Servant Leader George McGonigle
Sep 08, 2009
George listens to reading of award citation
Dean Douglas Travis with George
George thanks seminary community
George with Charles Cook
Several friends came to honor George
Martha and George McGonigle
Initial publicity - Inaugural Charles J. Cook Award in Servant Leadership
Southwest honors George McGonigle
Christian statesman, advocate of change and exemplary friend to many, George McGonigle was honored for five decades of service to his beloved Episcopal Church at Seminary of the Southwest September 8.
McGonigle, a long-time active parishioner of St. David's Church in Austin, received the inaugural Charles J. Cook Award in Servant Leadership during the matriculation service in Christ Chapel that opened the seminary's 2009-10 academic year
"Native Texan, UT graduate, Christian statesman and exemplary friend, you took another path in retirement years much like the late Robert Greenleaf - founder of the Servant Leadership movement. After completing a very successful corporate career at ExxonMobil in Houston, you chose to serve your beloved Episcopal Church in all its shapes - seminary, parish, diocese and the national church center," read the citation that accompanied the award.
McGonigle, who deftly guided passage of significant resolutions at eight General Conventions of the Episcopal Church, was provost at Seminary of the Southwest in the mid-1980s followed by 18 months as senior executive officer in then Presiding Bishop Ed Browning's office. McGonigle then returned to Austin and assumed leadership roles at St. David's and the Diocese of Texas.
Seminary faculty created the award to honor the Rev. Charles James Cook, who taught pastoral theology at Southwest for almost a quarter century and retired at the end of last year. The award will be given annually to a person whose life and ministry exemplifies the qualities of a servant leader. Cook, professor-emeritus of pastoral theology, emphasized and modeled the importance of servant leadership to generations of seminarians.
The text of McGonigle's citation reads -
"Native Texan, UT graduate, Christian statesman and exemplary friend, you took another path in retirement years much like the late Robert Greenleaf - founder of the Servant Leadership movement. After completing a very successful corporate career at ExxonMobil in Houston, you chose to serve your beloved Episcopal Church in all its shapes - seminary, parish, diocese and the national church center
"You came to Seminary of the Southwest in 1982 to model an innovative approach to seminary leadership with Deans Gordon Charlton and then Dusty McDonald. You oversaw financial and administrative details as lay provost while the ordained deans attended to curriculum, worship and community life. You assumed most duties between the time Gordon was elected bishop and Dusty came to campus from Trinity Wall Street and were awarded the honorary doctor of divinity degree when you left Southwest in 1984.
"Your servant leadership then enhanced the office of former Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning where you served as Senior Executive Officer for eighteen months. During that time you worked actively to help the Church of England secure the release of Terry Waite in Lebanon.
"Returning to Austin, you shared your leadership gifts in St. David's Church downtown and the Diocese of Texas. You took an active part in eight General Conventions as a deputy and deftly guided significant resolutions through the approval process. You helped to form fellow St. David's parishioners - including many seminarians - as servant leaders through your abiding example. You eventually became senior warden - the same position you held previously at another Diocese of Texas flagship church - St. John the Divine in Houston. Your exemplary service to St. David's has almost ameliorated the loss of its former rector Larry Hall who was called to St. John's during your Houston days.
"In appreciation of your adroit churchmanship, belief in the inevitability of change and realization that mission begins at the front door step of every church, we rejoice in presenting you the first Charles J. Cook Award in Servant Leadership."
