New Episcopalian dean feels right at home

By Brian Bethel / bethelb@reporternews.com
January 12, 2007 copyright Abilene Reporter News

Even though he has never lived in Abilene , Dr. Douglas Travis , new dean of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin , says the community feels ''homey.''

''I've got some really warm feelings for Abilene ,'' said Travis, who was born in San Antonio .

Part of a four-generation ministerial dynasty, Travis is the son of Murray Travis, pastor of Abilene's Westminster Presbyterian Church from 1986 to 1995 and retired Cooper honors English teacher Jane Travis.

He is the grandson of the Rev. Frank D. Travis, who served as pastor of the former Central Presbyterian Church, now First Central Presbyterian, from 1947 to 1956, and recalls coming to visit his grandparents here.

''Ever since I was a baby, I've had connections to Abilene ,'' he said.

His parents are retired and live in Abilene .

Travis' road to ministry was somewhat tortuous, although the end result is perhaps not surprising.

His two younger brothers, the Revs. Drew and Karl Travis, are Presbyterian ministers, following their father into that denomination.

Drew Travis serves as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Plainview , while Karl Travis is pastor of Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church in Grosse Ile , Mich.

Douglas Travis describes himself as a person who wanted to believe but had too many questions as a younger man.

He graduated from Trinity College as a religion major but not necessarily a believer.

A friend of his father offered him a scholarship for a year of graduate study, so he went to Chicago 's McCormick Theological Seminary, where he earned a master's degree in theological studies.

During a trip to Russia in 1976, Travis found profound beauty in the ceremonies of the Russian Orthodox Church and, unexpectedly, true faith in a simple Anglican Eucharist in Geneva , Switzerland .

''I met Jesus there,'' he said. ''I don't know of any other way to describe it.''

In the celebration of the sacraments, Travis said he found and felt profoundly ''the presence of Jesus.''

''I didn't see myself rejecting my Presbyterian heritage,'' he said. ''I just saw myself embracing a somewhat different vision.''

In the time since, he has earned a total of five academic degrees - his father joked at times it seemed he was ''in school forever.''

But he also has practical ministerial experience. His latest job was pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church in The Woodlands, where he had been rector since 2001.

His role as dean, equivalent to president of the seminary, isn't new to him. He served as dean of the Anglican School of Theology in Dallas from 1987 to 1991.

With so many ministers in the family, the elder Travis joked some might accuse the clan of lacking imagination.

Murray Travis said he was proud of his son's academic and ministerial accomplishments.

''We guarded against trying to force our children into a career in ministry, but the three boys have made their own choices,'' he said.

Douglas Travis said the Seminary of the Southwest has traditionally been centrist, something he feels is valuable given current unrest in many dioceses of the Episcopal Church due to disagreements about matters of sexuality and leadership.

''I want to keep it a place where people can express their views and pursue their own lines of inquiry,'' he said. ''The church can understand and embrace both conservative and liberal viewpoints. We can be friends in Christ in one community.''

Ideally, those on left and right should leave the seminary more ''toward the center,'' he said.

Travis is married to Pamela Travis, an environmental attorney with the Environmental Protection Agency in Dallas .

They have two adult daughters, Sasha and Nyssa.

He officially assumes duties as dean of the school June 1.

Copyright 2007, Abilene Reporter News. All Rights Reserved.