Remembering Rev. Dr. Charles L. Houston
October 21, 2024
Last night I found out my good friend and mentor Charles Houston passed away yesterday. Pastor Charles was the pastor at Statesboro First Methodist in 2006 when I was the interim youth director. I remained on staff as an intern and worked with Pastor Charles for another year.
Charles was the first pastor I saw up close as I considered what it meant to be a good pastor, leader, and preacher. It was by God’s providence I got to learn so much from him and his wife Elizabeth.
While I still have a ways to go to be refined it was even more so as a teenager working on the church staff. Charles was always graceful with my shenanigans and willing to look for opportunities to pay me back. There was one youth scavenger hunt he still owes me payback for.
I had talked briefly with Pastor Charles several weeks ago after I saw on facebook he and Mrs. Elizabeth had been in a car accident.
In a recent staff meeting at the church I pastor, we recently had prayed for Charles’ ministry as he was at Apalachee High School as the teachers returned after the school shooting there.
The past couple of days I reflected on some of the important moments I will remember about Pastor Charles.
He was there for me in one of my toughest moments
In late summer of 2006, I found out one of my parents was moving out and my family was going to look a lot different. Even though I was at college this was still very distressing.
I found this out on a Saturday afternoon. I don’t remember talking to anyone until I went to church the next morning.
The church had a prayer and communion service before we began the regular worship service. I went early and Pastor Charles was the first person I ran into. He could tell I was upset and asked what was wrong. He listened. We held hands and prayed. He served me communion. I don’t remember what he said. I do remember he was there and a means of God’s grace for me in a very hard moment.
Charles preached for me the day Luke was born
Even though I worked as a staff person for Charles for around 14 months I was around often in Methodist circles.
Early on in my pastoral ministry I was going to need someone to cover the Sunday my son was born. I was honored to have Pastor Charles fill my pulpit that morning.
The closing hymn this Sunday was Because He Lives. The bulletin prescribed the congregation to sing the first and the last verse. However, He made sure they sang the middle verse on the day Luke was born.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
It was a sweet touch to a special Sunday.
Charles Loved Serving Law Enforcement
As part of my time as a divinity student at Asbury Theological seminary we had to take a class called Mentored Ministry. We were to serve in an area outside of our church. Charles let me help serve at the International Conference of Police Chaplains conference he was helping lead. Charles lit up at this conference. He loved seeing pastors learn how to better serve law enforcement.
Charles really enjoyed serving law enforcement. He particularly enjoyed serving the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Natural Resources. He had a very strong, vibrant, and fruitful ministry called Caring Connection Chaplaincy.
Later on, while serving as chaplain for a local fire department, Charles was a resource I would lean on and call when I had questions handling tough situations. He helped me to get proper denominational credentialing so I could serve as a fire chaplain well.
Charles Loved People
Charles loved people. While his work with the police allowed him to serve law enforcement it also allowed him to come into contact with the people law enforcement served. Usually this meant some of the people were having the worst day of their lives.
One day at Statesboro First Methodist another youth staff member and I were called and told there was someone threatening they had a bomb with them inside the church. The other staff person and I were ready to go down stairs and combat this intruder. While we were creeping up behind the individual, Charles came around the corner and said hello to the person. Charles took them outside to talk with the person and the police. It was smooth, loving, caring, and Christ-like. He moved the person away from everyone and got them the help they needed with dignity.
I’m sad I will not see my friend again this side of heaven. I am grateful for the time we had together. I also realize these few snapshots are just a small part of the decades of years and thousands of people he came in contact with.
Thanks be to God for the life of the Rev. Dr. Charles L. Houston.
A Firm Foundation: Three Hopes for the Global Methodist Convening Conference 2024
September 18, 2024
The Convening General Conference of the Global Methodist Church begins September 20th, 2024 and will run through September 26th, 2024. One of my writing topics has been the future of Methodism. With this historic event happening, here are three outcomes I hope to see happen.
#1 – I Hope Everyone Has Fun
This first outcome might sound flippant. For far too long, I have known people from all theological sides return from these types of global gatherings who are upset, crestfallen, and disillusioned. They have been upset about politics, attitudes, and outcomes.
Hopefully, there will be more smiles than scowls, more hugs in the hallways than emergency strategy huddles in backrooms, and more laughter and joy than anger and confusion.
There have been many global conferences where pastors get up the next Sunday and have to put lipstick on a pig. We have pretended it was a good idea to kick the can down the road for another four years or explain how a horrible decision really does not affect the local church too much. What if instead it was fun and work was done that we are proud of?
Important work will be done. It will be long days which can lead to exhaustion. My expectation is delegates may return home tired but the good type of tired after a great spiritual retreat.
#2 – I Hope We Build Trust
Tesia Mallory shared on facebook this screen shot from Ryan Burge.
The gist of these stats are they show decline in trust in almost every American institution, including organized religion.
The past few years I have documented my thoughts on how it was trust issues breaking up the former denomination I served in. It will be a mistake if we simply say “trust us, we are the good guys.” We have to continually earn trust. We have to ask again and again, “How can we earn your trust? How can we earn each other’s trust? How can we earn the trust of the people in the pews?”
While not perfect, we are laying a firm foundation of trust. Personally, I have met both our active American Bishops, I shared lunch with Keith Boyette at a conference. I have met with several people in the Transitional Leadership Committee. They are all high caliber people of God who have my trust.
