Staff

For the next several months, CPC will host the Rev. Dr. Jack Barden as our temporary pastor. He has pastored six churches in three states (TX, KY, MO), and served as the Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management at Austin Seminary for more than a decade. While at the Seminary, Jack worshipped at CPC regularly. Jack currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Commission on Ministry for Mission Presbytery. Jack and his husband, JR, live in Hudson Bend near Lake Travis. They enjoy cooking (and eating), traveling, and attending Renaissance Faires.

In November 2011, Mary Swierenga became our Parish Associate for Adult Education. A graduate of both Wesley and Columbia Theological Seminaries, Mary served as the Pastor for Spiritual Formation for 17 years in Vienna, VA. After 35 years in the D.C. area, she moved to Austin in April 2011 to live near her children and grandchildren.

Lisa is the CPC Office Manager. She is a native Austinite and after graduating from the University of Texas with a B.A. in Sociology, she completed her M.S. in Organizational Management at the School for International Training in Vermont. Lisa worked in the nonprofit sector for 13 years, before becoming a full-time event planner. More recently, Lisa transitioned her focus to motherhood and has twin daughters with her husband, Jake.

Andi joined the team at Central Presbyterian Church in 2022. She oversees the Neighbors Program and collaborates with partners to provide resources to our unhoused neighbors. She provides direct service to our neighbors and also leads the Homeless Advocacy Project and is active in advocacy and community organizing in Austin.

Andi is originally from Indianapolis and attended Loyola University Chicago, and received her Master’s in Social Work from UCLA. She spent 15 years working in public policy for the Texas Legislature and other nonprofits and has a background in coalition building and project management. She is a former foster parent, founder of a nonprofit for children in foster care called Learning Bridge and is a strong community advocate on homelessness, gun violence prevention, and foster care. Andi enjoys spending time with her family and three teenagers, Max, Mia and Nina, listening to live music, hiking, movies and reading.

Born in Baton Rouge, Emma grew up in small-town, Mississippi, and found her voice at a young age, singing and playing guitar in a quaint, wooden church full of southern charm. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts with a B.M. in Music Business Management, as well as a B.M. in Guitar Performance, she migrated back south to Austin where she spent a decade before college. Emma has toured nationally, recorded in some of America’s best studios, and hosted events across America. She is an avid reader, lover of her rescue dog, Fig, and baker.

André Trahan, our Director of Music Ministry, began his sacred music career in 2012. Since then, he has served as Director of Music in a diverse number of churches and communities. André is also a pianist and organist, having served as organist in several posts. As a bass singer, he has performed with ensembles such as Texas Early Music Ensemble, Conspirare, Austin Cantorum, Texas Bach Festival, Coro Vocati (Atlanta, GA), and RedShift (Baton Rouge, LA). His passion for sacred music is built on providing a space for all to worship and develop a closer relationship to their faith, music, and each other. André looks forward to continuing the tradition of great music making at CPC. He received his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University in 2018 and his Bachelor of Music in Choral Music and Sacred Music from Centenary College of Louisiana in 2015.”

AJ is an Austinite who spent many years in the Army before graduating from Austin Community College with his Audio Engineering degree. When he’s not working or studying, AJ has his own DJ business and also volunteers with Army Veterans.