Roy L. Griggs

GRIGGS -- Roy L., was born the youngest of 4 children to Vester L. and Rhoda Hamilton Griggs in Hannibal, MO, on April 27, 1934. His education included Hannibal High School, Culver-Stockton College (BA), Lexington Theological Seminary (M. Div.), Yale Divinity School (graduate study) and Christian Theological Seminary (D. Min). He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Culver-Stockton College in 1991. His concentrations in college and seminary were in the areas of religion, literature, church history, and historical theology. During his professional ministry, he had served the Canton Christian Church at Canton, MO, (7 years), First Christian Church of Jefferson City, MO, (7 years), First Christian Church of Bloomington, IN, (5 years) and First Christian Church, downtown Tulsa (18 years). His passion for ministry had always been the local parish, but he had given strong support to expressions of ministry beyond the local church. He had served as Chair of the Commission on Religion and Race of the Missouri Council of Churches; 2 terms as Chaplain of the Missouri House of Representatives; President of the Jefferson City, and Bloomington, Arts Councils; Vice-Moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, and as a member of the board and chair of the Christian Issues Task Force of the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministiries. His service on regional and national boards have included the Board of Trustees of Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, KY; Missouri School of Religion, Columbia; Barton Stone Christian Home, Jacksonville, IL; Oklahoma Christian Home, Edmond; Culver-Stockton College, Canton; and Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa. His service to the denomination of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) had included being President of the Campbell Institute, a member of the National Committee on the Embrace the Future Campaign, and chair of the Commission on Finance. In 1991, Griggs was one of 3 finalists for the office of General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Pursuing a life-long dream for the unity of Christ's Church, he had served as Vice-Chair of the Council on Christian Unity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); was the Disciple delegate to the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches; Chair of the Faith and Order Commission of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches; and member of the board and Chair of the Christian Issues Task Force of the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry. He and Nita, his wife, traveled to Italy, where Roy was 1 of the 6 Disciple delegates to the Vatican in a church to church conversation with the Pontifical Council on Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church, which also included a private audience with Pope John Paul, II. His articles have appeared in state and national publications, including The Scroll, World Call, The Christian, The Disciple, Encounter, Lexington Theological Quarterly and Midstream. His book, "Handling Life's Goodbyes", was published by Chalice Press in 1989. Survived by: his wife, Nita; children and grandchildren, Steve and his wife, Denise and their children, Travis and Trevor; and Martha and her husband, Scott, and their 2 children, Kit and Caroline. A Memorial celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at First Christian Church, Tulsa. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Griggs Lectureship Fund at First Christian Church, Tulsa or the Roy L. Griggs Scholarship Fund at Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa. Moore's Southlawn Chapel, 663-2233. Share memories at www.moorefuneral.com