Center. The event is free and open to the public.
"Like many other church-related liberal arts institutions, Austin College has educated men for ministry throughout its history. For decades we have also been leaders in supporting and raising up women ministers as well," said Dr. John Williams, Chaplain and Director of Church Relations. "As part of our celebration of the College’s 175th year, we want to highlight and celebrate six women who have graduated in recent decades, facilitate conversations with and between them, and enable our students to meet them all."
Panel participants include Rev. Dr. Stacy Smith ’02, temporary Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Auburn, New York; Anne Jernberg Scalfaro ’03, Senior Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church of Denver, Colorado; Kristin Austew ’07, Chaplain at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri; Dr. Tanya Eustace Campen ’01, Director of Intergenerational Discipleship at Río Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas; Libby Wise Janes ’15, master of divinity student at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas; and Natalie Readnour ’20, current Ph.D. candidate at the SMU Graduate Program in Religious Studies with a focus on Theology and Culture in Dallas, Texas. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Beth Gill, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty.
The R. Girard Lowe Lectureship was funded through an endowment from Rupert B. Lowe and the Lowe Family in honor of his brother, Robert Girard Lowe, who entered the ministry following his 1917 graduation from Austin College. The fund was established to bring outstanding individuals to campus to discuss religious topics across denominations. Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
