Bill Text: VA SR30 | 2018 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Commending Mulberry Baptist Church.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-02-15 - Bill text as passed Senate (SR30ER) [SR30 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2018-SR30-Enrolled.html

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 30
Commending Mulberry Baptist Church.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 15, 2018

WHEREAS, in 2018, Mulberry Baptist Church in Farnham celebrates 150 years of providing spiritual leadership, generous community outreach, and opportunities for joyful worship in the Baptist tradition; and

WHEREAS, Mulberry Baptist Church was founded in 1868, when African American members of the predominantly white Jerusalem Baptist Church in Emmerton split from the church and began holding their own services under a brush arbor of mulberry trees; and

WHEREAS, the first sanctuary for Mulberry Baptist Church was built on land donated by David Veney, who also served as the first official pastor; in 1953, the church community began work on its second building, which still stands at the present location in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Mulberry Baptist Church also preserves the history of the community and its families through its 150-year-old cemetery that spans three acres; and

WHEREAS, Mulberry Baptist Church has benefited from the wise leadership of 12 pastors over the course of its existence—David Veney, Lucius Harrod, John Wilkerson, Jacob Robinson, J.W. Tynes, L.D. Thomas, P.C. Young, W.H. Edwards, J.E. Toliver, Lewis Jackson, Karen Register-Veney, and Gernard E. Reed; and

WHEREAS, Mulberry Baptist Church places a high emphasis on Christian education and embraces the diversity of the community; the congregation also has a long legacy of producing talented singers and has hosted music festivals; and

WHEREAS, with a current membership of approximately 275 people, many former members have established clubs as far away as New York City to continue to foster the fellowship and sense of community found at Mulberry Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, members of the Mulberry Baptist Church congregation have gone on to achieve success as craftsmen, entrepreneurs, civil servants, doctors, ministers, educators, and professionals in many other fields; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Mulberry Baptist Church hereby be commended on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Gernard E. Reed, pastor of Mulberry Baptist Church, as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for the church's unique history and contributions to the community.

feedback