Rev. Dr. Rodney J. Clements, Ph.D, D.D.

Born in April 1954 in the mountains of Virginia, Rodney J. Clements is the progeny of a farmer father and a mother who is extremely gifted as a seamstress.  Moving from place to place (because dad was also a school teacher) allowed Rodney to learn much about life and his home state.  At the age of 11, his parents divorced.  Mom played a key role in encouraging Rodney to study music, piano, dance, voice, and drama.  Before graduating from Great Bridge High School in 1972, he has already performed in or directed many stage produtctions and even became a lead singer for the national singing group, "Up With People." 

Education and career continued on after high school.  Attending Tidewater Community College, Pheonix College, Old Dominion University, Arizona State University, Johnson & Wales and the Walt Disney Culinary School; earning degrees in business management, musical theatre, culinary arts, fine arts, hotel & restaurant management, and interior design.  Rodney has even been employed in top creative positions with Busch Gardrens, King's Dominion, and Walt Disney World.  He has staged and directed "Standing Room Only" performances of the high-acclamined stage musical "Godspell," for regional theaters.  He has even exercised his professional talents to add glitz and glamour to the festivities of Mardi Gras and the French Quarter in New Orleans. 

Most recently in January, 2007, Rodney was able to complete his required studies with Universal Life Church/Department of Education, Sacramento CA, to earn him Ph.D in theology and his D.D. in divinity.  Rodney is now an official ordained minister and plans to return to school and work on a degree in Counseling.

Rodney gave the sincere efforts to marriage twice and neither was a lasting success.  He does bear bragging right for two beautiful children, who are now attending trade school and college. Other major events in his life include the decision not to live a "double life" any longer -- to be one's true self.  Knowing at a very early age that he is gay, he felt compelled to live by traditional heterosexual guidelines of his family, society, and of the church and his community at the time.  But he could not remain "in the closet" all his life.  Through devout study and research, he has gained true insight to God's purpose for his life and how being who God created you to be, it is essential to be beneficial to yourself, God, and all of society.  Rodney is proud to be an active participant of our world-wide gay community. 

Rodney also carries with him the life-long battle scar of being a former convicted felon and having actually served time in both jail and a state penitentiary for a non-violent offense in his younger days.  A lesson that caused much heartache, pain, and grief, yet has built tremendous new character, inner strength, positive thinking, and the ability to seek out others who are "living on the edge" and assist by sharing his story in order to hopefully make a difference in their walk.  Rodney has traveled far and wide, meeting many people in places of diverse cultures and lifestyles.  He's a survivor of quadruple by-pass heart surgery and diabetes.  He can create complete festivals & galas, cater banquets for heads of state or candlelight dinner for two, design a wedding gown to dazzle the world and make a walk on the beach be fulfilled with romance and a warm sunset. 

Rodney is ambitious, vigorous, creative, flawed, talented, vain, sensitive, and very, VERY persistent.  Now Rodney faces a bold new challenge and dynamic opportunity --Under the Star! International, a Philanthropic Kaleidoscope.  He is pouring every ounce of his total heart, soul, time, and energy into the conception, design, and creation of this much needed world wide "people in crisis" program.  With Rodney as our leader in this massive task to end the world epidemic on HIV/AIDS,  discrimination, prejudice, repeat offenders, broken families, and negative thinking, Under the Star! International will be a key organization to educate society, provide research, testing, programs of prevention, counseling, life skills, and to build the NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL.  Rodney is committed to applying his total being and talents, with God' complete direction, in reaching out to all people. And giving opportunities for quality benefits and a healthier life to HIV/AIDS victims and their families, to foster a potential positive difference and bring out the very best in everyone around Rodney, and in himself.  With complete committment to help make our total community and world a more productive place for all to live and thrive.  With God First, our path will be totally successfull for everyone.