Vocation and Placement - PC(USA) Candidates

Thank you for your interest in our theological school and in our graduates!

If you are member of a pastor nominating committee, we welcome you to the campus to visit with  prospective Austin Seminary graduates about available positions in the church. These graduates are at various stages in completing the candidacy requirements as a part of the Preparation for Ministry process in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In several cases, final assessment and authorization to seek a call are pending and may delay the completion of the process.

For further information, please contact us.

Contact

Jacquline L. Saxon
Vice President for Student Affairs and Vocation

or

Deborah Butler
Administrative Assistant for the Office of Student Affairs and Vocation

 
100 East 27th Street
Austin, TX
78705-5797
Office: 512-404-4885
Toll-free:  1-800-777-6127

Class of 2010

John W. Dearman

Austin, Texas
Mission, Presbytery

John Dearman is a member of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas.  He received a BA (History) from The University of Texas at Dallas. Before entering seminary, John was a missionary to La Paz, Bolivia. In seminary, John completed an extended unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas. He completed a nine-month teaching church internship at First Presbyterian Church, Giddings, Texas in May 2009. John is particularly interested in discipleship, mission and pastoral care. He is seeking a call as either a pastor or associate pastor anywhere in the U.S. John is married, with twin toddlers.

Contact Information
johnwdearman@gmail.com

Debbie Garber

Debbie Garber is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon. She received a BS (Parks and Recreation) from the University of Oregon and a MS (Distance Learning) from Athabasca University in Athabasca, Alberta Canada. Before entering seminary, Debbie worked as a technical writer. While in seminary, she completed one (summer) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Alexian Village, a continuing care facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2008 and completed a year-long Supervised Practice of Ministry (SPM) internship at Alderson Presbyterian Church, Alderson, West Virginia in 2009.  Debbie is particularly interested in worship, pastoral care, preaching and mission. She is seeking a call as a pastor in a small membership church anywhere in the US.
 
Contact Information
misstribble@yahoo.com

Glen Sampayan

Corpus Christi, Texas
Grace Presbytery

Glenn Sampayan is a member of Faith Community Church (PCUSA), Corpus Christi, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Theology from Silliman University Divinity School in Dumaguete City, Philippines, and a master’s degree in management from Leyte Normal University in the Philippines. Before entering seminary, Glenn worked as a full-time local pastor for 17 years and completed five units of Clinical Pastoral Education, one unit in the Philippines and four units at Baylor Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. In seminary, Glenn completed a three-month Supervised Practice of Ministry (SPM) internship at Faith Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas, in the summer of 2009. Glenn is particularly interested in new church development, preaching, pastoral care, and teaching. He is seeking a call as a pastor anywhere in Texas. He is married.

Contact Information
Glennsampayan231@hotmail.com

Isabel Rivera-Velez

Galveston, Texas
New Covenant Presbytery

Isabel is a member of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Galveston, Texas. She received an Associate of Applied Science degree in office administration from Galveston College. Before entering seminary, Isabel worked as an administrative assistant for 28 years and as a commissioned lay pastor for four years. In seminary, she completed one (summer) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Scott and White Hospital, Temple, Texas, and has also completed a three-month Supervised Practice of Ministry (SPM) internship at Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas. Isabel is particularly interested in worship, preaching, evangelism, and young adult ministry. She is seeking a call as a pastor or associate pastor anywhere in the U.S. She is married.

Contact Information
Isabel10@austin.rr.com

Class of 2009

Patrick Cherry

South Boston, Virginia
Peaks Presbytery

Patrick Cherry is a member of First Presbyterian Church, South Boston, Virginia. He received a BS (integrated science and technology) from James Madison University of Virginia. Before entering seminary, Patrick worked as a volunteer youth leader and spent two summers working as a youth intern. In seminary, Patrick completed one (summer) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Baptist Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. He also completed a nine-month full-time teaching church internship at Covenant Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas, in May 2009. After his internship, Patrick was hired as the Director of Young Adults & Youth at Covenant Presbyterian Church, in San Antonio, where he continues his work.  Patrick is particularly interested in preaching and worship, pastoral care, evangelism, and youth/young adults. He is seeking a call as an associate pastor in a medium to large city anywhere in the U.S. Patrick is married.

