Chris Franklin
Chris Franklin
Chris Franklin
Cris Carazine Dutra and Casey Noel Vaughn-Claus were commissioned on December 16, 2023, as Gospel ministers in the Raleigh, N.C., Church. The two, who have been friends since studying theology together at Southern Adventist University (SAU), chose to commemorate this recognition by the North American Division (NAD) side-by-side in the same ceremony.
Many friends and family gathered to witness the first Service of Commissioning held by the Carolina Conference in two decades. This service acknowledges God’s calling on a person’s life in much the same way as ordination does, setting the person aside in consecration for service to God in a ministerial/evangelistic role. Someone thus commissioned is authorized by the Church to lead a congregation, baptize converts, conduct communion, and perform weddings, as well as to chair board meetings and business sessions.
Elders and church leaders from the churches they have served stood and spoke in recognition of their spiritual giftedness and in recommendation that they be commissioned as Gospel ministers. Haskell Williams, elder, addressed the two, following the pattern of courageous women from Bible times who answered God’s call to service and leadership — Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Mary Magdalene (the person God chose to be the first “Evangelist of the Resurrection”).
After the Ministerial Charge was read to them, both shared God’s working in their lives to bring them to this point in their service and responded with their commitment. Then Leslie Louis, president of the Carolina Conference, and Williams placed on each of them the mantle of responsibility, encouraging them to be faithful as proclaimers of God’s Word, His hope, and His promises.
After completing the master of divinity degree at Andrews University Theological Seminary, “Pastor Cris,” as she is affectionately called, was first employed as an associate pastor in the Raleigh Church district, assisting in the mother church and working quickly to plant an additional church in the area — “The Vine.” As time progressed, her responsibilities shifted and expanded to include leading the Bethel Haitian congregation, and serving as Carolina Conference Health Ministries Department director. In January 2023, Dutra was invited to devote her full-time efforts to serving the young adults of the Carolina Conference as the director of Young Adult and Public Campus Ministries and associate director of the Youth Ministries Department. She is engaged in training and equipping the young adults to serve their Savior.
Vaughn was likewise recruited at SAU, having served as the student assistant of (and highly recommended by) Phillip Samaan, D.Min. Before she attended Andrews University, she was asked to serve as the interim pastor of the Monroe, N.C., Church. Six months later, her congregation was disappointed when she left for the seminary to obtain her degree, but was delighted when she was re-appointed as pastor of the Monroe-Rock Hill district. Subsequently, her missional and social media skills were recognized by the North American Division office, and since December 2023 she has served as a recruiting and marketing specialist in the NAD Office of Volunteer Ministries. The NAD relies on local conferences to perform commissionings and ordinations. Since her commissioning planning and preparation had begun in the Carolina Conference, it was the privilege of the Carolina Conference to complete that process.
Dutra and Vaughn-Claus acknowledged the challenges they have faced and the affirmations they have received as women called to the Gospel ministry, and are committed to pressing forward with the Good News of Christ’s soon return, calling many souls to be prepared to meet Him.
*Casey Vaughn was married the following day (December 17, 2023) to Eric Claus, who serves on the staff of the NAD IT Services Department.
Carolina | April 2024
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