Fall 2025 Alumni Updates

Alumni Updates

Across the country, Perkins alumni are bringing faith to life in creative and bold ways. Their stories show how faith takes root in unexpected ways and places. Stay tuned for future blog posts to read the full features on each of these leaders.

Virginia “Kay” Ash

Perkins alum Virginia “Kay” Ash (M.T.S. ’15) is reshaping children’s ministry at Kessler Park UMC through innovation, compassion and community. After a delay from the pandemic, Ash’s midweek children’s program grew exponentially. From gatherings in Roberts Forest to themed summer camps, her work meets kids where they are and helps them discover God’s love. Recently honored with the 2025 Denman Evangelism Award from the Horizon Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church, Ash’s story shows a fresh way to introduce faith to today’s youth.

Seth Botts

A recent graduate from the Perkins Houston-Galveston hybrid Master of Divinity program, the Rev. Seth Botts (M.Div. ’25) is turning his remarkable journey of addiction, prison and recovery into a bold new ministry in Chicago. Free Recovery Community offers an open, shame-free space for people in recovery, loved ones and what he calls “spiritual refugees” to encounter God through raw honesty and hope. In a conversation with Perkins, he shares why he believes his unconventional story is what the Church needs.

Kristina and Charles “Ryan” Roth-Klinck

The Rev. Kristina Roth-Klinck (M.Div. ’20) and the Rev. Charles “Ryan” Roth-Klinck (M.Div. ’18) are reshaping spiritual community in Cedar Rapids through Nourished, a unique blend of gluten-free bakery and healing-centered ministry. Recently honored with the Harry Denman Evangelism Award at the 2025 Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church, Kristina credits the work she and Ryan share in creating a space for young adults seeking belonging and renewal after religious trauma.

Lily White

The Rev. Lily White (M.Div. ’25) has walked a transformative journey from a deferred call to ordination. Once convinced her identity as a woman and lesbian excluded her from ministry, she found affirmation, community and preparation through Perkins’ hybrid Houston-Galveston program — a perfect fit to balance her work in Austin. Now ordained by University Baptist Church in Austin, Lily serves as director of hospitality, bringing the welcoming spirit of high-end hospitality into the church.

2025 Alumni Obituaries

At Perkins School of Theology, we honor the lives of our alumni whose ministries and legacies continue to inspire. Each obituary is a remembrance of their journeys of faith, service and community, and we share them here with gratitude for their witness and to celebrate the impact they made in the church and the world.

The Rev. Norman Davis Roe

 The Rev. Norman Davis Roe (M.Th., 1964) died July 8 at the age of 87. Norman Roe served many United Methodist Churches in Texas, including Combs-Santa Rosa in the Rio Grande Valley, as well as churches in Austin, La Grange, Corpus Christi, Mason, San Angelo, San Antonio, Brady and Universal City. Roe officially retired in 2000 but continued to preach while serving as interim pastor at United Methodist churches in the Austin/San Antonio area. He was one of four members of the Roe family who graduated from Perkins, including his father, the Rev. Allen Roe (M.Th., 1930) and his brothers, the Rev. W. Grady Roe (M.Th., 1973) and the late A. Gordon Roe Jr. (M.Th., 1960). According to Grady, together the four contributed a combined total of more than 160 years of pastoral service in the United Methodist Church — and counting. Grady, 77, continues to preach in the Austin area. A memorial service was held on July 19 at University United Methodist Church in Austin.  

Gary Frederick 

 Gary Wayne Frederick (M.Th., 1963) of Longview, Texas, died Aug. 31 at age 86. Ordained in 1964, he served congregations in Garland and Austin, then began a 35-year career with the Texas Department of Human Services and Texas Workforce Commission. A proud Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow member, Gary loved camping, backpacking and coaching his sons’ basketball and baseball teams. A memorial service was held on Sept. 20 at First United Methodist Church in Longview, Texas.  

The Rev. Elson Payne 

 The Rev. Elson Payne Hargrove Jr. (M.Th., 1961) died Aug. 17. He served United Methodist congregations in Oklahoma, including Valliant, McAlester Wesley, Coalgate, Carnegie, Tulsa Harrison Memorial & Lake, Pawnee & Skedee, Wewoka & Cromwell, Frederick and Tahlequah. He also served as an administrator at Oklahoma Methodist Manor, in addition to holding roles on numerous conference boards and spending two decades as dean of youth church camps. He retired from the United Methodist Church in 1999. Since 1984, he had been active at Hope United Methodist in Tulsa, including participating in many Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trips. A memorial service was held on Sept. 13 at Trinity Woods Fleming Center in Tulsa. 

The Rev. Dr. Michael Douglas Dent

The Rev. Dr. Michael Douglas Dent (M.Th., 1979; D.Min., 1992) died July 8. During his 45 years as a pastor and preacher, his appointments included associate pastor at Klein United Methodist Church in Spring, Texas; pastor at First United Methodist Church in DeKalb, Texas; founding pastor at Atascocita United Methodist Church in Humble, Texas; senior pastor at Bellaire United Methodist Church in Bellaire, Texas; senior pastor at Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler, Texas; and senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Denver, Colorado. He was appointed to the 1996 World Methodist Council in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to the 2001 World Methodist Conference in Brighton, England. In 2012 he served in Angola as part of the denomination’s “Imagine No Malaria” team. After retiring in 2018, he devoted himself to writing three books: “Love Whispers: Reflections of a Seasoned Pastor,” “Understanding Jesus in the 21st Century,” and “Blessings Abound: Fifty Years of Praying in Public.” A Christian Service of Death and Resurrection was held at Pollard United Methodist Church in Tyler, Texas.