South Carolina H 4895: Wando High School Marching Band

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4895 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4895

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

To commend Bishop Jalen De'Vonte Whittleton on his 
installation as pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Blackstock in Fairfield 
County and to extend heartfelt congratulations to him on this significant 
milestone. 

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to recognize Bishop Jalen De'Vonte 
Whittleton on the occasion of his installation as the new pastor of New Zion 
Baptist Church in Blackstock and to recognize his dedicated service to faith 
and community; and

Whereas, born on April 
19 in Columbia, Bishop Whittleton sensed his divine calling to the gospel ministry 
at a young age. Accompanying his mother to various churches across 
denominational lines, where she ministered in song, he came to understand that 
God had a greater purpose for his life; and

Whereas, Bishop 
Whittleton is a proud alumnus of Irmo High School, where he founded a social 
club and served as president of the award-winning Victory in Praise Gospel 
Choir. He continued his theological education at Benedict College and the 
School of the Great Commission Theological Seminary, where he preached his 
initial sermon, was ordained to the priesthood, and established Revelation 
Tabernacle Ministries in Columbia. His academic journey culminated with a 
degree in Christian leadership in August 2011, a master's degree in theology in 
December 2014, and an honorary doctor of divinity in 2018. In 2023, he earned a 
doctorate in church history from Transfiguration Theological Seminary in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is currently pursuing a degree in religious studies 
at Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary; and

Whereas, on April 30, 
2016, Bishop Whittleton was consecrated to the Bishopric by the late Bishop 
James Edward Wiley Jr. and the late Apostle Floyd E. Nelson Sr. and appointed 
as diocesan prelate of the First Episcopal Diocese of the United Churches of 
Deliverance Apostolic, Inc. He now serves as the assistant presiding bishop for 
the Ecumenical Convergence of Christian Ministries under the leadership of Reverend 
Hayward Clemon Smith II. Additionally, he contributes as a member of the consortium 
think tank committee for the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal 
Bishops; and

Whereas, in 2020, 
Bishop Whittleton was featured in the TIME Magazine short film Starting from 
Scratch, and that same year published his first book, The Burden of 
Divorce; and

Whereas, Bishop 
Whittleton is blessed with a loving family, including his devoted wife, Rasheeda 
Whittleton, and their three beautiful children, Jayla Victoria, Jailey Brielle, 
and Skylar Cash. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Capital 
City Lodge #47, and the Columbia chapter of the NAACP. He is also the former vice 
president of Theta Alpha Kappa, Inc., a religious fraternity at Benedict 
College; and

Whereas, he holds the Thirty-Third 
Degree in Prince Hall Masonry and serves as Associate Grand Prior of the United 
Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Additionally, he is 
a member of Wayman Lodge #1339 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and serves 
as Establishmentarian of The Experience Cathedral in Mooresboro, North 
Carolina; and

Whereas, Bishop 
Whittleton believes his calling is to help souls receive Christ and the baptism 
of the Holy Spirit through preaching holiness, love, unity, and operating under 
the anointing of the Holy Ghost. His personal motto is, "I am what I am by the grace 
of God. For it is nothing that I've done, but it is the pure power of the Holy 
Ghost that moves through a willing vessel." Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, commend Bishop Jalen De'Vonte Whittleton on his 
installation as pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Blackstock in Fairfield 
County and extend heartfelt congratulations to him on this significant 
milestone. 

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Bishop Jalen De'Vonte 
Whittleton.

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This web page was last updated on January 14, 2026 at 04:08 PM