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2017 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 865
Commending the Reverend Dr. John William Kinney.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 9, 2017
Agreed to by the Senate, February 10, 2017

 

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. John William Kinney, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, and resident of Virginia, earned his undergraduate degree from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, the master of divinity degree from Virginia Union University’s School of Theology in Richmond, and the master of philosophy and doctorate of theology and history degrees from Columbia University/Union Theological Seminary in New York; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kinney has devoted himself to the pursuit of excellence in theological training and preparation of seminarians and has distinguished himself as an exemplary systematic theologian, outstanding academician, creative administrator, and dynamic communicator for more than 35 years, and as dean of the Virginia Union University Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, he has blessed many students and colleagues with his organizational acumen, command of the Scripture, compassionate pastoral skills, and unique leadership abilities; and

WHEREAS, a nationally known prolific scholar and “powerful vessel with a prophetic voice,” Dr. Kinney has served as assistant professor of theology at Chicago Theology Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, and as adjunct faculty at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, and The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg; he is actively involved in several research activities and his many thought-provoking sermons and writings have been published online and in theological books and periodicals; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kinney’s devotion to academia to prepare pastors, theologians, teachers, apologists, evangelists, and other persons for the Gospel ministry is exceeded only by his love of the local church and commitment to serve the needs of people, as apparent by his many activities, membership in professional societies and organizations, and involvement with other community services; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kinney has served as a consultant to the American Baptist Convention, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the Baptist General Convention of Virginia, the United States Navy Chaplain Corps, and the United States Army Chaplain Corps; he has been a member of the American Society of Church History, the American Academy of Religion, and the Society for the Study of Black Religion; and

WHEREAS, nationally and internationally, Dr. Kinney has led the community of theological educators through multiple leadership roles in the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, including serving as chairman of the Association’s Committee on Race and Ethnicity from 1998 to 2000; as a member of the Commission on Accrediting for the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada from 2000 to 2006, which he chaired from 2004 to 2006; as vice president of the Association of Theological Schools from 2006 to 2008; as president of the Association, which accredits all theological schools in North America, from 2008 to 2010; and after completing his tenure as president, Dr. Kinney served as chair of the Association’s Personnel Committee from 2010 to 2012; and

WHEREAS, under Dr. Kinney’s visionary leadership as dean of Virginia Union University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, the Master of Divinity degree program has experienced unparalleled growth, the Doctor of Ministry and Master of Arts in Christian Education programs were established, and the continuing education program has been expanded to include activities that serve more than 5,000 lay and professional church leaders annually; and

WHEREAS, among his many fellowships and awards are the Rockefeller Doctoral Fellowship, and Fellow of the Graduate School and President's Fellow at Columbia University; in 2013, he was named senior vice president of Virginia Union University in recognition of his distinguished service to the university; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kinney, known in theological circles as the “Dean of Preachers,” is the beloved and esteemed pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Beaverdam, where he has faithfully served the congregation since 1977; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kinney’s contributions to Virginia Union University, the Gospel ministry, the local church, and the preparation of ministers is unmatched in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Reverend Dr. John William Kinney; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Reverend Dr. John William Kinney, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his stellar contributions to academia, the community, and the Gospel ministry.