Ministry Team

Larry J. Smith

Department Director
CPE Supervisor
ljsmith@swmail.sw.org

"Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) provides the unique opportunity for participants to reflect on the relationship between faith, experience and growth in pastoral formation.

Ministry encounters – and the reflection on the quality of those encounters within the context of supervision – hold potential for gaining new understandings and insights about ourselves, personally and professionally, and a deeper appreciation for the ministry that is offered. It is for these reasons that many continue to find Clinical Pastoral Education a stretching and worthwhile experience. It is experiential learning at its best!"

Larry J. Smith is an ordained Baptist Minister, endorsed by the Baptist Fellowship. He is certified as a CPE Supervisor by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., and brings experience in providing ministry in diverse settings, including two years in ministry in the parish and 14 years experience of providing pastoral care in the hospital setting.

He is married to Brenda, a licensed clinical social worker, and they have two children. He has a passion for woodworking (especially wooden boats) and likes to play guitar.

Krista Jones

Program Coordinator
krjones@swmail.sw.org

"Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thess 5:17-18)

Krista joined the Department of Pastoral Care in June of 2005 as the Program Coordinator. She is a lifelong resident of Temple, Texas.

She and her husband have three children. Krista graduated from Central Texas College in 2003 with a degree in chemical dependency counseling with a specialization in mental health. Krista enjoys reading and spending time with her children.

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Danny Tomlinson

Staff Chaplain
dtomlinson@swmail.sw.org

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Teilhard de Chardin

“Each person is on a journey and experiences life in a very individual way. Just as in music when the melody is joined with other notes to provide depth and width, so we in our lives find depth and width in our relationships and communities. My heart is to provide a sense of community for our patients, their families and our staff. I also hope to help others find the resources necessary “for life and godliness” as we all journey through our human experience.”

Danny joined the Department of Pastoral Care in September of 2006 as Staff Chaplain. He is an ordained Baptist minister and is endorsed by the Baptist General Conference of Arlington Heights, IL. Prior to entering chaplaincy, he spent three years in parish ministry and 18 years in retail management. He and his wife, Sandy, have four daughters. He also enjoys music and reading.

Angela Obu-Anukam

Supervisor-in-Training
aobuanukam@swmail.sw.org

"I have come that they may have life more abundantly." (John 10:10)

“I believe that God is ever present to all especially in our times of need and has called us to be present to one another. Emmanuel – God With Us."

Angela, is a Lay Catholic minister from Nigeria. She holds a Masters Degree in Computer Engineering and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Nigeria. She also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois.

For over 10 years, Angela was involved in numerous programs in her home country especially in areas of community development, women and youth development, social and economic justice issues and inter-religious dialogue for peace building and reconciliation.

Angela joined the department as a Resident in January 2006 and has continued in the Supervisory Training Program. She is commissioned in the Lay Ecclesial Ministry of the Catholic Church by Bishop Gregory Aymond of the Diocese of Austin. She enjoys traveling, singing and dancing.

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CPE Team

Bernard Bassig

Resident Chaplain II

"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake." (Phil. 1:29)

Bernard is a Filipino minister ordained by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in 1987. As a response to his calling, he has served as a parish pastor and a Christian worker assigned to churches and mission related institutions for more than 20 years. In his desire to serve, he was engaged in various capacities as a university professor, development specialist and management consultant. Before he migrated to the U.S.A., he was in public service as an immigration and anti-fraud officer of the Philippine government.

Bernard affirms that, "the 'Kingdom of God' is present where faith in Jesus Christ is shared, healing is given to the sick, liberty to the oppressed, and where justice and peace prevail."

Ladislaus "Ladi" Anatoly

Resident Chaplain

Hi! Greetings from Tanzania. I go by the name Ladi; full name being Ladislaus. It sounds Polish, doesn't it? The name is Hungarian though, and to make things more interesting, I'm from Tanzania (not Tasmania) and it's not one of those Slavic countries either! I arrived in the States a little more than four years ago and most of that time I've been living in Chicago. Then, at the end of August 2007, I moved to Temple.

Was I born to be a chaplain? I'm not sure about that, but I know I love being one. It's rewarding as well as challenging. That's right, it is challenging and it is from that challenge that I "count my blessings!"

Merry Wilburn

Resident Chaplain

Merry Wilburn is an Episcopal priest endorsed by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. After 16 years of parish ministry, she has accepted a change of vocation toward hospital and hospice chaplaincy. She has one son and enjoys family activities, walking, reading and writing.

Vicki Joy McClure

Resident Chaplain

Vicki Joy has a degree in Social Work from Mary Hardin Baylor University (Belton, Texas) and a masters in Pastoral ministry from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest (Austin, Texas).

She received training for interfaith ministry and ordination at the Chaplaincy Institute for the Arts and Interfaith Ministry in Berkeley, CA and is certified as an Associate Chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Vicki Joy has worked 34 years as mother, grandmother, community volunteer, business woman, eldercare giver and lay minister. She believes that accepting oneself as being divinely beloved is the major work in the spiritual journey and an important step in gaining that "knowing" is making oneself available to the Divine in quietness.

She believes that the strength she gains from sitting quietly in that Presence allows her to serve more completely in the present as a resident chaplain at Scott & White Hospital at the University Medical Campus in Round Rock, Texas.

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