Aultman Retires from Appointment in the Church of God
Dr. Donald S. Aultman has retired after 64 years in ministry. He was licensed in March, 1950. At 83, Dr. Aultman is the oldest minister to have served as an International Offices director or department head under appointment of the International Executive Committee. He and his father, L.H. Aultman, who was World Missions Director, are the only father and son to have served in department leadership at the same time—1962 to 1966.
Aultman
In addition to his work as a pastor in Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina, Dr. Aultman served as state youth director in Texas, Michigan, and Florida and the state overseer of Northern California and Nevada. Aultman spent 30 years at several posts in the general church, including assistant director and general Director of Youth and Christian Education, vice president and academic dean of Lee College, associate professor at Lee College, vice chancellor and chancellor of the Division of Education, and president of the Church of God Foundation. A prolific writer, he has contributed numerous articles and brochures, is the author of seven books and the editor of seven volumes.
Aultman served on numerous boards and committees and enjoyed a versatile career in ministry. He was used extensively as a Camp Meeting Bible teacher in 51 Camp Meetings across the United State and in Europe. Widely acclaimed for the creation of the Teen Talent Parade in 1962, Aultman continued his interest in music as pianist and baritone in the well-known Ministers Trio with Roosevelt Miller and Bennie Triplett. The Ministers Trio recorded five long- play albums in the decade of the 1960s.
In 1998, the general overseer, Dr. Paul L. Walker, brought Aultman back to Cleveland to join him in creating a School of Ministry. From their united effort came the highly successful Certificate In Ministerial Studies (CIMS) and the Calling and Ministry Studies (CAMS) programs which gave the church a new forms of training for ministers—especially those who had no opportunity to attend college. Aultman recommended the present structure of the Division of Education—a highly successful addition to the educational needs of the Church of God. During this period, Aultman led the creation and implementation of the Church’s first four-year curriculum offering an accredited B.A. degree through the Internet. After serving 12 years in the Division of Education—eight years as vice chancellor and four years as chancellor—Dr. Aultman decided to retire in 2010.
This was not to happen. The general overseer, Dr. Raymond Culpepper, appointed Aultman to chair a Transition Committee with Art Rhodes and Dennis Watkins to guide the transition of the Church of God Foundation into an entity which more clearly reflected the vision of the church leadership. This led to Aultman’s appointment by the International Executive Committee as the Foundation president and chairman of a new Board of Directors. The Board was expanded to seven members in 2012, when Dr. Culpepper became the board chairman, and Aultman served as president until his retirement in August 2014. He was succeeded by Clayton Watson. Watson had served with distinction as the vice president since March, 2012. Aultman was appointed to continue serving on the Foundation Board of Directors.
Don Aultman and his wife Winona celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on June 7, 2014. They have two daughters—Melodie and Melissa—three grand-children and five great-grand-children. Winona, who is a former public school teacher, and excellent organist, welcomes her husband’s final return home. She has spent a blessed life either traveling with her husband or waiting for his return from ministry and travel in 49 states, 70 countries and five continents. Now, they have the joy of being home together in Cleveland for their Golden Years.
