Rev. Phyllis Joan Rogers

Phyllis Joan Rogers (Reverend P. Joanna Rogers), was born January 26, 1926, and made her transition on April 15, 2020. She was an intelligent and fiercely independent woman, from a time when such women were still rare. She raised two children, D. Annemarie Halfpap (beloved husband Mark Halfpap), her grandchildren Sheena Gemperline (Rev. Tim Gemperline), Derick Arrow (Anqi Zhao), a great grandson Luke Arrow, granddaughters Cassia Patten, and Elizabeth Halfpap, and her son S. Mark Rogers, with granddaughter Avery Rogers. She is preceded in death by granddaughter Katrina Patten. Still active into her 90’s, she performed the ceremony to marry her granddaughter Sheena and Tim Gemperline in 2014. In 2017, in celebration of the centennial anniversary of the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross (where granddaughter Cassia Patten worked), she performed the Opening Blessing of the Annual Meeting of volunteers and donors. In 2018, she ordained Reverend Tim Gemperline to carry on her teachings with her daughter and LearningLightMinistries.com.

"History"

Phyllis came from England to the United States in 1962. As the wife of a minister, she was very involved with the Unity Church and Sunday School in England, then America, and Australia for about 14 years. After returning to America she became a Practitioner with the United Church of Religious Science.

For eighteen years she held the position of Electro-Mechanical Designer for the Kitt Peak National Observatory, in Tucson, Arizona. Working there, she developed an interest in space and the universe. This piqued her curiosity into the origins of religion and ancient New Thought.

She was ordained by Dr. Lola Mays, in Phoenix, Arizona in 1986, and soon after founded The Desert Church of The Learning Light in Tucson, Arizona.

Now Rev. Rogers, she was introduced to Emma Curtis Hopkins when asked to teach a class comparing her with Ernest Holmes. In 2009, Rev. Rogers published her book Emma Curtis Hopkins: An Appreciation For Her Students, the definitive biography of Mrs. Hopkins.

"International New Thought Alliance (INTA) Activities"

For several years Rev. Rogers was Southern Arizona's District President for INTA. After relocating to Ohio, she took on the position of District President for Kentucky and Southern Ohio.

In 1998, she presented a program on “Hidden Bible Secrets” at the INTA Congress in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2006, she gave a program on Emma Curtis Hopkins, and in 2008, participated in the Society for the Study of Metaphysical Religion discussion on Emma Curtis Hopkins.

In collaboration with past INTA President Dr. Blaine Mays, she produced the second edition of the Mind Remakes Your World for the 93rd Congress in 2008. For INTA, she wrote and published two books: The Presidents of the Alliance and Founders of New Thought, income raising donations to the Addington Archives. The Archives also houses copies of a monthly magazine published from 1987 to 2000, entitled PULSE, by the Desert Church of the Learning Light. Rev. Rogers was devoted to INTA and made donations of her rare books, her teaching tapes, and all her teaching materials to the Addington Archives.