J. Robert Moffett Dies 12/27/01
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Rev. Moffett served as the interim minister of our church for two years from 1995 through 1997.

It is not every day that a man or a minister like Bob Moffett comes along.  His dedication to his faith, his church, his wife, his family, and his friends was unflinching.  He was a great teacher of his faith and how to live life.  His contributions to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) were great.  He touched the lives of so many people and they were, each one, blessed and better off for having known him.  He loved and was loved by everyone he met.  He was one of the best of the best and we will sorely miss him.  

 

Distinguished Alumnus Award

J. Robert Moffett

For epitomizing the educated ministry, wherein the spiritual and the intellectual, the moral and the aesthetic are not sundered;
for uncommon understanding and exemplary leadership of congregations; for extensive service to the wider church and society; for your comprehensive vision of the church, deeply rooted historically, anchored in but transcending congregational life, and ecumenically encompassing; and for extraordinary service to the Disciples Divinity House, the Alumni/ae Association bestows upon you this day, October 9, 1999, its Distinguished Alumnus Award.

 

The following news article appeared in the Houston Chronicle on January 3, 2002
 

Rev. J. Robert Moffett, pastor, 
church leader

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Obituary

By Tara Dooley
Houston Chronicle Religion Writer

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The Rev. J. Robert Moffett, a respected leader in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and former longtime pastor of Houston’s First Christian Church, died Dec. 27 of melanoma. He was 80.

As pastor of the Rice University-area church, Moffett was known for his abilities as a student of his faith and as a caring pastor, said the Rev. Rolland G. Pfile, associate regional minister of the Christian Church in Indiana and Moffett’s longtime friend.

He "was very serious about his study and about the need for one to be intelligent and studious about one’s faith," Pflle said. "At the same time, he had a very deep streak of caring about human beings and their feelings."

Moffett was born in 1921 in Springfield, Mo. He earned degrees from Drury University in Missouri and the Disciples Divinity House, the divinity school at the University of Chicago.

Before arriving in Houston, Moffett served churches in Fayetteville, Ark; Alliance, Ohio; and Tuscon, Ariz. He came to Houston’s First Christian Church as senior minister in 1966.

As a pastor, he was happy to help and was a comfort during times of trouble, said Louise Brown, a member of the church since 1933. When Brown’s husband died, it was Moffett and his wife, Janet, who drove her to the hospital at 3 a.m., she said.

"A lot of ministers I would have hesitated to call," she said. "But Bob would not have liked it if I had not called.

"He is the kind you just felt kin to," she added.

During his career, Moffett served on the board of trustees of Texas Christian University a Disciples of Christ university in Fort Worth. He was awarded an Honorary doctorate from the university in 1970. He also was on the board of directors of the denomination’s general board and the Board of trustees of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society.

In Houston, he was involved on the board of directors of the Downtown Rotary and the Houston Ministerial Association and worked with Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and the Institute of Religion at the University of Texas Medical Center.

After retiring as pastor of the church in 1988, Moffett acted as interim minister for three area churches: First Christian Church in Hempstead, First Christian Church in Conroe and Bellaire Christian Church.

"He was very personable and very warm and also very gracious," said the Rev. Herschel Moore, who followed Moffett as pastor of Bellaire Christian Church." I always felt like it was an honor and privilege to know him."

In addition to his wife, Moffett is survived by two daughters, Cathleen Moffett of Cat Spring and Christine Swanson of Houston; and four grandchildren. His son, John Robert Moffett, died in 1993.

A memorial will be at 1 p.m. today at First Christian Church, 1601 Sunset.

ANOTHER OBITUARY

J, ROBERT MOFFETT, 80, passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2001. Born in Springfield, Missouri on March 1, 1921 he graduated from Drury College and the University of Chicago, Disciples Divinity House. Bob formerly was a member of the General Board of the Disciples of Christ, Board of Trustees of Texas Christian University, Board of Directors of the Downtown Rotary, Board of Metropolitan Ministries, and was past president of the Tucson Council of Churches, Houston Ministerial Association and Disciples Peace Fellowship. He received an honorary doctorate from Drury College in 1967 and from Texas Christian University in 1970. His pastorates include the First Christian Churches in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Alliance, Ohio and Tucson, Arizona, each for seven years and twenty-three years at the First Christian Church in Houston. He is preceded in death by his son, John Robert Moffett. Bob is survived by his wife of 55 years Janet McHale Moffett, daughter Christine Swanson, son-in-law Bill Swanson, daughter Cathleen Moffett, daughter-In-law Carol Moffett, grandchildren Eric and Blake Swanson and Claire and John Moffett. Friends are invited to visitation with the family from 3 until 6 o’clock in the afternoon Sunday, December 30, 2001 at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons 1010 Bering Drive. A Memorial service will be conducted at 1 o’clock in the afternoon Thursday, January 3, 2002 at First Christian Church 1601 Sunset with Rev. Rolland Pfile the Interim Associate Regional Minister for Indianapolis, Indiana and Dean Kris Culp of Disciples Divinity House, officiating. For those desiring, contributions may be made to the John Robert Moffett Memorial Scholarship Fund, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 297044, Fort Worth Tx. 76129.