Preaching Mr. Rogers?

June 7, 2012 1:39 PM

I have known that Mr. Rogers, Fred Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister for about 10 years. What I have never been able to find are any surviving tapes or transcripts of his sermons or religious lectures. I would like to find if there are any. Does anyone have an idea of where to start looking or if there is a story about why none survive him?
posted by parmanparman to Religion & Philosophy (7 answers total)

He never had a congregation -- he started working in TV before he was ordained, and decided (and was encouraged) to continue his ministry in an indirect manner via television.
posted by Etrigan at 1:46 PM on June 7, 2012

This Huffington Post article doesn't answer your question directly, but looks good, and the author seems likely to have a bead on the issue if you can get a hold of him.
posted by jon1270 at 1:48 PM on June 7, 2012

Basically, if you've watched his show, you've already seen them.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:21 PM on June 7, 2012 [10 favorites]

Ooh, he actually did do some sermons! I don't know if any of them are available online, but The Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA has physical copies of a few of his sermon notes/scripts. Go here, do a keyword search for "sermon", and change the collection to Fred Rogers Center. Unfortunately, I don't know of a way to actually view them without being a member of the college.
posted by specialagentwebb at 2:53 PM on June 7, 2012 [5 favorites]

To answer a possible underlying question, ordainment doesn't always result in a teaching position. Some folks who are ordained end up as chaplains, counselors, etc.
posted by monkeymadness at 2:54 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

Have you contacted the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where he studied, or the Sixth Presbyterian Church in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh? He was affiliated with that church for most of his life.
posted by Dr. Wu at 2:55 PM on June 7, 2012

Best answer: If you really need to know this, let me know. My mom, a Presby minister (and Dr.), worked as a placement officer at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) when he was there, and will know what's up.

She's in charge of the huge Presbyterian General Assembly in Pittsburgh this June, so maybe there will be some kind of update.
posted by kinsey at 3:54 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]