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...I met Roger for the first time in Singapore when attending the Asian Lutheran women theologians consultation in 1981. He covered the meeting for LWI as their English Editor. I covered it for Asia Lutheran News. That was Roger's first assignment to Asia. After the meeting, he visited Cambodia (Kampuchea) and had to leave after mid-night to catch the plane. He was probably one of the first American church journalists to explore that warring country; he covered the Lutheran world relief programs there.
During his term as English Editor, LWI had more coverage of Lutheran news in Asia. Roger also contributed a great deal as resource person on church journalism workshops held in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. The workshops were held jointly by LUCIA (Lutheran Communications in Asia) and ALPS (Asia Lutheran Press Service) in the early 1990s.
The News Writing Workshops, as a result, were important in raising up many qualified church journalists in Asia, as well as demonstrating the high level of Lutheran journalism to the non-Lutherans of Asia. In Japan, we had two seminars, in Kobe and Tokyo, and there were many Christian journalists attending the sessions. Questioned about euthanasia, Kahle replied that the balance of opinions would be respected and also felt that there should be some systems in place that protect Christian journalists working for church magazines to allow them to freely report the news, even regarding internal matters of the church. I believe that the news writing workshops were one of the most successful programs LUCIA has carried out in the past ten years.
He also gave communication lectures in China. I was the organizer and a resource person for most of these workshops and still treasure the time together with Roger, his memorable witness and dedicated service.
He also supported younger Lutheran journalists, giving them training opportunities. That was due to his passion and his academic experience in both California and Boston before he joined LWI. It was through his encouragement and enlightenment that I pursued higher studies in journalism in the USA.
Roger is also remembered as an advocate of computer communication. He pioneered the use of the LAN system in LWF using Digital computers. He delivered LWI by electronic mail to Hong Kong in the last years of his term as LWI editor, probably the first in LWF communication history.
A lover of seafood and Chinese cuisine, another favorite of Roger's is the Mac. Not McDonalds, but the Macintosh computer. As far as fast food, though, he loved Burger King.
On a personal side, his interests were varied too. His love of movies and Chinese cooking prompted him to visit cinemas wherever possible and department stores to shop for nice Oriental kitchen ware. His favorite recipe was "Fu Yun Egg".
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"Writing this piece is like going back through a time tunnel where all the images and things flashed quickly before you, on the time together with Roger. As you said, he died a young age, and definitely is a loss to the Lutheran churches in Asia and around the world. My deep condolences to his family and co-workers in ELCA."
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