I pray we continue to build on this and demonstrate this at our convening conference. When in the future we squander this trust we must humbly admit our guilt, clarify how we will correct, and continue to build trust.
If we fail to do this, with no way to keep churches from leaving, the Global Methodist Church will splinter into nothing.
As Tesia summarized on her facebook post, “In a climate of mistrust relationships are important. Build something. Contribute to the common good. Serve.”
#3 – I Hope We Honor God
My greatest hope is that we honor God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I hope this conference pleases God in everything we do. Here is a list of ways I hope we do this.
- I hope we leave the venue and hotels better than we found them.
- I hope San Jose is blessed by the way we contribute to the economy but even more the way we appreciate their culture.
- I hope the worship moves us to tears and glorifies the Lord.
- I hope the fire of the Holy Spirit gets spiritual gasoline dumped over it so we continue to do amazing things for Jesus in the world.
Finally, I hope we make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.
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What is Baptism in the Global Methodist Church?
January 26, 2024
What is baptism in the Global Methodist Church (GMC)?
While working on my sermon on Jesus’ baptism I compiled a list of what the Global Methodist Church. No need for it stay only in a personal folder. Here is my compilation. Please share what you find helpful. I am always open to feedback if you see anything that needs clarity or correcting.
Here are the foundational documents we have at the moment.
The Catechism
The GMC has “an educative and regulative formulation of doctrine” document in a question and answer format called a catechism. In A Catechism of Christian Faith and Doctrine for the Global Methodist Church we have information about baptism found in in questions 33, 34, 40, 41, and 42. Here they are:
33. Do you believe that there is but one baptism?
Yes. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (Eph. 4:4-6.)
34. What is Baptism?
Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus, and a mark of Christian discipleship. (Acts 2:37-39; Rom. 6:1-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Gal. 3:27-28; Col. 2:11-14; Heb. 10:19-22; CoF VI.)
40. How many Sacraments are there?
Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (2 Kgs. 5:14; Isa. 44:3; Ezek. 36:25-27; Mark 14:22-24; Matt. 26:26-28; 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; John 3:5; 6:53- 58; Acts 22:16; CoF VI.)
41. May we baptize children?
Yes. We believe children are under the atonement of Christ and as heirs of the Kingdom of God are acceptable subjects for Christian Baptism. (Luke 18:15-17; Acts 10:44-48; 16:15, 30-34; 18:8; 1 Cor. 1:16; CoF VI.)
42. Is Baptism sufficient for salvation?
No. Baptized children should be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ, and by profession of faith confirm their Baptism. (Deut. 6:20-25; Mark 16:16; John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 2:38; 16:29-34; Rom. 10:9-11; CoF VI.)
From the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Disciplines there is information of baptism found in
- the Nicene Creed (A.D. 381),
- Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church
- Article XVI – Of the Sacraments
- Article XVII – Of Baptism
- The Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church
- Article VI – The Sacraments
- Paragraph 304 – Ministry of Laity
- Paragraph 314 – The Meaning of Baptism
- Paragraph 315 – The Mode and Practice of Baptism
Nicene Creed
“We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins”
Article of Religion of the Methodist Church XVI – Of Sacraments
“Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men’s profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace, and God’s good will toward us, by which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm, our faith in him.
There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.
The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about; but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation; but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves condemnation, as St. Paul saith.”
Article of Religion of the Methodist Church Article XVII – Of Baptism
“Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.”
The Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church Article VI
“We believe the Sacraments, ordained by Christ, are symbols and pledges of the Christian’s profession and of God’s love toward us. They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in him. Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We believe Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith, and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship.
We believe children are under the atonement of Christ and as heirs of the Kingdom of God are acceptable subjects for Christian Baptism. Children of believing parents through Baptism become the special responsibility of the Church. They should be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ, and by profession of faith confirm their Baptism…”
Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline Paragraph 304. Ministry of Laity
“All Christians are called through their baptism to be in ministry to others, both as individuals and as a part of the church, using the gifts and graces with which they have been equipped by the Holy Spirit”
Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline Paragraph 314 – The Meaning of Baptism
“Through Holy Baptism we are united in Christ’s death in repentance of our sins; raised to new life in Him through the power of the resurrection; incorporated into the Body of Christ; and empowered through the work of the Holy Spirit to go on to perfection. Holy Baptism is God’s gracious gift to us, flowing from the once for all work of Christ Jesus, and our pledge to follow as His disciples.”
Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline Paragraph 315. The Mode and Practice of Baptism (See paragraph 316 for full Baptismal Vows).
“Holy Baptism may be performed by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. The outward and visible sign of Holy Baptism is water. Candidates are baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The inward and spiritual grace is death to sin and new birth to righteousness by faith through union with Christ in His death and resurrection.
Holy Baptism is administered among a gathered congregation. Those present vow on behalf of Christ’s Holy Church to receive the baptized into the Church universal, to grow together in grace, and to remember the profession made and benefits received in Holy Baptism. Candidates for Holy Baptism, and those presenting candidates unable to answer for themselves, shall be instructed in the Christian faith and the meaning of Holy Baptism.
Holy Baptism, as initiation into Christ’s Holy Church, occurs once in a person’s life. Holy Communion serves as the regular and continual affirmation of baptismal vows within the church. Through a service of baptismal remembrance and reaffirmation of baptismal vows people can renew the covenant declared at baptism.”
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David Donnan 