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2016 SESSION


SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 10
Commending 31st Street Baptist Church.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, January 14, 2016
 

WHEREAS, 31st Street Baptist Church in Richmond celebrated 100 years in 2015 as a place of worship where faith is formed and nurtured, social justice and racial equality are in the forefront, and caring for those in need is a core value; and

WHEREAS, the origins of 31st Street Baptist Church arose from the work of a national religious organization which believed that uniting and strengthening churches would help thwart discrimination; Fountain Baptist Church in Richmond was established in 1899 during this movement; and

WHEREAS, some members of Fountain Baptist Church left in 1912 due to internal differences; that group held worship services nearby, and after Fountain Baptist Church went into foreclosure, four members of the breakaway group signed a mortgage for the building on March 20, 1915, which is celebrated as the founding date of 31st Street Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, Deacon William H. Hewlett and his wife are considered the mother and father of 31st Street Baptist Church, as they mortgaged their home to raise funds to purchase the building; their images were etched into a window of the original house of worship; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Robert C. Williams became the first pastor of 31st Street Baptist Church and served until 1917; during the church’s early years it began to emerge as a leading voice in the Church Hill community; and

WHEREAS, throughout the twentieth century, additions and renovations were made to 31st Street Baptist Church, and church ministries and organizations were expanded, especially under the leadership of the Reverend Isaiah Henry Hines, who was pastor for 35 years; and

WHEREAS, in 1966, a fire at 31st Street Baptist Church destroyed the building, but the faith and determination of its members remained strong throughout the rebuilding process; worshippers met at a nearby school until the church reopened in 1969; and

WHEREAS, the people of 31st Street Baptist Church have been blessed with a series of strong and forward-looking leaders, including the Reverend Dr. Darrel Rollins, who led the church as it embarked on its largest expansion and established more than 50 ministries, including a program to assist senior citizens, a clothes closet, and a nutrition center; and

WHEREAS, the motto of 31st Street Baptist Church, “Combining Relevance with Reverence,” was adopted when the Reverend Rollins was pastor; he served from 1982 until 2007 and was a well-respected academician, activist, preacher, and mentor; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Morris G. Henderson, who succeeded the Reverend Rollins, leads the church as it enters its second century; he focuses on “Promoting Education, Arts, Culture, and the Environment” or P.E.A.C.E., which was added to the church’s motto; and

WHEREAS, 31st Street Baptist Church has thrived as a place of worship and praise and has grown and changed with the times, humbly and gratefully serving the people of Church Hill and Richmond—“Cultivating P.E.A.C.E. by Combining Relevance with Reverence”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That 31st Street Baptist Church hereby be commended on the occasion of its 100th anniversary of providing joyous worship, community leadership, and unfailing help to those in need; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Dr. Morris G. Henderson, senior pastor of 31st Street Baptist Church, as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect and admiration for its many good works and uplifting ministry to the people of Richmond and the Commonwealth.