As far as records indicate,  Damascus Church began during slavery, and grew out of the white Damascus Baptist Church. In 1865, when the slaves were set free, a division arose in the church due to a disposition of Negro membership freed of bondage after the Civil War. Because of this, the Negro congregation was given ten acres of land to continue their worship service. In 1867, the already established colored Damascus Baptist Church began having services in a brush arbor under the leadership of Rev. Tom Askerneese as pastor. He served from 1867 until his death in 1872, a total of five years.

In 1872, Elder W. S. Pleasant was elected pastor. He pastored the Damascus Baptist Church from 1872 to 1896, which was twenty-four years. In 1896, Elder Pleasant and the Church joined with Bishop Charles Price Jones, founder of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A., and Damascus Church became one of the first churches to join the “Holiness Movement.” The Church became known as Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. The Church was able to move out of the brush arbor into their erected church building under Elder Pleasant’s leadership. He served as pastor of the new denominational church from 1896 to 1918, twenty-two years. Elder Pleasant’s total service to Damascus Church was forty-six years. He resigned as pastor to do evangelistic work. He died February 7, 1935.

In 1919, the Church accepted Elder L. J. Brunson as the second pastor of the new denominational church. He pastored from 1919 to 1932, a total of twelve years, before resigning to go to Norfolk, Virginia. He died in 1941.

On January 27, 1931, the Rev. George A. Thomas, a man of many talents, came as pastor of Damascus Church. In 1966, Rev. Thomas built the second church since the brush arbor. The dedication of the church was held on September 15, 1966. In June 1971, the adjoining building to the church was built to serve as classrooms and as a dining hall. Rev. Thomas served as pastor of Damascus Church longer than either of the previous pastors. His tenure lasted January 27, 1931 until his death on January 13, 1980, a term of forty-nine years.

After the death of Rev. Thomas, the Church sought out a new pastor. In a call meeting, May 1980, the congregation voted to accept Elder Arnold Stanton, Sr., who came as pastor in September 1980. The third church was built and dedicated to God in August 1986. The contractor was Damascus’ own, Deacon George A. Harris, Sr. The new sanctuary led to the name changing from Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. to Greater Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. On December 25, 1994, Elder Stanton resigned as pastor of Greater Damascus Church. His tenure lasted fourteen years.

“Damascus Church” has produced five “Sons of the House” during previous pastors. They are the late Elder C. D. Tate, Sr., Rev. Ellis Blackwell, Jr., Elder Henry Smiley, Elder Andre’ Tyler and Elder Nicholas Tanner.

January 1, 1995, Greater Damascus Church was without a pastor. Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr., accompanied by his lovely wife, Sister Delores Goodloe, came and conducted the morning service. Elder Goodloe’s text was taken from Acts 24:10-16, and the thought was, “Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide.” On Monday, January 2, 1995, the Church’s first business meeting of the new year was conducted by Bishop Maurice D. Bingham, Presiding Prelate of the South Central Diocese of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. Bishop Bingham was accompanied by Elder Eddie Jones, Jr., pastor of the Crystal Springs Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. In this business meeting, the congregation of Greater Damascus Church voted to accept Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr. as pastor.

On January 8, 1995, Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr. became pastor of Greater Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. Elder Goodloe’s text was taken from II Corinthians 13:5, and the thought was, “A Call For Self-Examination.” Elder Goodloe’s main goal and objective is to “Preach God’s Word in His Fullness” so when men, women, boys and girls hear the “Word” they may be convicted and become saved.

During Elder Goodloe’s tenure, fifteen men were ordained deacons. Of the fifteen deacons, three became Elders of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A., Elder Richard Thomas, Elder Bertram Goodloe, Sr. and Elder Clifton Goodloe III. Under Elder Goodloe’s leadership, Greater Damascus has produced six “Sons of the House.” They are Elder Nicholas Tanner (May 10, 1998), Elder Richard Thomas (July 21, 2013), Elder Bertram Goodloe, Sr. (August 3, 2013), Elder Sean Daniels, Sr. (October 12, 2014), Minister Calvin Bogan and Elder Clifton Goodloe III (January 10, 2016).

Sunday, May 2019, Elder Goodloe announced to his congregation that he would be retiring as Pastor of Greater Damascus Church.

Monday, June 10, 2019, members of Greater Damascus Church, along with Bishop Joseph R. Campbell, Jr., Presiding Prelate of the South Central Diocese of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A met in a special call business meeting. In this meeting, Bishop Campbell announced that our Pastor, Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr. would be retiring as Pastor of Greater Damascus Church effective December 31, 2019, and recommended that Elder Clifton Goodloe III, Son of the House, will become Pastor in Waiting effective July 1, 2019 and Pastor of Greater Damascus Church effective January 1, 2020.

Members voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr. ad to accept Bishop Campbell’s recommendation that Elder Clifton Goodloe III would become Pastor in Waiting effective July 1, 2019 and Pastor of Greater Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. effective January 1, 2020.

Bishop Campbell emphasized that Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr. will remain Pastor of Greater Damascus Church from July 1, 2019 until December 31, 2020, and he will become Pastor Emeritus January 1, 2020.

Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr. preached his last sermon as Pastor of Greater Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. on Sunday, December 28, 2019. His text was taken from Acts 20:20-24, and the thought was, “Can It Really Be Done?” In this sermon, Elder Goodloe reflected and spoke of the past, present, and future to evaluate his course. Elder Goodloe, like the Apostle Paul, was determined to “finish his course with joy.”

During Elder Goodloe Jr. leadership as pastor, there have been many “first”. Two of the most notable firsts are: Sister Ora Lee McGee Booker being the only member to reach a milestone of 100 years old, and first time in Damascus/Greater Damascus History, a son, Elder Clifton Goodloe III will succeed his father, Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr., as pastor.

Elder Clifton Goodloe, Jr. is the sixth Pastor of Damascus/Greater Damascus Church since its beginning in a brush arbor in 1864.

Sunday, January 5, 2020, a new chapter began in the history of Greater Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. Elder Clifton Goodloe III became the seventh Pastor of Damascus/Greater Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.

Elder Clifton Goodloe III text was taken from Joshua 5:2-8 and the though was, “Be Patient, Your Story Is Not Finished Yet” the sub-topic was, “You’re Under the Knife.”

Damascus/Greater Damascus Church has had a grand processional of Christian soldiers who labored for many, many years and laid a solid foundation for generations to follow. Those who are gone have left a rich heritage that should not be merely praised and testified to, it must be built upon.

Greater Damascus Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. has been in existence one hundred and fifty-seven years, in the “Holiness Movement” one hundred and twenty-six years, and seven pastors since its beginning. What a legacy!

Pearl Fatheree
Church Historian