Member Profile - Bob Rogers

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Nine grandchildren, a loving wife, a successful academic career that beckons the occasional teaching assignment (including one at the Virginia Holocaust Museum,) a love of travel, a commitment to community volunteerism -- is this the man you would look to as a church activist in Richmond's liberal church community? You betcha. Because that's what Bob Rogers has become  in the six years since he retired from a small liberal arts college and moved to Richmond -- in part to be near First UU. On occasion he and his family had driven the 75 miles to First UU from his small college town and then the 75 miles home.

So in retirement, their knowledge of First UU and the friends they had already made here made Richmond the logical choice. Bob has now decided the he "was always a Unitarian Universalist without formally acknowledging it." He attended seminary and graduate school in Boston and was active in a very liberal United Church of Christ congregation. But he and his family found nothing in rural Southside Virginia that met their spiritual or social needs.

He explains, "I have at last 'come home' in my religious journey.  In a myriad of ways First Unitarian Universalist is the place where I flourish.  Here there are kindred souls committed to intellectual honesty: folks with a variety of spiritual journeys challenging and affirming each other; people who are warm and laugh a lot; liberal-minded humanists and theists alike supporting social justice causes.

"And we’re such an eclectic bunch, drawn from a variety of religious and geographic backgrounds; most of us were not raised Unitarian Universalist. This makes for rich and fluid conversations about the meaning of life. The intellectual ferment that occurs is wonderful.  The religious services are inspiring, punctuated by well-crafted, thoughtful, challenging sermons.  The well-designed religious education program is excellent as well, not only for children, but also for adults.  I find my life continually enriched by the religious and educational experiences offered at my church.

"In the past six years my life has taken several dramatic turns, and my church family has been with me every step of the way. After an extended illness, my first wife, Gretchen, died; church members celebrated her life with a memorable service, and then supported the process of nurturing me back to wholeness. When I was fortunate to fall in love again, church members were right there welcoming my new wife with loving embrace. Janet and I find this church the central core for meaning in our new life together. Every Sunday is a much-anticipated day in our household.  (Never mind that each of us is also involved during the week in various church groups!) Seeing friends and drinking coffee, participating in religious services, celebrating the corporate life of the church, affirming individual lives: all of these we experience weekly.

"I am grateful for First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond -- my church home!"

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