WHEREAS, Charles Blanton Cousar, Samuel A. Cartledge Professor of New Testament Emeritus, has served as an admired and much loved teacher at Columbia Theological Seminary for 45 years;

WHEREAS, Charlie has also served as Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty, and President whenever he was needed;

WHEREAS, Charlie’s door and heart have always been open to students, and he has been ready to guide and encourage and share in struggles but equally willing to sit quietly and listen gently and wait until his guidance is requested;

WHEREAS, Charlie has produced countless books and articles on the New Testament, which are as accessible as they are sound and which are known and studied by New Testament readers across the globe;

WHEREAS, Charlie has taught his students at Columbia and Agnes Scott and in congregations across the country how to read passages of scripture as windows into the Gospels and letters of the New Testament and, in so doing, how to worship God with heart, mind, soul, and strength;

WHEREAS, Charlie has opened up the good news of Galatians to many generations of students and laypeople so that it could become for them a gracious proclamation of freedom in Christ, for which Paul owes him a debt of gratitude;

WHEREAS, Charlie worships with Ephesians, asks theological questions with Romans, comforts and teaches with John’s Paraclete, rejoices with Philippians, stands at the empty tomb that cannot be kept closed, and in all things bears witness to the One to whom he belongs, preaching grace and truth and peace with the great God-lovers of all the ages;

WHEREAS, Charlie has been a leader among New Testament scholars, deeply respected and much admired by his colleagues everywhere, sharing his insights and his aid generously as an editor, translator, and friend;

WHEREAS, Charlie has served his community, his local church, and the educational institutions that shaped him, especially the McCallie School, in ways great and small;

WHEREAS, Charlie had the good sense to marry the extraordinary Elizabeth Bowen on September 10, 1955, and the good fortune, good looks, and good heart required to keep her beside him as they have built a happy home with their wonderful sons, Bill, Dave, and John and daughters-in-law Tressa and Amy;

WHEREAS, Charlie has earned the affection and admiration of four of the people he loves and admires most in all the world, his grandchildren Davis, Rachel, Elizabeth, and William;

WHEREAS, the Presbyterian flock is a better, wiser, more loving community of faith because Charlie has been there to feed and tend and lead it for the glory of God;

WHEREAS, Columbia Seminary has never produced a more beloved professor, colleague, scholar, pastor, and friend;

WHEREAS, Charlie is as humble as he is wise, his service is faithful and radiant, and he embodies the fruits of the Spirit as they are laid out for us in his favorite letter of Paul;

THEREFORE, be it resolved that Columbia Theological Seminary through its Alumni/ae Council presents to Charles Blanton Cousar its Distinguished Service Award and extends its best wishes and prayers to him and Betty and their family in their continuing life and ministry together.