Austin to Minister at Memorial Church

Dorothy A. Austin, co-Master of Lowell House, has been appointed associate minister in the Memorial Church. She will begin her duties Nov. 22.

"I look forward to the many opportunities here. Memorial Church is a central and important part of the University," Austin said. "I am very interested in questions of religious life, practice, spiritual well-being and civic and religious literacy in this pluralistic community."

Associate ministers traditionally work on pastoral care, adult education, help with the Sunday school and officiate at various services and ceremonies at the church, according to Ann P. Hall, officer for communications at Memorial Church.

After nine years at Drew University in New Jersey, Austin said she will begin an extended leave from her current position as associate professor of psychology and religion at the end of the semester.

"I don't feel as if I am leaving academia," said Austin. "I look forward to the dual role and integration at Harvard as well."

She expects to continue to teach while at Harvard.

"When at Drew University, one of her chief responsibilities and one of her great gifts was the training of ministers. I have every reason to believe that she will bring those skills to help us," said the Rev. Peter J. Gomes, Plummer professor of Christian Morals and Pusey minister in the Memorial Church.

Over the summer, the Rev.Wendel W. Myer, Austin's predecessor, decided to accept the position of rector at St. John's Church in Beverly Farms, Hall said.

Sarah B. Drummond, assistant dean of freshmen and chaplain for religious education at Memorial Church, said Austin's professional career suits her new position.

"An understanding of the cross-fertilization between the fields of psychology and religion is particularly relevant to the work of the associate minister in the Memorial Church," Drummond said.

Austin and her partner Diana L. Eck, professor of comparative religion and Indian studies, are the first same-sex couple to serve as House Masters.

"I hope that it would be a sign to the homosexual community at Harvard that the church and the ministry is a place that they would be welcomed," Gomes said.

Austin will continue as co-master in addition to her new appointment in the church.

Several students involved with the Memorial Church said they appreciate Austin's close connections with the undergraduate community.

"Because she is involved with students and because we always need more student volunteers at the school, I hope she can open that venue to new students," said Julia Po '00, head teacher of the church's Sunday school program.

Austin was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1971 and received her doctorate in theology from Harvard in 1981. She has since been the director of the Erikson Center at Cambridge Hospital and has taught in the Divinity School, the Medical School and the undergraduate concentration in religion within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

"She has been in and out of the Harvard community for many years," Gomes said. "She is well acquainted with the Harvard community, and she is a well-known quantity within that community."