wfn.org | Disciples Northeastern Region leader dies

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: June 18, 2001
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Curt Miller
E-mail: Cmiller@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

01a-35

	NEW YORK CITY (DNS) -- Ariel Rodr�guez, 39, former co-regional
minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
Northeastern Region, died in New York City Saturday, June 16. 
Rodr�guez had been ill since March, and his unexpected death
came after he had undergone a surgical procedure that was to
have been a step in his recovery.

	Rodr�guez, an active Disciples church leader in his youth at
Tercera Iglesia Cristiana was most recently a member of Misi�n
La Familia Cristiana, Bronx.  He served on the staff of the
Northeastern Region for several years, and was co-regional
minister from January through May 31, 2001.

	Rodr�guez, following a call to complete his ministerial
studies, recently received a masters of divinity degree from
Drew University, Madison, N.J.  He was a Hispanic Theological
Initiative Scholar and had just been accepted into Drew's
doctoral program in religious education. 

	"This is an enormous loss. I want to convey that the sense of
loss is just mind boggling," said  National Hispanic Pastor
Pablo A. Jim�nez. "We had here a person who would have been an
asset not only to Disciples but to all of the church in America.
He was so beloved by everybody in this region -- across racial
lines, across ethnic lines," he said.  

	Services will be held Monday (June 18) and Tuesday (June 19)
evening 7:00 p.m. at Tercera Iglesia Cristiana, 46 Hamilton
Place, New York City, with a posthumous ordination to the
ministry to be conducted Tuesday evening.  Burial will be
Wednesday, June 20 at 9:00 a.m. 

	Rodr�guez is survived by his wife, Ana Mar�a (Annie) Rodr�guez.
Notes of sympathy and concern may be sent to: 2422 Tiemann
Avenue, Bronx, NY 10469.

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