1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 470
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     congratulate Auxiliary Bishop Alva Chester Nelson, Jr., on the
 1-5     occasion of his consecration to the Sacred Office of Auxiliary
 1-6     Bishop of the Texas South Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of
 1-7     the Church of God in Christ on February 19, 2001; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Bishop Nelson is being honored with an inaugural
 1-9     banquet by his friends, the Nelson family, the Nelson Memorial
1-10     Pentecostal Church of God in Christ, and the Texas South Central
1-11     Jurisdiction of the Churches of God in Christ on March 30, 2001,
1-12     at the Marriott Medical Center Hotel in Houston; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Bishop Nelson has matriculated at Union Theological
1-14     Seminary, Mount Hope Bible College and Theological Seminary, and
1-15     Texas Southern University in Houston, where he has earned a
1-16     bachelor's degree in theology, a master's degree in divinity,
1-17     and a doctorate in ministry; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Bishop Nelson has been a national evangelist and
1-19     pastor for 49 years and has served in many other capacities in his
1-20     church; he was the chairman for the State Program Committee for
1-21     seven years, General Business Administrator for the jurisdiction
1-22     for 10 years, and the First State Minister of Music for the Texas
1-23     South Central Jurisdiction; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Active in community service, Bishop Nelson serves
 2-2     as a member of Houston Ministers Against Crime, a member of Houston
 2-3     Business and Professional Men, and a member of the board of regents
 2-4     for the C. H. Mason Bible College; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Married to the lovely Bettye Ransom Nelson, the
 2-6     bishop and his wife have been blessed with 10 children; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, A man of great spiritual depth and devotion,
 2-8     Bishop Nelson has performed countless ceremonies and has prayed
 2-9     for and counseled his church's members during their hardships
2-10     and in times of bereavement; and
2-11           WHEREAS, An accomplished scholar and theologian, Bishop Nelson
2-12     has had a positive influence on the lives of innumerable Christians;
2-13     now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-15     77th Legislature, hereby commend Auxiliary Bishop
2-16     Alva Chester Nelson, Jr., on his succession to his new office;
2-17     and, be it further
2-18           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
2-19     him as an expression of highest esteem from the Texas Senate.
2-20                                                                   Ellis
2-21                                  ______________________________________
2-22                                          President of the Senate
2-23                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-24                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-25                                  on March 14, 2001.
2-26                                  ______________________________________
2-27                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-28                                  ______________________________________
2-29                                           Member, Texas Senate