July 10. Bethel Preysbeterian Church has a new senior pastor: Rev. Dr. Thomas Judge Boone III. Currently the pastor at Fairview Presbyterian Church in North Agusta, SC, his first sermon here is Sept. 17.
Dating back to 1828, Bethel Presbyterian is one of the oldest churches in Lake Norman. The church cemetery is a who’s who of old Cornelius with headstones with names like Alexander, Knox, Potts and Washam.
Boone, a Texas native who grew up in California, Pennsylvania and Indonesia, replaces Rev. Ernest L. Gardner III, an interim pastor from Cabarrus County. Boone earned his Doctorate of Theology from Loyola University-Chicago and prior to that, earned Masters Degrees from both Princeton Theological Seminary and Regent College.
Bethel has called only four senior pastors over the past 65 years. Rev. Dr. Bill Cain was senior pastor from 2008 to 2016. Rev. Didi Wayland was an institution in Cornelius, having served the church more than 40 years.
