TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REVEREND DR. DALE B. WELDEN, SENIOR PASTOR OF ST. ANDREWS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRMO, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER FORTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EXEMPLARY MINISTRY, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly have learned that Reverend Dr. Dale B. Welden will begin a well-deserved retirement after forty-eight years of meaningful ministry, the last sixteen of which have been as the highly-regarded senior pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Irmo; and

Whereas, born on June 29, 1955, Dale Welden earned a bachelor's degree from Missouri Baptist College and a Master of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in Saint Louis in 1980. He later completed a Doctor of Theology degree in 2001; and

Whereas, even before serving fulltime in ministry, he served as a lay youth leader and Sunday school teacher and served as a pastoral assistant while he was in seminary; and

Whereas, Pastor Welden was ordained as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America in 1980 and served as the assistant pastor of First Reformed Presbyterian Church in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. He also served as the senior pastor both for Green Valley Presbyterian Church in Carmichael, Pennsylvania, and for Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, Georgia; and

Whereas, through his preaching and his life, he has inspired his congregation with trust, hope, and faith since 2006, while faithfully serving as the senior pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Irmo; and

Whereas, Pastor Welden has served his denomination on numerous committees and has been a leader in many aspects for the Palmetto Presbytery. He has served as a pastor to missionaries, going abroad to minister to them and to their families; and

Whereas, together with his beloved wife of forty-five years, Connie L. Welden, he reared four fine children: Nathan Welden, Rachel Park, Benjamin Welden, and Abby Bartelt. His children and their spouses have blessed him with the affection of twelve adoring grandchildren: Anya, Nadia, Rosanna, Dominic, and Giovanna Welden; Wyatt, Abel, and Jasper Park; Ezra, Palmer, and Colby Welden; and Nora Bartelt; and

Whereas, he plans to spend many happy hours of retirement in woodworking and other hobbies yet to be discovered and in cheering for his Atlanta Braves and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in their athletic efforts; and

Whereas, grateful for his many years of significant ministry to the people of God, the South Carolina General Assembly takes great pleasure in extending best wishes to Dale Welden as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried pace of the days ahead, and the members wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Reverend Dr. Dale B. Welden, senior pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Irmo, upon the occasion of his retirement after forty-eight years of exemplary ministry, and wish him continued success and blessings in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Dr. Dale B. Welden.