The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr. is a pastor, preacher and a teacher; an administrator; a community activist and a theological leader. He is committed to passionately living up to church's mission to service the needs of those who are lost and struggling for survival. Dr. Watkins is committed to service those who are in need of spiritual, physical and/or emotional healing.
Prior to coming to Bethel A.M.E. Church in St. George, South Carolina, Dr. Watkins was the senior pastor at Friendship African Methodist Episcopal Church in Clinton, SC. His parish ministry thus far has been primarily in the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. During his tenure, he has also pastored Bethlehem AME Church, Belton, SC. Dr. Watkins has served on the ministerial staff at Bethel AME Church, Anderson, SC and Ebenezer AME Church, Hagerstown, Md. His success in these charges can be directly attributed to the unabashed manner in which he demonstrates his skills as a servant leader.
Dr. Watkins was born in Hagerstown, MD but grew up in Southeast Washington, DC. He is a product of the public school system. Dr. Watkins comes from a Christian family of public school educators and public servants. He served in the United States Army for twenty-one (21) years as a Paratrooper. Dr. Watkins assignments included the 82nd Airborne Division, the 41st Infantry Regiment and The Commander in Chief’s Guard (The Old Guard), Escort to the President of the United States and the United States Army Official Ceremonial Unit, Arlington, VA.
The Reverend Dr. Watkins holds an earned Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Theological School at Drew University (Madison, NJ); a Master of Divinity Degree from Erskine Theological Seminary (Due West, SC); a Bachelor of Science Degree with a concentration in Business Administration from the University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) and a Bachelor of Science Degree with a concentration in Theology and Religion from Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA).
Dr. Watkins is an aspiring author with academic, social and Op-Ed works published in the AME Review, The Christian Recorder as well as various secular newspapers. He is a Christian Educator and lecturer presenting subject matter dealing with “God’s Intention for the Covenantal Relationship of Marriage,” “Small Group Ministry: The Class Leader System,” “Servant Leadership,” “Personal Discipline,” “Methodism,” “Discipleship and Evangelism,” “Interpersonal Communication,” as well as “A Systematic Survey of the Bible.” Dr. Watkins’ published dissertation is entitled: Reviving the Class Leader System in the Local Church, “Empowering God’s People for Service and Leadership through Divine Vision”
Working tirelessly to connect the church to the community, Dr. Watkins has very excitedly promoted Christian Education and spearheaded meaningful outreach programs. He is a staunch advocate of our mission to provide physical and spiritual nourishment to the community we are called to serve.
Under his leadership, the Bethlehem (Louie Young) Community Mission House was developed to provide food and clothing to low-income families in the Belton, SC area. The Bailey / Young Mission House was established to feed and clothe low income families in Clinton, SC. The Bethel Adult Education Outreach Initiative has been established in St. George, SC as an outreach to enhance literacy and to provide workshops teaching job finding and interviewing skills. The Bethel Adult Education Outreach Initiative is staffed to provide homework assistance, tutoring, mentoring, test preparation, educational support and exposure, as well as cultural and personal enrichment activities for students in the St. George community. Bethel Outreach Ministries, Inc (501(c) 3) will serve as the umbrella organization with mission tentacles providing funding and staffing to facilitate needed physical, emotional and spiritual services to the St. George community. The Young Men of Distinction (Y.M.O.D.) has been established at Bethel to serve as a mentoring ministry for young men. The primary purpose is to create initiatives that impact the African-American male personally enhancing spiritual formation and career development. The tenants of a Young Man of Distinction are Character, Commitment and Community. The Y.M.O.D. will endeavor to provide experiences and learning opportunities through seminars, workshops, travel to cultural centers and one on one mentoring designed to, enhance social skills, increase self-confidence, increase cultural awareness, prepare young men for college and/or the work force and provide a support network.
As a teacher, Dr. Watkins is energetic, dynamic, and thought provoking. Dr. Watkins was appointed to serve as the South Carolina Conference Christian Education Director. He serves on the Conference Board of Examiners teaching Candidates for Ministry in the areas of Methodism, Contemporary Theology and Periods of Old Testament History.
The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the proud husband of Dolores Christina (Chapman) Watkins, an educator, social worker and an active missionary who has served in various capacities with the Debutante and Masters Commission and the Young People’s Department. Together they are raising two beautiful daughters, Jasmine and Charly.