About ABBAConnecting, Coaching and Resourcing
ABBA'S CORE VALUES
We value the city.
- We are committed to both people and place. We seek the physical and spiritual renewal of both.
We value the vulnerable.
- We see God's unrelenting concern for the poor, widowed, migrant, sick, prisoner, homeless and oppressed. We work in partnership to build opportunities and a better life for the vulnerable.
We value empowerment.
- Our work should not patronize, but free and empower.
We value reconciliation.
- This work requires the resources of the whole church and community. Strengths need to be tapped; divisions healed.
We value risk.
- Creativity, innovation, and courage will be required.
We value servant leadership.
- A community's diverse leadership will need to be engaged. We value a Biblical view of leadership that seeks the welfare of others.
We value vibrant local congregations
- We believe in the essential role of the local church in effecting city transformation
We value excellence
- Jesus calls us to a higher standard
"We have been impressed by the level of professionalism and the degree of spiritual depth as ABBA works to connect churches and communities."
Karen E. Parchman
Director
Missions and Outreach
Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you about ways that ABBA can partner with you in serving the city of Austin.
(512) 680-5007
5608 Parkcrest Drive, Suite 330
Austin,Texas 78731
"Each of the ABBA leaders have spent time listening to my ideas and giving me valuable feedback that helped me put together a project that is beginning to reap rewards in the lives of several university students."
Geno Hildebrandt
Director
CollegeChurch Ministries
“The folks at ABBA are truly bridge builders for today’s communities. We look forward to a long relationship as we address community issues that have built walls in the past—and will help us build the bridges that we need as a community and as a Body to be effective in today’s world.”
Tim Pinson
Executive Director, MPA, Inc.
"No other agenda but relating and encouraging one another."
"...where I am connected to the larger body of Christ in the city."
The Leadership Team
Robert E. Sleet, Jr has over 30 years of experience in financial and executive management, most recently as CFO of a telecommunications company in Austin. He left the position in 2001 to help found and lead ABBA. Bob has also served on a number of boards of directors for profit and non-profit entities. Currently, he serves as President and CEO of Southeastern Waterproofing Company in Charlotte, NC and is a member of the boards of ABBA, Emerging Church Network, Austin House of Prayer and Texas ReachOut Ministry.
Dan Davis currently leads Pastors in Covenant, a ministry to pastors in the greater Austin area. Pastors of more than seventy churches in the city meet in small covenant groups committed to developing friendships across denominational and doctrinal lines. This is a significant step in acknowledging the unity of Christ’s body in our region.
Previously, Dan spent twenty-five years in business. In 1981 he left the business world to become the founding pastor of Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas. He served Hope Chapel as senior pastor for fifteen years. In May of 1993 he was released to work in a number of capacities beyond the local church. This includes work with Antioch Network and overseas. Joann is Dan’s wife of 46 years. They have two adult children and three wonderful grandchildren.
Ashton Cumberbatch, Jr. has been engaged in the ministry of connecting, coaching and resourcing for several years. In addition to his service at ABBA, Ashton is Austin’s Police Monitor and heads up Cumberbatch & Associates. Previously he co-pastored an Austin congregation, served as Chief of the Trial Courts for the Travis County DA’s Office, and was a partner at McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, LLP. His board service includes March for Jesus USA/Jesus Day, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Austin Area Research Organization, Envision Central Texas, the Austin YMCA, Lifecare Pregnancy Center, and Austin Adopt-A-School. Ashton is also a co-author of the Austin Pastors’ Covenant for Racial Reconciliation and the Commitment for Racial Reconciliation.
Susan McCormick received her BA and MA from the University of Texas at Austin. She is the Director of Missions and Outreach at Westlake Bible Church where she has served on the pastoral staff for 17 years. She participates in community efforts through involvement in Westlake Partners in Ministry, Communities Connecting for a Better Tomorrow, Family Pathfinders, the CAN Community Council, and City Impact Roundtable.
Elizabeth McClelland received her BA from Wake Forest University and her MPAff from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin with a concentration in Philanthropic and Nonprofit Studies. Her graduate school work culminated in a thesis entitled Intermediary Nonprofit Organizations: Scope, Effectiveness and Critical Role in Implementation of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative that focused on the effectiveness and vital role of faith-based intermediary organizations like ABBA. Previously, she has worked for the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Presbyterians for Renewal Youth Ministry, and the British House of Commons in London. In addition to her service at ABBA, Elizabeth is the International Program Coordinator for the RGK Center for Philanthropy & Community Service at The University of Texas at Austin.
Board of Directors
Derrick Benn......The Mail Box
John Berryhill......Emerging Church Network
David Dalgleish......Dalgleish Construction
Company
Dan Davis......Pastors in Covenant
Steve Leach......Private Investments
Vicky Porterfield......Prayerfields
Robert E. Sleet, Jr.......ABBA
Advisory Board
Pedro Alonso......Reverse Gravity Entertainment
Bill Blackburn......Partners in Ministry
Jim Herrington......Harbor Church, Author
Bob Hughes......Private Investor
Becky Powell......Community Volunteer
Merle Smith......Washington, DC
Mike Tipps......Colliers Oxford
Austin Bridge Builders Alliance
Connecting, Coaching and Resourcing
© Austin Bridge Builders Alliance
5608 Parkcrest Drive, Suite 330 / Austin,Texas 78731
(512) 680-5007 info@abbaaustin.net