Contact Information
cherrypd@gmail.com

Alexandra Knott

Dallas, Texas
Grace Presbytery

Alexandra Knott is a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas. She received a BS (elementary education) from Stephen F. Austin State University. While in seminary Alexandra completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. She completed a year-long internship at First Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in May 2009. She is currently on the pulpit supply rotation for Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery. Alexandra is particularly interested in preaching and worship, pastoral care, and family ministries. Alexandra is seeking a call as an associate pastor in an urban or suburban setting anywhere in the United States. Alexandra is single.  

Contact Information
Alexk_17@hotmail.com

Matthew Pyeon

Austin, Texas
Mission Presbytery

Matthew Pyeon is a member of Austin Korean Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas.  He received a BM (music theory and composition) from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Prior to entering seminary Matthew worked as an education minister, preaching and leading children’s ministry, adult Bible study, and contemporary worship at Austin Korean Presbyterian Church. He also worked as a music director at Round Rock Presbyterian Church. While in seminary he completed a nine-month teaching church internship at Round Rock Presbyterian Church, Round Rock, Texas.  He also completed one (summer) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the Seton Family of Hospitals in Austin.   Matthew is interested in preaching, worship, mission, and music.  He is seeking a call as an associate or solo pastor anywhere in the U.S. Matthew is married with two children.

Contact Information
spyeon@yahoo.com

Traci Truly

Garland, Texas
Grace Presbytery

Traci Truly is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Garland, Texas. She received a BBA from Baylor University and a JD from Baylor Law School. Prior to entering seminary, she had a career as an attorney. Traci completed one (summer) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and a 10-week teaching church internship at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dallas. She is interested in preaching, worship, Christian education, and leadership development. Traci is seeking a call as a pastor or associate pastor anywhere in the U.S. While she is searching for a call, she is continuing to practice law and volunteering at her home church working with the youth, Christian Education, and long range planning.

Contact Information
traci.truly@verizon.net

Class of 2008

Josyph “Joe” Andrews

Fredericksburg, Texas
Mission Presbytery

Josyph Andrews is a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg, Texas. He received a BS (business administration) from Indiana Wesleyan University. Josyph had a career in the telecommunications industry with the last ten years as national sales manager. Josyph completed a summer internship at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church in Georgetown, Texas, and he completed a January term in Pastoral Care in a Hospital Setting at St. David’s South Austin Hospital. He is particularly interested in preaching and worship, and mission, especially in border and prison ministries. Josyph is seeking a call as a solo pastor in a rural or small suburban church anywhere in the U.S. Josyph is married with grown children. 

Contact Information
JosyphA@aol.com

Pepa Paniagua

Menlo Park, California               
San Francisco Presbytery

Pepa Paniagua is a member of Valley Presbyterian Church, Portola Valley, California. She received a BA (Religion and Gender Studies) from Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington. Pepa completed a six-month teaching church internship at First Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas, in May 2008. She also completed one (summer) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital in the Summer of 2008. She completed a Pastoral Externship at North Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas, in August 2009 and was hired on for two additional contracts with the church, the second of which will be completed on March 31, 2010.  Pepa is particularly interested in congregational care, worship and preaching, mission and outreach, and teaching. She is seeking a call as an associate pastor anywhere in the U.S. Pepa is single.


Contact Information
Email:  pepajean@gmail.com

Alyssa Payne

Houston, Texas                       
New Covenant Presbytery

Alyssa Payne is a member of Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas. She received a BA (psychology) from Texas A&M University. Before entering seminary, Alyssa worked at Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas, as a youth director for both middle and high school groups. While in seminary, she completed a one-year teaching church internship at First Presbyterian Church, San Marcos, Texas. She completed one unit of CPE in the summer of 2007 at the Baptist Health System in San Antonio. Alyssa is particularly interested in pastoral care and counseling, discipleship and mission, as well as family and student ministries. She is seeking a position in the San Antonio area in Texas. Alyssa is married.

