March 2008 E-Newsletter 

Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education
3401 Brook Road
Richmond, VA 23227

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Glenn Birch
Phone: 804.278.4306
FAX: 804.355.5648
E-mail: gbirch@union-psce.edu

Isabel Rogers Honored
Virginia Women in History

 Richmond, VA — March 18, 2008 — The Library of Virginia has chosen Union-PSCE's own Dr. Isabel Wood Rogers as one of its “Virginia Women in History” for 2008. “Dr. Izzie” was professor emerita of applied Christianity at Union-PSCE following 37 years of teaching at Union-PSCE. She remained active in the church after retirement in 1998 until her death in 2007. The honor calls attention to her remarkable contributions over a lifetime of scholarship, teaching, and giving.

The 2008 Library of Virginia program honors eight women who have made important contributions to Virginia, the nation, and the world.  Professor of Bible Jim Brashler will accept the posthumous award on Dr. Rogers' behalf at an awards luncheon on March 27.

In recognition of the award, a display on the awards program, and Dr. Izzie's selection has been on view at Union-PSCE in the William Smith Morton Library.

A biography of Dr. Rogers on the Library of Virginia website references her five books that explored how Christians live in the modern world. She was an "energetic, outstanding teacher who encouraged her students and colleagues to pursue the quest for justice, including the ethical treatment of all people and full participation of women in the church and in society. A confirmed environmentalist, she advocated responsible stewardship of the earth. In 1987 Rogers was elected moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), its highest elected office. Her role as moderator, she believed, was to encourage questions, to get people "to think for themselves, to forge their own faith."