Each year we remember and celebrate the prophetic voice and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, St. James’ welcomes two guest preachers, Willie Bennett at 8 am and 10:15 am, and Gina Houston at 5:30 pm. During the 9 am Forum Hour, The Rev. Eileen O’Brien will teach on Dr. King’s interpretations of The Sermon on the Mount. The annual Peace Through Pie event following the 10:15 and 5:30 services will raise money for youth ministries and Freedom School.
Willie Bennett works for the Episcopal Health Foundation as a Congregational Engagement Officer. For more than 25 years, Bennett has managed Texas organizations, teaching congregations, schools and communities how to organize for positive change. Most of that time was spent with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), a nationwide network of local faith and community-based organizations. Bennett served on IAF’s national training staff and as a lead organizer. He’s worked in Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin.
Most recently, Bennett was the the co-lead organizer for The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) in Houston, organizing congregations to help renters in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and working with property owners to protect their neighborhoods from gentrification.
Bennett graduated with degrees in religion and sociology from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary. He’s currently an associate minister at Bethel’s Family Church in Missouri City.
Gina Houston is a cradle St. Jamesian, born into the congregation while it was located on East 7th Street. As a life-long Austinite, she has seen the city change and grow and in many ways stay the same.
She attended St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, NC – an Episcopal Historically Black College. After listening to the UT fight song all of her life, she decided to attend Texas A&M University. She earned a degree in Theater with a minor in Music from St. Edward’s University.
In the congregation, Gina served on the Vestry, as Treasurer, Delegate to Council, on the Board of The Welcome Table, Inc. and as Executive Director for Freedom Schools-Austin.
She is a life-member of the Union of Black Episcopalians and served as National Youth Adviser.
Gina is an employee of the Internal Revenue Service; she cannot help you with your taxes, but she can tell you who can.
