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FEATURE FOR
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2003
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Reverend Howard Charles Walton, Jr. Celebrates 60 Years of
Service |
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Reverend Howard Charles
Walton, Jr. and Mildred, his wife of 58 years.
Members of McKenzie First
Presbyterian Church U.S.A. joined Pastor Howard Charles
Walton, Jr. in celebrating 60 years of ministry on Sunday,
April 27, during which time he shared with his
parishioners the story of his many years of service. The
service was enhanced by the beautiful and talented singing
of the church's choir as well as the wonderful spirit of
fellowship shared among all in attendance.
Rev. Walton was just 21 years old when he was ordained in
the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Jackson,
having come to Tennessee from Alabama at the age of eight
when his father, who had been serving as pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, moved north to
follow his own calling in 1929.
"Though tear-dimmed eyes I vowed as we left, "'When I get
to be a big boy, I'm coming back to Birmingham,'" he told
the congregation.
Rev. Walton dedicated himself to ministry when he was
around 12 years of age as his father conducted a revival
at Pleasant Hill Church near Humboldt. His father had a
strange compulsion to give a call to anyone who wished to
dedicate himself to full-time Christian ministry, he
recalled, "I felt a warm hand on my shoulder, and, looking
around, saw no one within three pews and found myself in
the altar giving my hand to my father."
Some years later, Rev. Walton began his college career at
Bethel College - a Presbyterian institution and his
mother's alma mater - then later transferred to Lambuth
where he excelled as a member of the varsity tennis team,
was president of his fraternity, and was active in the PK
Club and many other activities.
During these years he became interested in pursuing a
career in law or business but, he said, "I was never able
to escape the feeling that this is what I should do."
His academics reflected his commitment, as he recalled his
scholarship level in college as "summa cum lousy" but in
seminary as "summa cum laude" after returning to McKenzie
to enroll in the Cumberland Presbyterian Seminary.
Double-promoted twice during his grade-school years in
Alabama, he finished early again in seminary by taking
extra courses in order to complete three years of courses
in two years, while also teaching two years of Latin at
McKenzie High School and filling in for churches in Mercer
and Hickory Valley in Tennessee and Mt. Zion on the edge
of Mississippi.
It was during his seminary years that he met Mildred Cook,
who became his wife on November 4, 1944, and "who has been
and continues to be a constant supporter after 58 years,"
he shared during the service.
The couple's son, Charles, who is now a tenured professor
at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, was born in
December 1945 and their daughter Patti, who is now mother
of the Walton's three grandchildren in Mobile, followed in
1950.
Rev. Walton served at the First Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in Clarksville before struggles with
theology prompted him to attend the Louisville
Presbyterian Seminary which, he said, "changed the course
of my ministry."
While attending the seminary, he was called to service at
the First Presbyterian Church of Paoli, Indiana and the
English Presbyterian Church of English, Indiana.
"These were great days," he said, "Driving the fifty miles
to Louisville became less tiresome because of the great
professors and the wonderful encouragement given by the
two churches."
After finishing his residence for the Master of Theology
degree and while writing his thesis, he moved to South
Pittsburgh, Tennessee where he worked as a substitute
teacher in the high school as well as serving as pastor of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and studying for his
thesis.
He resolved his theological differences by transferring to
the Presbyterian Church (from the Cumberland Presbyterian
denomination) and accepted a call from the Speed Community
Church in Speed Indiana, a nondenominational church which
was nevertheless traditionally served by Presbyterian
ministers.
After two years, when Patti was a toddler, he moved to the
Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church in Johnson City,
Tennessee where he also served as assistant professor of
religion at Tusculum College and was Stated Clerk and
Treasurer of the Synod of Mid-South.
"Six wonderful years we spent in this lovely city. One
would have a difficult time finding a more compatible
relationship between pastor and people," he recalled. "The
church grew numerically and spiritually. My relationship
with the youth of the Church was especially meaningful."
