The seventh of nine children, Charles G. Nauden was born on July 5, 1946 in Wynne, Arkansas to Hattie Nauden. At the age of 16, he left his Arkansas home and moved to Los Angeles, California. Shortly after his arrival he joined Good News Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Pastor Allen Rucker, where he was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost.
In 1969 he received the call to preach the Gospel and was ordained as an Elder in 1975 by Bishop S.M. Crouch. In 1971, Bishop Nauden joined Good Shepherd Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Pastor Murphy L. Hawkins.
In pursue of a higher calling, he studied at Life Bible College in Glendale, California; in 1987 he graduated from Heritage International School of Ministry in Norwalk, California; in 2001 he received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the American Urban University and another from the Annie B. Campbell School of Ministry in 2006. But the pinnacle of his formal education was reached in April of 2006 when he earned his Doctorate of Theology from North Carolina College of Theology.
Bishop Nauden has been serving as pastor of Holyway currently for 41 years, but his resume is extended to serving Southern California 2nd Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction under the leadership of General Board Member Bishop George D. McKinney, since its inception in 1985. In 1990 he was appointed District Superintendent for the United in Love District; in 1993, he received the appointment to Regional Leader of the Los Angeles Area and in 2009 he was appointed First Administrative Assistant. He has also served as the Chairman for Bishop McKinney’s Re-Election Committee for 4 consecutive General Board Elections.
In November of 2011, Bishop Nauden was formally consecrated as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Church of God in Christ by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake in the Holy Convocation.
Bishop Nauden is certainly dedicated to his family. In 1979 he married the love of his life, Mother Cecilia A. Nauden. After 42 years of marriage, their family includes 4 children and 8 grandchildren.