May 2011
Hammitt to play for York
CORPUS CHRISTI -- Congratulations to Courtney Hammitt who received a scholarship to play basketball at York College this fall. Hammitt will graduate from Carroll High School June 4.
The York Lady Panthers qualified for the second year to post-season play. York College is located in York, Nebraska, has a student body of over 500 students, and is associated with churches of Christ.
Courtney's parents are Mark and Denise Hammitt. Mark is the preacher for the Weber Road Church of Christ.
May 2011
Austin Graduate School of Theology Announces Retirement of Esteemed Professor
AUSTIN ─ On April 9, Dr. Stan Reid, president of Austin Graduate School of Theology, announced the forthcoming retirement of Dr. Michael R. Weed. Dr. Weed currently holds the Billie Gunn Hocott Chair at AGST and will retire from full-time teaching in August.
According to President Reid, “Michael Weed is a gifted professor who models the dictum ‘Faith seeking understanding.’ Although he is well-informed and able to debate the finer points of academic theology, Dr. Weed has given his life to helping a generation of students understand the importance of knowing the history and practice of Christian doctrine within the context of the church. His contributions to the mission of Austin Grad have been significant and will be long-lasting.”
Jeff Peterson, Faculty Chair at AGST notes, "Michael Weed's contribution to Austin Grad would be difficult to overestimate. I especially appreciate his consistent reminder that our scholarship should be in service to the church, his readiness to explore the implications of theological questions, and his unparalleled gifts as a storyteller and raconteur. The faculty looks forward to continued interaction with Michael as he becomes Austin Grad's first Emeritus Professor."
A native of Austin, Dr. Weed attended the University of Texas for one year before transferring to Abilene Christian University where he received a B.A. in 1963 and a M.A. in 1966. After completing his studies at ACU, Dr. Weed served one year as campus minister at the University of Arizona in Tucson before returning to Austin where he was employed as a copy editor at Sweet Publishing.
He completed the Bachelor of Divinity degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. While there, Dr. Stuart Currie encouraged him to apply for the doctoral program at Emory University.
In 1978, Dr. Weed received his Ph. D. from the Graduate School of Religion at Emory. His area of specialization is Christian Ethics.
Since 1978 he has taught Theology and Church History at AGST, helping students more fully to understand and pass on the tenets of the Christian faith.
Dr. Weed’s classroom teaching is complemented by his writing for the church. He is the author of The Letters of Paul to the Ephesians, the Colossians, and Philemon in the Living Word Series and editor of The Minister and His Work.
With Wendell Willis, he co-authored Churches of the New Testament and Basic Christian Beliefs Parts I and II. He joined C. Leonard Allen and Richard T. Hughes in writing The Worldly Church: A Call for Biblical Renewal. Allan McNicol, New Testament Professor, recalls that Dr. Weed was very instrumental in the start of the AGST Journal Christian Studies: Scholarship for the Church. “As editor, Michael would select a topic, assign research, and regularly call the faculty together for discussions. From those discussions would come a theme for the next publication—a theme that served the church and promoted unity.
Dr. Weed is married to Mary Elizabeth Summerlin. They have two grown children and five grandchildren. In retirement, Dr. Weed plans to spend more time with his grandchildren, teach an occasional class, and return to writing on the topic of theological ethics.
Drs. Anthony Ash, Rick Mars, James Thompson, Wendell Willis, Gary Holloway, Allan McNicol, Jeff Peterson and Mark Shipp are among Dr. Weed’s former and current teaching colleagues.
Nov 2010
Music for the Psalms by Joe Shaver
AUSTIN -- The semi-annual meeting of Friends of the Austin Graduate School of Theology was held on Oct. 9. And at the meeting it was announced that the staff there has undertaken the mammoth project of writing a cappella music for each of the 150 chapter in the book of Psalms.
The original prayers form most widely sung and the most lasting hymns of all the centuries. Four of the new works were sung at the gathering.
Plans are to collect them into five volumes and have them printed by ACU Press. Our kudos to Austin Grad.
Miss Jones parties down
SAN ANTONIO -- Members of the church here and Horizon Bay residents gathered to wish Kay Jones a happy birthday. Her age is a secret, but there were many candles on her cake.
Kay stopped the party twice to read poems about what life is like at 96. Said Northside member, Jim McDaniel "Kay enjoyed herself a lot, which was wonderful to see."
Barry Allison and Brit Peek were also among the 25 or so attending from Northside to honor the former military nurse. Close friend Kaye Daughtry, from Oak Hills also came by.
"Unbound" retreat serves peace officers
KERRVILLE -- "Unbound" is the focus for this year's Shield Of Faith October retreat. The dates are Oct. 1-3, and the retreat will be held at Camp Eagle in Rocksprings.
Retreat Director Bill Aycock says, "Put in for the days off now and make your plans to attend one the most uplifting and inspirational experiences since pinning your badge."
Shields of Faith is a spiritual men's retreat for cops, by cops. Aycock says that is what makes this retreat special.
"All the attendees are sworn peace officers and relate to each other on levels that non-sworn men cannot understand. Because these barriers are left at the entrance gate, God can do His thing in a big way, and He always does!" claims Aycock.
It promises to be the best retreat yet offered to police officers across the state. The discussions at the retreat are relevant to cops and their faith walks.
The classes that are offered are targeted to encourage and strengthen a cop's relationship with God. The location is perfect for meeting one-on-one with GOD.
Officers may get more information and register online at www.ShieldsOfFaith.com. Reservations are required.
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