Riggs to be third generation Disciples minister ordained in his family

Michael Noble Riggs will be ordained to Christian Ministry by the Great River Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the local congregation of First Christian Church in Bossier City, LA, on Saturday, January 16, 2010.  The service will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church located at 2205 Shed Road in Bossier City.  The Rev. Dr. Graham F. Riggs, pastor of First Christian Church, will direct the service.  The Rev. Barbara Jones, Regional Minister of the Great Giver Region, will preside over the ordination and the “laying on of hands” by Elders and Clergy.  Representatives from both the Great River and Southwest Regions of the Christian Church will be participating as well as faculty from Brite Divinity School.  The Rev. Dr. Jerry Kirkpatrick of Westwind Christian Church in Keller, TX will deliver the sermon.

The Rev. Michael Riggs is a recent graduate of the Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, from which he received the degree Master of Divinity ('09) and also completed a concentration in Black Church Studies.  He was twice awarded the Granville T. Walker Ministerial Scholarship for excellence in preaching and was often named to the Dean's List.  This spring semester, he will serve as Acting Director of Chapel Worship at Brite.  He was licensed for ministry in 2008 by the Southwest Region and currently serves as Associate Minister of Community Christian Church in Aledo, TX.   Previously, Rev. Riggs served as Minister of Music of First Christian Church in Amarillo, TX and Ridgewood Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX.

Michael Riggs holds two other degrees from TCU, a Bachelor and Master of Music in theory and composition.  He graduated from Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, LA, where he was active in the Fine Arts program.  He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Graham F. Riggs of Shreveport, LA.  His mother, Sue Riggs, influenced his interest in church and music throughout her career as both an organist and choir director.  Michael’s brother, who will sing for the service, participates with sacred music groups in the Washington D.C. area including the Cathedral Choral Society.

Rev. Riggs comes with historical credentials to this service of ordination.  In addition to his father serving in ministry for fifty years, his great-grandfather, the Rev. J. Randall Farris, served as a pastor in the Christian Church for more than sixty-five years.  His other paternal Great-grandfather was a founding Elder in the Hillyer Memorial Christian Church in Raleigh, N.C.

Members of the Ordination planning committee are:  June Brunty (Chair person), Ann Burdue, Opal Gaspard, Penny Carter, Eloise Clark, June McAdams, Joanne Fowler, Roxanne Berridge, Sylvia Cox and Mary Clark.