[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11395-S11396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DR. CHARLES LEVER, GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Mr. MACK. Mr. President, the Senate is honored today to have Dr. 
Charles Lever with us. Dr. Lever is the senior minister at the Lake 
Magdalene United Methodist Church in Tampa in my home State of Florida. 
We are also happy to have his wife, Xiommy, who works as a 
hematopoeitic product specialist at Ortho Biotech and is also active in 
the church as a certified lay speaker and is involved in Disciple Bible 
Study and the Walk to Emmaus. They have two sons--Chaz who is in the 
seventh grade, and Chapman, who is in the first grade.
  Dr. Lever was called to the ordained ministry as a young man. He 
began his education at Wofford College in South Carolina, where he 
earned a bachelor of arts degree. He earned a master of divinity from 
the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, and a 
doctor of ministry from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He has also 
done continuing education work at the Jerusalem Center for Church 
Studies in Israel, and the Robert Schuller Institute in Garden Grove, 
CA.
  Among his many educational and leadership awards and honors are the 
American Legion Award, induction into Phi Beta Kappa, Blue Key, and 
numerous other honorary fraternities and societies.
  Mr. President, with some 3,200 members, Lake Magdalene Methodist is 
one of the largest churches in Florida. But Dr. Lever's accomplishments 
have always extended far beyond the santuary of his church. He is a 
leader in numerous organizations serving the people in his local 
community. Among these are the 90-unit apartment complex for the 
elderly, 125-unit child care center for low-income families, and the 
Life Center for older adults that he served as minister at the 
Riverside Park United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, FL.
  He is active in both district and conference affairs of the United 
Methodist Church in Florida. He has served on the board of the 
Christian Enrichment School, the district committee on finance, and the 
Conference Council on Ministries.
  The list of Dr. Lever's church and community leadership achievements 
is impressive and quite extensive. I ask unanimous consent that his 
biography be printed in the Record in its entirety at the end of my 
statement.
  Let me say again, Mr. President, the Senate is honored and very 
pleased to have Dr. Lever with us today, and we appreciate his opening 
prayer this morning. I'm sure all my colleagues wish him and his family 
all the best in his ministry to the members of Lake Magdalene United 
Methodist Church of Tampa, FL.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                       Dr. Charles C. Lever, Sr.

       Dr. Charles C. Lever, Sr. is the Senior Minister at the 
     3,200 member Lake Magdalene United States Methodist Church 
     (UMC) in Tampa, Florida. His wife, Xiommy is a Hematopoietic 
     Product Specialist with Ortho Biotech, one of the Johnson and 
     Johnson family of companies. They have two sons, Chaz, who is 
     in the 7th grade and Chapman, who is in the 1st grade.
       Dr. Lever received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wofford 
     College is Spartanburg, SC; his Master of Divinity degree 
     from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 
     Atlanta; and has Doctor of Ministry degree from Vanderbilt 
     University in Nashville, TN. Dr. Lever's continuing education 
     credits include work at the Jerusalem Center for Church 
     Studies in Israel; the Robert

[[Page S11396]]

     Schuller Institute in Garden Crove, CA; and others.
       Dr. Lever is the recipient of the American Legion Award for 
     ``Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship and 
     Service.'' He has been inducted into the International 
     Honorary Chapter of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, the Phi Beta 
     Kappa ``National Scholastic Society,'' and Pi Gramma Mu 
     ``National Social Science Honor Society,'' the International 
     Society of Theta Phi for ``Scholars and Leaders in 
     Religion,'' the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity which 
     recognizes ``Academic and Extracurricular Leadership,'' and 
     has been listed in various volumes of ``Who's Who, 
     Outstanding Young Men in America,'' and ``The Dean's List.''
       Dr. Lever has a varied background in Christian Ministry. In 
     college he served as Youth Counselor at the Look-Up Lodge and 
     Camp in Traveler's Rest, SC; as a Youth Director at Duncan 
     Memorial UMC in Spartanburg, SC; and as a Summer Youth 
     Director at Southside UMC in Jacksonville, FL. In seminary he 
     served as Minister of Martin's Chapel UMC in Lawrenceville, 
     GA; as Chaplain to the terminal care unit at Wesley Woods 
     Health Center in Atlanta, GA; and as Chaplain to the oncology 
     unit at Crawford Long Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Dr. 
     Lever's first appointment in the Florida Annual Conference 
     was to the Ortega UMC in Jacksonville, FL. He then served 
     Swaim Memorial UMC also in Jacksonville. While at Swaim UMC, 
     Frank and Helen Sherman gave seven million dollars to begin 
     the Sherman Scholarship program for students entering the 
     ministry from the Florida Conference and one thousand dollars 
     to begin a preschool program during the weekday at the 
     church. After Swaim UMC, Dr. Lever then served Riverside Park 
     UMC in Jacksonville until his appointment to Lake Magdalene 
     UMC in June, 1995. Riverside Park is recognized for its 
     numerous outreach ministries including a ninety-unit 
     apartment complex for the elderly, a 125-unit child care 
     center for low income families, and The Life Center (a 
     community outreach ministry for older adults which draws 
     individuals from around the city).
       Dr. Lever is active in both District and Conference 
     affairs. In the Jacksonville District he served on the Board 
     of the Christian Enrichment School, the District Committee on 
     Finance and the District Committee on Superintendency. He 
     also served as Chairman of the District Committee on Ordained 
     Ministry. On the Conference level, he has served on the 
     Conference Council on Ministries, the Conference Work Area on 
     Education and he currently serves on the Conference Board of 
     Ordained Ministry (CBOM). On the CBOM he serves on the 
     Executive Committee, the Guidance Committee, the Policy 
     Committee and as the CBOM Secretary.
       Dr. Lever has served on numerous boards and agencies. Among 
     these are the boards of the St. Marks Ark Lutheran Church 
     Child Care; the Riverside Park Apartments; The Riverside Park 
     Child Care Center; and The Life Center. He has also served as 
     Vice-Chair of the Wesley Manor Retirement Community and as 
     Vice Chair of the Wesley Villas which is currently completing 
     a 6 million dollar, 640-unit villa retirement complex.
       Dr. Lever received his calling into the Ordained Ministry 
     as a youth and received his License to Preach in 1975. He met 
     his wife, Xiommy, on a double-date in high school (they were 
     both dating other individuals as the time) and ended up 
     dating their senior year in high school. Their common love 
     for the church and of one another made them an ideal match 
     for each other. Today, Xiommy is active in Disciple Bible 
     Study and the Walk of Emmaus. She also serves as a Certified 
     Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church.
       Dr. Lever is excited to be sharing in the ministry of Lake 
     Magdalene UMC. He believes that the bedrock to our faith is 
     to be found in coming to know Christ and in making Him known 
     to others through word and deed. It is to this end that Dr. 
     Lever has committed his life to God's Kingdom.

                          ____________________