South Carolina General Assembly118th Session, 2009-2010

H. 5099

STATUS INFORMATION

House ResolutionSponsors: Reps. Anderson, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anthony, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brantley, G.A. Brown, H.B. Brown, R.L. Brown, Cato, Chalk, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Duncan, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Gunn, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Harvin, Hayes, Hearn, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Hutto, Jefferson, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, King, Kirsh, Knight, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Millwood, Mitchell, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Nanney, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, Rice, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scott, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, D.C. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Stringer, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wylie, A.D. Young and T.R. YoungDocument Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1340ab10.docx

Introduced in the House on June 15, 2010Adopted by the House on June 15, 2010

Summary: St. Paul AME Church

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number 6/15/2010 House Introduced and adopted HJ-174

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

6/15/2010

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A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE ST. PAUL AME CHURCH OF GEORGETOWN ON THE OCCASION OF ITS HISTORIC ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY, AND TO COMMEND THE CHURCH FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY AND A QUARTER OF SERVICE TO GOD AND THE COMMUNITY.

Whereas, having been founded in 1879, St. Paul AME Church of Georgetown will celebrate its historic one hundred thirty-first anniversary in 2010; and

Whereas, more than one and a quarter centuries ago, St. Paul AME Church of Georgetown was organized for the worship of Almighty God. The congregation’s five-acre property was purchased for $20.00 on July 12, 1879, and Georgetown County Courthouse records indicate the church deed was filed on November 1, 1879; and

Whereas, at that time called Myersville AME, the church at some point unnamed in its written history changed its name to St. Paul AME Church. In its early days, Reverend Alexander Williams was pastor. The congregation belonged to a circuit consisting of four churches: St. Paul, Bethel, St. Mark, and Trinity. One pastor served all four churches in the circuit; and

Whereas, in the early 1900s, the first pastor remembered was the Reverend Mingo Thomas. His salary was paid with groceries, and he lived in the parsonage on weekends. The children brought eggs for the Sunday school offering, while the adults paid pennies; and

Whereas, from 1959 to 1969, the Reverend George Washington was assigned to St. Paul AME Church as pastor. Acting on a

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God-given vision for the growth of the church, Reverend Washington organized the Pulpit Aide Club and Emergency Club and oversaw election of choristers for the Senior Choir and Youth choir. In addition, under his leadership, the Missionary Society became active, and church membership and participation on various boards and clubs increased. The present church facility was started in March 1965 and completed in May 1967, also under his aegis. Finally, Reverend Washington and other area pastors implemented the ecumenical joint-fellowship services in the community; and

Whereas, while St. Paul AME was enjoying the building up of its programs and membership, its congregation welcomed the members of St. Mark AME in a merger of resources; and

Whereas, in 1969, the well-beloved Reverend Washington retired from the pastorate. The years following saw various men of God called as pastor and a number of improvements added to the church’s facilities, as well as new programs added to its ministries; and

Whereas, from 1985 to 1989, the Reverend Elmore Williams was assigned as pastor to the St. Paul Circuit. Reverend Williams led the effort to improve the appearance of the church by adding a church steeple, cushioning for the pews, chandelier installation, and the remodeling of the choir loft and dining area; and

Whereas, the St. Paul circuit was split in 1989, and St. Paul AME became a station church; and

Whereas, in 1994, the members saw the need for an addition to the church, a multifunctional facility that was completed in 1995 and used for classrooms, office space, the pastor’s living area, restrooms, and other purposes. Succeeding years brought still more improvements, such as the purchase on March 13, 2009, of twenty-eight acres of property for further expansion; and

Whereas, standing on the faith and strength of its early pastors and members, St. Paul AME Church’s present congregation “presses toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14), continuing to preach and teach the Word of God; and

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Whereas, St. Paul AME Church has been a beacon of light and a community worship center in the Georgetown area for one hundred thirty-one years, and, God willing, will continue its godly heritage in many more years of worship and service. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate St. Paul AME Church of Georgetown on the occasion of its historic one hundred thirty-first anniversary, and commend the church for more than a century and a quarter of service to God and the community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to St. Paul AME’s present pastor, the Reverend Eugene Collins, Sr., on behalf of the church.

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