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2006 SPECIAL SESSION I

066401326
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5167
Offered September 27, 2006
Commending the Reverend Dr. Cedric Kirkland-Harris.
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Patrons-- Howell, A.T., Alexander, Dance, Joannou, Lewis, McClellan, Melvin, Miller and Ware, O.
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WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Cedric Kirkland-Harris is recognized for his outstanding ministry and service to the citizens of the City of Norfolk; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kirkland-Harris is a native of East Orange, New Jersey, and graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kirkland-Harris was called to the ministry in his last year of college and returned to his hometown church, Bethel Baptist of Orange, where he served as an assistant pastor for five years; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated minister, Dr. Kirkland-Harris received his master of divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School and continued his graduate studies with the Department of Theology at Boston College in the field of political theology; and

WHEREAS, while at Boston College, Dr. Kirkland-Harris served as pastor for the United Baptist Church of Boston for six years and taught courses in scripture and African-American theology; he was honored with the Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teacher Award; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kirkland-Harris joined the Department of Church and Society for the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts as its director and gained valuable expertise in critical political, social, and economic issues as they interfaced with the church; and

WHEREAS, in October 1992, Dr. Kirkland-Harris moved to Norfolk and joined the historic Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church as its 16th minister; and

WHEREAS, in 1997 Dr. Kirkland-Harris received a doctor of ministry degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond; and

WHEREAS, an exemplary mentor and church leader, Dr. Kirkland-Harris is the immediate past president of the Public Missions Team of the American Baptist Churches, USA, and the former president of the Ministers Council of the American Baptist Churches of the South and the Professional Effectiveness for the Ministers Council of the American Baptist Churches, USA; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kirkland-Harris has been instrumental in implementing new ministries and innovative activities to serve his church and its community, including an expanded music ministry, a stewardship ministry, a social action ministry, and the Youth Council; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kirkland-Harris was invaluable in the establishment of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology Endowment at Virginia Union University that led to the creation of the McDonald Rimple Charity Golf Tournament, which helps provide funding for programs sponsored by Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk State University, the Dwelling Place Shelter for Women and Children, and the Oakmont Community Development Center; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kirkland-Harris and the Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church congregation also support numerous other ministries in the community, including health and wellness, aerobics, organ donor and blood drive programs, revitalization of the Trumpeter and Bank Streeter newsletters, pre-marital and marital counseling, food bank, and after-school programs for children; and

WHEREAS, to provide expanded space for church and community activities, Dr. Kirkland-Harris led the Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church in major capital improvements to the grounds and buildings, including the purchase and renovation of the Jubilee Center, on three acres with a 9,000 square foot building, located across the street from the church; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kirkland-Harris and his wife, the Reverend Dr. Linda Kirkland-Harris, have given their time and immense talents to improve the quality of life of the congregation of Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church and their community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Reverend Dr. Cedric Kirkland-Harris for his outstanding ministry and service to the citizens of the City of Norfolk; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Dr. Cedric Kirkland-Harris as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his many accomplishments.