Bill Text: VA HJR872 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Commending Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-02-21 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ872ER) [HJR872 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2013-HJR872-Enrolled.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 872 Commending Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 15, 2013 Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2013

WHEREAS, Ebenezer Baptist Church, a historic church in the City of Richmond, has celebrated faith and served the community for over 155 years; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1857 as the Third African Baptist Church and renamed in 1858, Ebenezer Baptist Church has spent more than a century and a half loyally serving the Jackson Ward community; and

WHEREAS, Reverend William T. Lindsay served as Ebenezer Baptist Church's first pastor and Reverend Peter Randolph became the church's first African American pastor in 1865; and

WHEREAS, striving to enrich the lives of African American youth in the City of Richmond, Ebenezer Baptist Church made education one of its primary missions; and

WHEREAS, in 1866 Ebenezer Baptist Church opened the first public school for African American children in the City of Richmond; and

WHEREAS, Ebenezer Baptist Church then helped to organize Hartshorn Memorial College for Women in 1883; and

WHEREAS, in 1887 Ebenezer Baptist Church continued its tradition of advocacy and service by helping to found the Richmond colored branch of the Young Men's Christian Association; and

WHEREAS, today, Ebenezer Baptist Church holds the distinction of still standing in its original location and continues to adhere to its mission to spread joy and empower members of the community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ebenezer Baptist Church for over 155 years of service to the Richmond community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ebenezer Baptist Church as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the church's storied history and legacy of contributions to the education and well-being of the congregation and the community.