Contact Information
alyssashultz@hotmail.com

Alisa Pennington Secrest

Austin, Texas
Mission Presbytery

Alisa Secrest is a member of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas. She received a B.S. magna cum laude (computer science) from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama and an MDiv from Austin Seminary in 2008. Before entering seminary, Alisa was a marketing executive in the software and microelectronics industries. She also served the church in Christian education and congregational care ministries, as well as worked with non-profit organizations in development, volunteer leadership, and community relations. In seminary, she completed a teaching church internship at University Presbyterian Church and one unit of two of the Synod's Interim Ministry.  She is a long-time ordained elder of the PC(USA), a member of the Company of New Pastors and a resident in her 5th unit of Clinical Pastoral Training.  Alisa is particularly interested in worship and preaching, mission, evangelism, family ministries, and pastoral care. She is seeking a call as a pastor or associate pastor anywhere in the U.S.

Contact Information:
alisa.secrest@gmail.com

Katrina Shawgo

Amarillo, Texas            
Palo Duro Presbytery

Katrina Shawgo is a member of St. Luke Presbyterian Church, Amarillo, Texas. She received a BA (psychology) from the University of North Texas. In seminary, Katrina completed a nine-month teaching church internship at First Presbyterian Church in Elgin, Texas, and one (summer) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Baptist Health System, San Antonio, Texas. She will complete a year-long Clinical Pastoral Education Residency at Seton Family of Hospitals in August of 2010. She is particularly interested in worship and preaching, pastoral care, older adult ministries, and teaching. She is seeking a call as an associate or solo pastor in the greater Austin, Texas area. Katrina is married with one child.

Contact Information
kshawgo@gmail.com

 Class of 2007

Amy Pospichal

Austin, Texas
Mission Presbytery

Amy Pospichal is a member of Central Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas.  She received a BA (philosophy) from Virginia Tech. Before entering seminary, Amy worked in clinical research for the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She was the recipient of the Alsup-Frierson Fellowship at Austin Seminary during her senior year. She completed one (summer) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and she completed a nine-month teaching church internship at First Presbyterian Church in Giddings, Texas. In August 2008 Amy completed four units (12 months) of Clinical Pastoral Education at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her interests include preaching, pastoral care, education, and mission. She seeks a call as a solo or associate pastor in an urban, suburban, or rural church, preferably in New Mexico. Amy is single.

Contact Information
Email: apospichal@yahoo.com

**A Note about Supervised Practice of Ministry and Clinical Pastoral Education at Austin Seminary

Austin Seminary is committed to its task of preparing men and women for Christian ministry, service, and leadership. One of the strengths of a theological education at Austin Seminary is the Supervised Practice of Ministry (SPM). This program offers students an opportunity to gain knowledge and develop ministry skills in congregations under the supervision of competent and experienced persons who have been trained and certified by the Seminary. Supervised Practice of Ministry offers students the opportunity to develop close relationships among the members of the congregations they serve. There are three SPM tracks. The year-long internship is for students who are able to work for an eight-to-fifteen month period in a particular parish setting. The summer internship provides students with a ten-week, full-time congregational ministry. The teaching church allows students to engage in SPM part time in the Austin area while attending classes during the fall and / or spring terms.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) offers students an educational experience in a clinical setting, such as a hospital, mental health institution, or local congregation and is conducted under the supervision of a certified clinical pastoral educator. Students usually complete one unit of CPE in ten weeks. Clinical Pastoral Education does not ordinarily meet the Supervised Practice of Ministry requirement. Pastoral Care in a Hospital Setting is a seminar (ordinarily four weeks in duration) that introduces students to the concepts and practices of ministry in a medical context.