A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Dr. Eugénio R. Duarte, general superintendent for the global Church of the Nazarene, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives have learned that Dr. Eugénio R. Duarte will begin a well-deserved retirement on July 16, 2023, after years as a minister and leader within the Church of the Nazarene, the last of which have been as the distinguished and highly regarded general superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene; and

 

Whereas, born in Brava, Cape Verde, Dr. Duarte accepted Christ under the ministry of the Church of the Nazarene at the age of twelve.  He received his call to preach shortly after his conversion and was mentored by his pastor and ordained by Orville Jenkins, Sr., in 1981; and

 

Whereas, he studied at Seminario Nazareno de Cabo Verde (SNCV) and earned a master's degree from Azusa Pacific University in California.  In 2012, he earned a master's degree in business administration from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.  He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by Africa Nazarene University in May 2006; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Duarte served as a teacher and the director of the SNCV, superintendent of the Cabo Verde District, and pastor of the Porto Novo and Mindelo churches of the Nazarene; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Duarte served as strategy coordinator for the Africa Lusophone Field, directing the start of Nazarene work in Equatorial Guinea, and strategy coordinator for Central Africa.  He served as the Africa West and French Equatorial field strategy coordinator, where he facilitated the expansion of the church into Sierra Leone and the Réunion Islands and developed a strategy to enter Guinea Bissau; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Duarte was elected to serve as the general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene at the 27th General Assembly held in June 2009 in Orlando, Florida, at which time he had been serving as the Africa regional director for the denomination.  In 2009, Dr. Duarte and his beloved wife, Maria Amélia, moved from Johannesburg, South Africa, to the Kansas City area; and

 

Whereas, Dr. and Mrs. Duarte have been blessed with three fine sons: Sergio; Francisco, who died in 2022; and Richard.  Their sons have blessed them with the affection of two loving grandsons, Gabriel and Ben Amar; and

 

Whereas, grateful for his many years of faithful service to the Church of the Nazarene, the South Carolina House of Representatives takes great pleasure in extending best wishes to Eugénio Duarte as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried pace of the days ahead, and the members wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Dr. Eugénio R. Duarte, General Superintendent for the Global Church of the Nazarene, upon the occasion of his retirement after years of exemplary service, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Eugénio R. Duarte.

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