How to Give

At Austin Seminary, income from student tuition is only the tip of the iceberg. The great majority of the costs of preparing pastors comes from the support of faithful and generous constituent donors, who are committed to the health and well-being of Christ's church. These pages will illuminate other ways you may support, share, and be involved in our mission.

 

Fiscal Year-End Giving Opportunities

Make a gift of stock.
Consider selling stock valued less than basis and make a gift of the proceeds to Austin Seminary, rather than transfer the stock directly.  You can use the capital loss as well as the charitable donation. Learn More

Other gift opportunities. 
The menu at the left describes gift opportunities that help Austin Seminary prepare men and women of promise to lead the church with substance and passion.

 

A Donors' Story

Charles and Sandy Freeland

Charles Freeland (MDiv’65 DMin’79) believes in putting money where his values are. A member of a strong Presbyterian family in Crowley, Louisiana, Charles says, “I was fortunate to know by age fourteen that I wanted to be a pastor. This allowed me to structure my education to support my ambition. I went to Davidson and majored in religion, after which I entered Austin Seminary.”
    Charles’ ambition had clear precedent in the Freeland family. “My uncles, Paul Freeland and Henry Darden, were both ministers,” he says, “as were my cousins J. H. Elder and Doug Finch. I’d long considered myself part of the Austin Seminary family. When my uncle Barton Freeland was on the board of trustees, Dr. Stitt occasionally flew to Crowley in the seminary airplane. After Dr. Stitt preached, my uncle would take him deer hunting. I got to know him quite personally.”
    Freeland describes an extraordinary learning experience during seminary. “What great professors we had, giants of the faith! Stuart Currie, Dietrich Ritschl, Prescott Williams, and Jim Wharton, to name a few.”
    After receiving his master’s degree Freeland accepted calls in Louisiana and Arkansas before moving to Oklahoma to start a new church in Owasso. “I was a tentmaker there, and after the church was established, I resigned to serve as interim pastor in Oklahoma and Kansas churches until I retired in 2005.”
    Through it all, Freeland has consistently contributed to Austin Seminary, having given for more consecutive years—thirty-three so far—than any alumnus. Asked why, he replies, “I never even think about it. I started contributing to the annual fund a few years after graduation—as soon as I had any money. I returned in early 1974 to work on a doctorate, graduating in 1979 with the first DMin class. I see contributing as a personal responsibility.”