Story by Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union Visitor; Photos by Brian Patrick Tagalog
Allegheny West Conference
Story by Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union Visitor
Today Nathaniel Drew, pastor of Allegheny West Conference’s Bethany church in Charlottesville, Va., and the Calvary church in Gordonsville, Va., attended the memorial service for Heather Heyer, the woman killed last Saturday when a car plowed into a crowd of counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville. As an active member of the local Clergy Collective, he and other spiritual leaders joined more than 1,000 people who came to support and comfort Heyer's family, friends and the community.
William T. Cox Sr., President of the Allegheny West Conference; William Miller, President of the Potomac Conference; and Dave Weigley, President of the Columbia Union Conference, release the following joint statement regarding the unrest in Charlottesville, Va.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Heather Heyer and Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M. M. Bates of the Virginia State Police, who lost their lives on Saturday, August 12, during the violent uprising in Charlottesville, Va. We’re also praying for healing for all who were injured and impacted.
Story by Bryant Smith
Story by Bryant Smith
As Allegheny West Conference (AWC) celebrates its 50th anniversary, Pastor Carl Rogers, who has dedicated 50 years of service to the church, also has cause for celebration—he recently retired.
In 1967 Rogers graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Oakwood College (Ala.), and in 1969 received his Master of Divinity in Theology from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University (Mich.). Rogers and his wife of 53 years, Tecora, have since served in every corner of AWC.