He returned to Muskogee Oklahoma, this time to pastor the
Bethany Presbyterian Church, and was also elected
moderator of both the Presbytery of Arkansas Valley and
the Synod of Oklahoma-Arkansas.
"For several years it was a 'boom town' situation and we
were growing percentage-wise more than any church in the
Presbytery. A new manse was purchased and the church grew
to over 500 members," he said.
When Henry Jablonski, President of Washington College in
East Tennessee and a friend from his Johnson City days,
recommended Rev. Walton to the Sixth Avenue Presbyterian
Church in Birmingham Alabama, he received a unanimous call
from the selection committee.
"It was the height of my ambition to return to Birmingham
and become the pastor of this great church," he said.
His tenure at the church met with unrest, however, as the
turbulent years of change during the Civil Rights Era
split the congregation as well as the leadership of the
church. Although the decision had been made to accept
minorities into the congregation, in 1963, when followers
of Martin Luther King Jr. visited, they were turned away
by one of the church's deacons.
"There began one of the most chaotic periods one can
imagine," related Rev. Walton. When the guests were seated
the following week, eight elders and ten deacons (of 30
elders and 36 deacons) left the church "never to return."
"During this period my position was quite clear," stated
Rev. Walton. "This is Christ's Church and must be open to
all worshippers... I had sat down with our family and told
them what I felt I had to do but that I believed it would
lead to my being dismissed... I was not asked to resign
but the unrest took its toll... Needless to say, the dream
of being the pastor of this church, held life-long, became
a nightmare."
Rev. Walton remained pastor of the church through "three
years of threats and turmoil."
"Although I thought my southern upbringing would allow me
to deal with the problems, I soon discovered that
prejudice has such inroads that it is most difficult to
understand," he related, "The love/hate relationship was
confusing. As pastor I was received warmly in private, but
some would be afraid to speak to me in public."
In time, he left Birmingham after being invited to pastor
a church of over 1000 members in South St. Louis. The
family moved from being among the elite in Birmingham to
what his daughter referred to as "slums", but which, Rev.
Walton described, were quite comfortable row houses,
including the manse where the family lived.
Rev. Walton stated the five years spent in St. Louis were
filled with very hard work, with weeks sometimes passing
without an evening at home. As his wife's father in Medina
and his mother in Jackson were both growing older, he
accepted a call to a much smaller church in Memphis in
order to be closer to home.
The next five years spent at Lindsay Memorial Church in
Memphis, he said, were enjoyable ones. When, on his first
Sunday of service, three black worshippers entered the
church, he related, "the women were received and a crisis
was averted. For awhile we were afraid that there might be
continuing difficulty but some dedicated and intelligent
session members eased the situation."
In time, the women became members of the congregation in
successful unity.
Change was taking place within the Church as two
denominations of Presbyterian Churches sought
reunification. During the reorganization, it was
determined that all presbyteries should have executive
leadership, and the final calling of Rev. Walton's career
was to became the Executive Presbyter of the Presbyteries
of West Tennessee, Mississippi and Huntsville.
"Thus began 12 of the most productive years of my
ministry," he said. "They were busy years but it was felt
that God was using me in the days of the reunion of the
two denominations in drafting the standing rules and the
necessary working together."
At the age of 65, Rev. Walton retired in 1986. Since then,
he has served as interim pastor in many churches,
including First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Oakland
Presbyterian Church, Medina Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, First Presbyterian Church of Brownsville,
Fruitland Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian
Church of McKenzie.
Summing up his years of service, Rev. Walton said, "I
wanted a call to Central Church in Ft. Smith and didn't
get it; I got a call to Sixth Avenue in Birmingham - the
height of my ambition - and it was a grave disappointment.
I was called to St. Louis where I learned to work with
churches in conflict; I was preparing for staff work, but
didn't know it. God led me to Memphis and then to staff
work as the crowning glory of my career. Out of
disappointment can come success and wonderful
opportunities. These have been and continue to be
wonderful years." |
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2003
Feature
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2002
Feature
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2001
Feature
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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