in memoriam, Rev Dr Donald B Rogers,

CINCINNATI – Donald Barton Rogers, son of the late Carl and Audra Dee (Honey) Rogers, passed away on November 20, 2024, one month after his 93rd Birthday. Preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Constance (Connie) C. Rogers (nee Cornwell), he is survived by three sons: Scot (Nancee), Gregory and Carl Rogers (Kum Dan), grandchildren Andrew (Taylor) and Hannah Rogers and great grandson Beau Rogers.

He was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on October 17, 1931 and grew up there, attending Colorado Springs High School and Colorado University in Boulder. It’s there he met Connie and earned what he referred to as a Bachelor of Arts degree in ‘undeclared’. He attended Seminary and was ordained in the Disciples of Christ at First Christian Church in Colorado Springs. They relocated to New Jersey where he earned his Master of Arts in Education from Princeton.  Traveling across country, Don served as Associate Pastor in First Christian churches in Eugene and Pendelton, Oregon before returning to Princeton in 1964 where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology. The last major relocation landed the family in Dayton, Ohio where Don became a Professor of Christian Education at United Theological Seminary, retiring from full-time responsibilities in 2001.

A Teacher his whole life, he much preferred that title over Preacher, even though at 31 years in the pulpit, he was the longest serving Pastor in the history of the Mount Auburn Baptist Church. He also served as Academic Director for Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville TN, leading retreats and workshops until 2019 and was on the Board of Directors for the Blessing Center Collaborative which focuses on the spiritual needs of children and teens.

Dr. Rogers published a variety of works on Christian education, including Teachable Moments with Kay Kupper Berg (Discipleship Resources), The Way of the Teacher: For Those Who Teach or Think They Might (Discipleship Resources), Urban Church Education (Religious Education Press), In Praise of Learning (Abingdon Press, originally published in 1980; revised and updated with Jacqueline J. Nowak in 2007) and Echoes of Mercy, Whispers of Love: Meditations written by the faculty and staff of United Theological Seminary, edited by Donald B. Rogers 1990-91. 

A series of bad breaks in High School led to the loss of his left leg.  Undaunted, he would go on to join his College gymnastics team, ski, swim, and pilot a wide variety of vehicles, including stick shift cars, a motorcycle and a sailboat. He was awarded a medal in a Trampoline competition because “the judges had no idea what to do with me”. Cross-country camping trips were a way to keep in contact with extended family in Colorado and included mountain hiking as an activity.

A memorial service will be held at 2pm January 25th at the Wyoming Baptist Church. 170 Burns Ave.  Wyoming, OH 45215 with gathering before and after the service.   The service will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. Wyomingbaptistchurch.org.  Donations in Don’s name can be made to the Blessing Center Collaborative (send a donation), any local program that helps the homeless and youth homeless, or go through your local schools and help sponsor children’s programs because as Don said, “Learning is not for emergencies like penicillin, nor just for the young like milk. Rather, it is like water, vital throughout your entire life.”