Seminary of the Southwest graduates honor the Rev. Johnny Cook

Submitted by Bob Kinney, Director of Communications
Seminary of the Southwest

The Very Rev. Johnny Cook

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Fellow Seminary of the Southwest graduates honored the Rev. Johnny Cook with the Hal Brook Perry Distinguished Alumni Award during the recent Blandy Lectures on campus.

Cook, rector of Christ Cathedral in Mobile and a 1984 Southwest graduate, was cited for being “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters, you have been a vital part of the renaissance of three Texas congregations while taking leadership roles in many local and ecumenical initiatives during your ministry of twenty-five years.” He served in the dioceses of Texas and Dallas before coming to Central Gulf Coast in 2003.

“You are now in the sixth year as dean of Christ Cathedral in Mobile, Alabama, where attendance has quadrupled and the average age of parishioners is forty after tumultuous times at the beginning of this decade when the majority of the congregation left the Episcopal Church and Hurricane Katrina battered the church four years ago,” read the citation accompanying the award.

The full text of the citation follows –

Mary and Johnny Cook

“Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters, you have been a vital part of the renaissance of three Texas congregations while taking leadership roles in many local and ecumenical initiatives during your ministry of twenty-five years.

“Two of these churches were in the Piney Woods of the Diocese of Texas, the first of three dioceses you have served with skill and compassion. The second call of your ministry was to Trinity Church in Jasper, Texas, where you found a congregation that was divided and dispirited. You encouraged parishioners to begin building community anew and the parish was thriving when you left after three years to calm the waters at St. Cyprian Church in Lufkin. That church was in chaos and its school teetered on the brink of bankruptcy. St. Cyprian’s went from crisis to growth during your eight years of steady leadership.

“You then went to the Diocese of Dallas and St. Luke’s Church where the congregation had been split by the departure of the previous rector. Once again choppy waters were smoothed and St. Luke’s grew in six years with a refocus on mission ministry – both domestic and foreign – ranging from the Shoshone Bannock Indians in Blackfoot, Idaho, and numerous missions to Honduras to support of the Lost Boys of the Sudan in Dallas – one of whom is now enrolled at Southwest.

“You are now in the sixth year as dean of Christ Cathedral in Mobile, Alabama, where attendance has quadrupled and the average age of parishioners is forty after tumultuous times at the beginning of this decade when the majority of the congregation left the Episcopal Church and Hurricane Katrina battered the church four years ago.

“Much like the late Hal Perry, your ministry is rooted in a foundation of quiet, competent and diligent service. We thank you for past service on our Alumni Steering Committee and rejoice in awarding you the 2009 Hal Brook Perry Distinguished Alumni Award.”