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 Rodríguez, 39, former co-regional
minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
Northeastern Region, died in New York City Saturday, June 16. 
Rodríguez 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.

	Rodríguez, an active Disciples church leader in his youth at
Tercera Iglesia Cristiana was most recently a member of Misión
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.

	Rodríguez, 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. Jiménez. "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. 

	Rodríguez is survived by his wife, Ana María (Annie) Rodríguez.
Notes of sympathy and concern may be sent to: 2422 Tiemann
Avenue, Bronx, NY 10469.

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