▁involved ▁with ▁religious ▁and ▁civil ▁rights ▁causes ▁as ▁a ▁strong ▁bel ie ver ▁that ▁civil ▁rights ▁group ▁struggle ▁without ▁the ▁support ▁of ▁churches ▁in ▁their ▁communities . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 6 , ▁she ▁was ▁a ▁delegate ▁to ▁the ▁National ▁Christian ▁Mission ary ▁Convention ; ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 , ▁she ▁was ▁elected ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁organization . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 3 ▁Rol la ▁spoke ▁at ▁the ▁Dis ci ples ▁of ▁Christ ▁World ▁Convention ▁in ▁Ontario , ▁Canada . ▁She ▁was ▁a ▁delegate ▁at ▁both ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁and ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁United ▁Nations ▁Sem inar ▁on ▁World ▁Order . ▁She ▁served ▁as ▁vice - pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁Christian ▁Church es ▁of ▁Texas , ▁a ▁board ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Fort ▁W orth ▁Area ▁Council ▁of ▁Church es , ▁a ▁board ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁Christian ▁Mission ary ▁Society , ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁female ▁elder ▁at ▁Fort ▁W orth ' s ▁Community ▁Christian ▁Church . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 0 s ▁and ▁ 1 9 5 0 s , ▁Rol la ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁T arr ant ▁County ▁P rec inct ▁Work ers ▁Council , ▁which ▁advoc ated ▁for ▁elim ination ▁of ▁the ▁poll ▁tax . ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 s , ▁she ▁founded ▁the ▁H att ie ▁Street ▁H aven ▁community ▁center ▁in ▁a ▁former ▁fire ▁station ▁on ▁Fort ▁W orth ' s ▁east ▁side . ▁She ▁organized ▁boy cot ts ▁against ▁local ▁business