[Oe List ...] Death of Robert Shropshire

[Janice Ulangca]

Thank you, Ken and Mary Laura, for attending the service, and Mary Laura, for reporting on it so that so many of us could feel a part of Robert's Sendout.  I loved the blue suit.  Is that church predominantly African-American?  If so, "When the Saints Go Marching In"  would really swing. 

What a gift the energy and strength of African Americans has been and is to this nation and to the world!  I've been learning a bit about something called White Privilege - something many of us need to be aware of.  Our African American colleagues already know.

Janice Ulangca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mary Laura Jones 
  To: Order Ecumenical Community 
  Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2012 3:18 PM
  Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Death of Robert Shropshire


  Ken and I have just returned from Robert's funeral service held at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church on the South Side.  The service was well done with the large church choir singing a resounding rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In". Robert was buried in a blue suit.  

  It was wonderful to see and talk to Conna, Evelyn and her daughter Alexis, Greg and his wife Autumn, Robert's Mother Evelyn, brother Kenneth, nephew Eric Shropshire and niece Maija Evans. 

  Eric read many of the remembrances you all have written on this listserve during the service and they gave a wonderful perspective on Robert's life and contributions. 

  Anne Townley was there. Rick and Dixie Deines also attended from Milwaukee. It reminded me of how many of us came into the Institutes through those strong Galaxy pastors.  Robert was an active member of their Lutheran Church in Woodlawn and played a key role in the development of the "Woodlawn School of Human Dignity" in the 60s. There were recollections of his role as a master teacher and a spirit man in Chicago and around the world with the Ecumenical Institute and the ICA. 

  I was thankful to have been able to attend the service.

  Mary Laura 





   
  On Sat, Jun 2, 2012 at 2:23 AM, Isobel and Jim Bishop <isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au> wrote:

    Dear colleagues, 
    It has been a very sacred moment reading all the words of love, and memorable encounters, that many of us had with Robert. I found myself in awe as I read and digested each note.


    For me, Robert was also a prophet. 


    I remember an occasion when we were both teaching in the Academy and Robert was delivering the lecture in the Nation and World Course.   His eyes were far away, as he spoke of the 'tan man' and he said ' that will be the next huge upsurge of people power and chaos, ' or words such as these.   It  really imprinted on me how the world/ nation-states/  would be reconfigured, as balances were changed....... and I thought of Robert years later, when the Middle East imploded........'
    In his book ' Reading The Bible Again For The First Time' Marcus Borg speaks of ' Prophetic Energising'. For me, Robert was a real example of what Borg means, in his Chapter 6.  


    Robert, we salute you... from Australia.




    Isobel Bishop.
    On 01/06/2012, at 10:33 AM, ICA wrote:


      I will always remember Robert as a great Teacher, a Truth Teller, a Lover of what has Heart and Meaning. 
      Praise the gift of his life and spirit!
      Bob


      Dr. Robert True
      True and Dorin Medical Group
      360 Lexington Ave., Suite 1102
      New York, New York 10017
      212-826-2525
      www.truedorin.com

      On May 31, 2012, at 5:06 PM, "Ellen & David Rebstock" <grapevin2 at gmail.com> wrote:


        Shrop was my section leader for RS1 in Academy in 1976.  I'll never forget his style of addressing our illusions with a HO, Ho, Ho isn't that great.  He always said he wished he had the busiiness education that I had. I've always wished I could have told him that his facilitation and people skills were so much more important than what i was doing. I,ll never forget him as a friend and I agree as to his great sense of humor and leadership skill.
        David Rebstock


        On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 9:25 PM, Dharmalingam Vinasithamby <dvinasithamby at yahoo.com> wrote:

          Very sad to hear of his passing. We taught together at the Black Academy several times and through him, I got to know about the feelings and hopes of the black community in the 70s. We worked together at Bombay house together as well. I had been trying to track him down all these years with no success. A man with a great sense of humour and passion.


          Dharmalingam



--------------------------------------------------------------------
            From: George Holcombe <geowanda1 at me.com>
            To: Order Ecumenical Community <OE at wedgeblade.net>; ICA LIST SERVE <dialogue at wedgeblade.net> 
            Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 8:15 AM
            Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Death of Robert Shropshire



            Conna Wilkerson told me that Robert died Tuesday night at his mother's home in Chicago.  A service will be held for him on Saturday. 


            Wanda and I will never forget Robert.  When he arrived at Mowanjum, he was the star of the show, everyone thought he was the greatest.  Years later Robert and I had a great time playing music at the summer programs.  I'm sure others of us have memories of Robert, too.


            George Holcombe
            14900 Yellowleaf Tr.
            Austin, TX 78728
            Mobile 512/252-2756
            geowanda1 at me.com


            Hope appeareth, but it is not your Hope—you do not have anything to do with it. It just appeareth. It comes as a stranger, as an alien—it just appeareth! You do not even know why you hope. How in the world could you hope when there is absolutely nothing to justify any hope?    ~Joseph W. Mathews






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