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2021 SPECIAL SESSION I


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 600
Commending Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 27, 2021

 

WHEREAS, Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg was founded in October 1996 by the Reverend Herman L. Gladney and his wife, Sabrina; and

WHEREAS, the first worship service at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Mission was held with 12 founding members at Brooke Point High School in Stafford County on February 16, 1997; and

WHEREAS, in April 1997, during the 47th Session of the Washington Annual Conference of the AME Church, Emmanuel AME Mission was officially admitted and added to the roll of the Capitol District with 20 members; and

WHEREAS, the Washington Annual Conference of the AME Church accepted the name Emanuel AME Mission for the new congregation, and the presiding bishop appointed the Reverend Gladney as the church’s pastor; and

WHEREAS, in May 1997, Emmanuel AME Church moved from mission status to full status as a church and, following the status change, added new ministries, including a church school, weekly Bible study, and youth ministry; and

WHEREAS, to accommodate the growing congregation, New Life Community Church in Stafford County opened its doors to Emmanuel AME Church without charge to help the young church meet its space requirements and ministry needs; and

WHEREAS, this tremendous act of love and kindness forever bound New Life Community Church to Emmanuel AME Church through a sense of kinship and solidarity; and

WHEREAS, in October 1999, Emmanuel AME Church purchased 12 acres of land and a 10,000-square-foot building in Stafford County and subsequently hired an architect to begin plans for renovating the building to serve as the church’s permanent worship facility; and

WHEREAS, on August 15, 2002, the building was destroyed by fire before the renovation construction began, yet the congregation showed its faith in God by staying united and standing strong in the face of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, after much prayer, in January 2007, Emmanuel AME Church secured their new church building; the congregation held its first service in the building on Mother’s Day in May and held a dedication ceremony on June 16, 2007; and

WHEREAS, the mission of Emmanuel AME Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading the gospel through word and deed; and

WHEREAS, the vision of Emmanuel AME Church is to impact people in a positive way by providing a holistic ministry that develops disciples of Jesus Christ and empowers them in all areas of their lives; and

WHEREAS, Emmanuel AME Church will forever remain committed to God and dedicated to its motto, “Building People for Christ”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church hereby be commended for its service to the congregation and the community over its 24 years in operation; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for its dedication to its congregation.