Marking the Death of Rev. Nancy Copin



I wrote earlier of the tragic death of Disciples pastor Nancy Copin. She served as pastor of the Martinsville Snow Creek Church. The police apparently have a suspect in custody who is interestingly related to several members of the congregation. News reports suggest he has confessed to beating her to death after going to rob her. This confession serves as a reminder that clergy are public persons, whose living arrangements are at times too well known, especially when living in a parsonage.

I've never met Nancy, but as she was in life a colleague in ministry and a Disciple at that, her death affects me. The loss felt by her congregation is felt by mine as well. As Disciples we consider ourselves in Covenant Relationship with each other, and so we feel the loss that the Snow Creek church feels. News reports note that more than somewhere between 120 and 300 (see other link) persons attended a memorial service, where she was remembered as one who drove a "crazy red truck" and told "bad jokes." A message of forgiveness was given by Regional Minister Lee Parker:

"It's very hard for us to forgive when someone perpetrates such violence," said the Rev. Lee Parker, regional minister of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Virginia. "We all know Nancy would be the very first person to offer forgiveness."

She sounds like a great lady who will be greatly missed by family, friends, and congregants.

It was reported that gifts in honor of Nancy Copin can be sent to the Christian Church Foundation for a fund being set up to support Disciples ministries in South Africa and Mexico.

Comments

Mystical Seeker said…
It is always terrible to encounter news like this, especially when it involves someone you are connected with.

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