Bill Text: TX HR293 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating Dr. Clarence O. Preston of Beth Eden Baptist Church in Dallas on his 40th pastoral anniversary.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2025-04-21 - Reported enrolled [HR293 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HR293-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 293 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Over the past 40 years, Pastor Clarence O. Preston | ||
| of Beth Eden Baptist Church in Dallas has wholeheartedly dedicated | ||
| himself to his calling in the ministry; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A native of Terrell, Clarence Preston earned his | ||
| bachelor's degree in sociology and religion from Jarvis Christian | ||
| College in Hawkins in 1993, and he went on to receive master's | ||
| degrees in Christian leadership from Criswell College in Dallas in | ||
| 1998 and in education administration from Texas A&M | ||
| University-Commerce in 2000; in the years that followed, he | ||
| furthered his religious education by obtaining a master of divinity | ||
| degree in pastoral counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, | ||
| Virginia, a doctor of ministry degree from Houston Graduate School | ||
| of Theology, and a Ph.D. in Biblical studies from Midwestern | ||
| Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dr. Preston previously led the congregations of | ||
| Goodwill Baptist Church of Greenville and El Bethel Baptist Church | ||
| of Waxahachie, prior to assuming the pastorate of Beth Eden Baptist | ||
| Church in 2007; during his time as the church's pastor, he has | ||
| provided invaluable guidance to his congregation and the wider | ||
| community; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In addition to meeting the needs of his church, | ||
| Pastor Preston has served his denomination as a member of the Oak | ||
| Cliff Baptist Ministers Union, the Southern Baptist Convention, and | ||
| the National Missionary Baptist Convention; he also holds | ||
| membership in the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and he | ||
| previously served as an assistant professor of religion at Jarvis | ||
| Christian University and as a trustee for Criswell College; he is | ||
| the author of two books, The Priesthood of All Believers: Uplifting | ||
| All Members and How to Make it Last Forever: Marriage from a | ||
| Christian Perspective; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Pastor Preston enjoys the love | ||
| and support of his wife, Charles Etta Dorsey Preston; the couple are | ||
| the parents of two children, Xavier and Charisma, and are further | ||
| blessed with a granddaughter, Imani; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Pastor Clarence O. Preston has inspired and uplifted | ||
| countless people throughout his exemplary career in the ministry, | ||
| and it is indeed a pleasure to join in recognizing this esteemed | ||
| clergyman for his notable achievements; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Clarence O. Preston on his 40th | ||
| pastoral anniversary and extend to him sincere best wishes for | ||
| continued success with his important work; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Dr. Preston as an expression of high regard by the | ||
| Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Y. Davis of Dallas | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 293 was adopted by the House on April | ||
| 17, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 7, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
