The Vine — JULY, 2008
— Presbytery of the James
VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF
Dr. Isabel Wood Rogers Resolutions presented to the Virginia General Assembly might implore the United States Congress to take certain action, direct a state agency to study a particular social problem, express aspirations of the legislature, or draw attention to people who have made significant contributions. In the latter category, not surprisingly, a resolution has been introduced commending the iconic Oliver W. Hill. Of special interest to the Presbytery, as well as to the church at large, is House Joint Resolution 256, entitled “Celebrating the life of Dr. Isabel Wood Rogers.” It recounts, albeit briefly, highlights of both her background and her accomplishments, such as her long teaching career and her service as Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly. The resolution also conveys something of the qualiDr. Isabel Wood Rogers ties which made Dr. Rogers such a towering, yet beloved, figure. She is characterized as “an inspirational religious leader and teacher,” “a great advocate for young people,” and “dedicated to helping her students ‘to raise questions, to think for themselves, and to forge their own faith.’” HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 256 Offered January 18, 2008 Celebrating the life of Dr. Isabel Wood Rogers. ---------Patrons—(Congregational supporters of the Resolution)—Hall, Alexander, Dance, Jones, D.C., Loupassi, McClellan, Morrissey, O'Bannon, Shannon, Spruill, Tyler, Ward and Ware, O’Bannon; Senators: Deeds and McEachin
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HEREAS, Dr. Isabel Wood Rogers, an admired professor emerita at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education, died on March 18, 2007; and HEREAS, born in 1924, Isabel Wood Rogers grew up and went to high school in Tallahassee, Florida; and HEREAS, Isabel Rogers received an undergraduate degree from Florida State University, a master of arts degree from the University of Virginia, a masters of Christian education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, and a doctoral degree in ethics from Duke University; she was awarded honorary degrees from Austin College, Westminster College, and Centre College; and HEREAS, affectionately know as Dr. Izzie by her students and colleagues, Isabel Rogers taught applied Christianity at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (PSCE) from 1961 to 1998; and HEREAS, before joining PSCE, Isabel Rogers served as campus minister and chaplain, as director of campus religious activities at Georgia College and State University from 1949 to 1952, and was honored by the university in 2000 for her many contributions; and HEREAS, an effective communicator and a unifying leader, Isabel Rogers was elected to the high position of moderator of the 199th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in 1987, especially significant because her election came just four years after the national reunion that ended more than a century of schism within the Presbyterian Church; and HEREAS, Isabel Rogers was the author of five educational books for Presbyterians entitled Christian and World Affairs, In Response to God, Our Shared Earth, In a Word, and Sing a New Song; and HEREAS, a great advocate for young people, Isabel Rogers was dedicated to helping her students "to raise questions, to think for themselves, and to forge their own faith"; and HEREAS, an inspirational religious leader and teacher, Isabel Rogers will be fondly remembered for her kind and generous nature and will be greatly missed by her sister Elizabeth Green McCord, her two nephews Rogers and Dykes Green, and her numerous friends, admirers, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it ESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of an outstanding educator and fine Virginian, Dr. Isabel Wood Rogers; and, be it ESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Dr. Isabel Wood Rogers as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.
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Haiti Fish Farms (Continued from page 1)
the millers would cheat or charge large amounts of money for this basic process. So Mark and Hein helped to build a grist mill. The only charge for the milling is one tenth of their grain with an emphasis on them giving a tithe. The corn that was given to us went straight into the feeding centers. This was so successful that at the time we did not need to buy any corn for the feeding centers. In 1995, the Canadian government decided to shut down the five feeding centers that they were running but Hein and Mark were able to find funding to support these centers. Now there are ten feeding centers, each with the same conditions that were established with the first one. If one does the math, 80 (children) x 4 (meals) x 10 (centers), they are feeding 3,200 meals per week or 12,800 meals per month. During this same trip to Haiti, they were asked to help start an orphanage. Both Hein and Mark began to see that this mission effort was quickly out growing the church they attended in Fayetteville, Georgia. In 1996, they formed a 501(C)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, named Matthew Twenty-Eight, Inc. That same year they started construction on the orphanage and in 1996 accepted the first eight orphans. The orphanage now has 42 children from the ages of 6 months to 17 years. These children receive food, clothing, medical attention, schooling, but most of all are brought up in a loving Christian environment. Hein and Mark are now working on the construction of fish ponds and a canal system. The canal system will bring water to the fish ponds and also to many families to help improve their small farms. The fish will provide a protein source for the orphanage and families in the area. They are also pursuing an agricultural project to raise food for the orphanage and feeding centers. Hein and Mark went to Haiti in March, 2008, and were distressed by the severe increase in food costs. The prices of most foods have tripled in the last three years. This has led to some extremely sad and poor conditions. At one of the medical clinics they were horrified by the condition of the children. They all had bloated stomachs and red hair (both signs of severe malnourishment). As they asked the mothers what they were feeding their children, they held their heads in shame as they were embarrassed to tell us they could only afford to serve their children a small handful of corn every other day. Mark and Hein couldn’t believe that these children were still alive on such low levels of poor nourishment. Haiti is in crisis. The price of rice has gone from $280 for 50 lb. to $490 per 50 lb. The increase in oil prices
Cement lined canal under construction to fill ponds and for irrigation of crops.
has caused shipping charges to triple. As they have done many times before, Mark and Hein, along with two nurses held a clinic in a small village on a mountain top. The condition of the children was far worse than can be imaged, they have orange hair, worm filled bellies and an array of skin diseases, all signs of malnutrition. Presbytery of the James Hunger Committee gives $3000 to this mission for the year, which only supplies one feeding station for one month. The fish pond project will be a constant supply of nourishment for the feeding stations and orphanage but that is still months away. No one knows how many of these children will still be alive by then.
John Bell (Continued from page 1)
Presbyterian Church in Canada and the Royal School of Church Music which bestowed a Fellowship on him, and in 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Glasgow. John has produced (some in collaboration with Graham Maule) many collections of original hymns and songs and two collections of songs of the World Church. These are published by the Iona Community in Scotland and by G.I.A. Publications (Chicago) in North America. He is an occasional broadcaster, and has presented a programme Songs of God's People on BBC, which included religious songs from various parts of the world. Bell lectures in theological colleges in Britain and the U.S., but is primarily concerned with the renewal of congregational worship at the grass roots level. Conference brochures are available from the POJ office. $25 per person for members of sponsoring denominations, includes lunch if paid by October 8. Group registrations for sponsoring denominations, $100 per church, up to 6 people, additional persons $10 each. $40 at door. The Worship Conference is endorsed by the Richmond Chapter, American Guild of Organists; partially funded by PAM Seed Money Grant; The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Virginia Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.