TO CONGRATULATE THE UNITED BAPTIST DEACONS OF GREATER COLUMBIA UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND TO COMMEND THE ORGANIZATION FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize the United Baptist Deacons of Greater Columbia as it celebrates this important milestone on Sunday, March 15, 2020 at Zion Canaan Baptist Church; and

Whereas, in 2000, Deacon Joseph Kimpson of Second Calvary Baptist Church established the United Baptist Deacons of Greater Columbia as an umbrella organization for deacons and a forum for training and spiritual development. The twenty charter member churches of the United Baptist Deacons of Greater Columbia are Bethlehem, Fellowship, First Calvary, First Nazareth, Friendship, Gill Creek, Good Shepherd, Greenview, Mount Pilgrim, Ridgewood, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Peters, Second Calvary, Second Nazareth, Union, Zion Benevolent, Zion Canaan, Zion Chapel #1, and Zion Pilgrim. Today, New Beginnings, Friendship Hopkins, Dennis Chapel, Zion Hill, and Bethlehem College Place are also affiliated; and

Whereas, Deacon Kimpson served as president for ten years and was honored with the title President Emeritus in recognition of his visionary and outstanding leadership. Deacon Rufus C. Watts of Mount Pilgrim Church and Deacon Willie Franks have also served as president, and all presidents have been supported by a board of directors; and

Whereas, the United Baptist Deacons of Greater Columbia meets bi-monthly at member churches. Each meeting includes a devotional period, fellowship meal, and plenary speaker; and

Whereas, at meetings, presenters discuss a range of topics, including conflict resolution, ministering to grief-stricken families, cooperating with pastors and church membership, responding to criticism, segregation, leadership ideas, the growth of deacons and the church, ministering to youth, the church and deacons' potential role in politics, and deacons' effect on the home, community, and city; and

Whereas, in 2008, the organization held a workshop on "Honoring Our Past, Embracing Our Present and Empowering Our Future," with an attendance of approximately three hundred fifty people; and

Whereas, on May 14, 2014, deacons from the organization, as part of a statewide steering committee, established the South Carolina Baptist Deacons Association; and

Whereas, to fund scholarship programs, the United Baptist Deacons of Greater Columbia holds an annual scholarships and king and queen banquet. Each year, it has successfully awarded a number of one thousand dollar-scholarships, and its king and queen have won the state and national competition for five consecutive years; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate greatly appreciate the ministry of the United Baptist Deacons of Greater Columbia and the organization's service to the Columbia community and the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate the United Baptist Deacons of Greater Columbia upon the occasion of its twentieth anniversary and commend the organization for its many years of service to the Columbia community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the United Baptist Deacons of Greater Columbia.