NEWS BRIEFS

Pine Bluff native to lead diocese

Pine Bluff native Phoebe Roaf was elected bishop of an Episcopal diocese in Tennessee on Nov. 17, according to a report by The Commercial Appeal.

Roaf has been rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Va., since 2011.

She earned her law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the 1980s and clerked for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for two years before attending seminary school in Virginia.

According to the St. Philip's website, Roaf was the first black woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Louisiana, and was the first woman to hold the position of rector in St. Philip's 150-year history.

Roaf's mother, Andree Layton Roaf, was the first black woman to sit on the Arkansas Supreme Court and later the Arkansas Court of Appeals, according to a previous report by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Roaf will become the first woman and first black person to lead the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee. She defeated two other female candidates in balloting held at the diocese's annual convention in Germantown, Tenn.

Roaf will succeed the Rt. Rev. Don Johnson, who has led the diocese since 2001.

-- The Associated Press, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Grant to assist Hispanic victims

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration in October awarded a grant of about $350,000 to Interfaith Arkansas, executive director the Rev. Stephen Copley announced last week.

The grant has been used to establish the Latino Crime Victims Assistance Center which is now operating in North Little Rock. Hispanics who have been the victims of crimes now have access to translation and interpretation services, legal consulting, transitional housing and other resources through the area's faith community. Staff will also engage in outreach and public awareness for the center, which is still seeking volunteers, Copley said.

More information about the center or how to become a volunteer can be found at interfaitharkansas.com, latino-victims@interfaitharkansas.com, (501) 812-3903 or (501) 725-5183.

-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Dinner theater marks war's end

Wesley United Methodist Church, 2310 E. Oak St. in Conway, will host the music and theater performance 1918: The Gift of Peace, from 6:15-8:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and from 1:15-3:30 p.m. Dec. 2.

The production, hosted by the Conway Women's Chorus, will be a dinner theater presented to commemorate the centennial of the end of World War I. The meal will be served 45 minutes before the show, and will feature a menu of popular dishes from the era. Period Christmas music will also be performed.

Tickets are $20 per person and can be reserved through tinyurl.com/ycrlqnfv or (501) 339-7401.

-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Religion on 11/24/2018

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