Rev. Dick Rogers
About Dick:
Co-pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Munster.
Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Hanover College.
Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Ordained in 1963.
Studied theology at University of Edinburg in Scotland.
He and his wife, Frieda, live in Munster and have a daughter, Amy.
Accomplishments: The Rev. Dick Rogers will retire in June ending 29 years of service to Westminster Presbyterian Church. He served as pastor from 1979 to 2003 when the governing body of the church at his suggestion called a co-pastor to work with him. Since that time, Rogers and Rev. Bruce Haapalainen have shared responsibilities and duties including preaching, each drawing on their different skills and gifts. "It was a good change," he said and it will ease the transition in June. Rogers has seen and directed major changes at the church. The congregation has grown almost doubling in size, the church had two major building projects and was instrumental in starting Habitat for Humanity in Northwest Indiana. Westminster now has a counseling center on site, a feeding ministry that involves the community and the assembly and a number of active programs, Bible studies and small groups. It also focuses on mission work, nationally and internationally. "I will miss the people, I will miss
Westminster," he said. "This has been our life. It's a wonderful place." Rogers and his wife will move to Texas to be closer to family. There he will continue to pursue his love of bicycling.
Why I minister to others. "I felt called by God very powerfully. My goal was to become the best minister I could and to help a congregation become the best congregation that it could."
What I read: "One of my favorite books is The Road Less Traveled' by Scott Pecks. I try to read a variety - scripture, theology and current events."
Advice: "Your life is God's gift to you and what you do with your life is your gift back to God."
What inspires me: "A cluster of things: scripture, other people and my dad inspired me. I really think people are inspiring."
People might be surprised to know: "I navigated a 27-foot sailboat across the Atlantic." -SUE BERO, Times Correspondent
To nominate someone for this feature, e-mail slbero@hotmail.com
Express yourself wherever you are. Mobilize!
