Texas congregation bettered by skills of Austin Seminary grad

In the 10 years the Rev. Melinda Veatch served at St. Philip Presbyterian Church in Hurst, Texas, she performed practically every job imaginable.

She earned a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1996, and that same year she took the call as associate pastor at St. Philip. There, using the leadership skills garnered at Austin Seminary, Veatch helped develop and expand ministries that ultimately enhanced the congregation.

Providing pastoral care and practicing the ministry of presence, setting up worship for the church’s young children and a youth council, forming a neighborhood network, establishing a women’s group and getting a health ministry off the ground were just some of things Veatch had her hands on.

“There were so many things to do at that church,” said Veatch, now executive director of Tarrant Area Community of Churches in Fort Worth, Texas. It was an opportunity “to grow in ministry together.”

Austin Seminary, she said, equipped her to do “ministry with real people in real parishes.” The leadership development didn’t focus only on the academic pursuit, but also on “what it is that you are going to do with it when you get into the parish.”

Veatch said Austin Seminary afforded her an opportunity to connect with clinical pastoral education and encouraged her “to get as much on-the-ground experience” as possible.

There was a great focus on “pastoral identity in terms of practice,” she said, and exploration was encouraged.

In her current role, Veatch works with congregations to organize resources to address community issues such as hunger, adolescent pregnancy and older adult care. She interacts with 75 participating churches as she continues to build upon the foundation gained at Austin Seminary.