H*4091 Concurrent Resolution, By Kennedy
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE SINCERE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE REVEREND TERRANCE
 G. MACKEY, SR., PASTOR OF MT. ZION AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF
 GREELEYVILLE WHICH BURNED JUNE 20, 1995, AND TO REFLECT UPON HIS TIRELESS
 EFFORTS TO BRING UNITY TO ALL PEOPLE.

   04/29/97  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-65
   04/30/97  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-7

TO EXTEND THE SINCERE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE REVEREND TERRANCE G. MACKEY, SR., PASTOR OF MT. ZION AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF GREELEYVILLE WHICH BURNED JUNE 20, 1995, AND TO REFLECT UPON HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS TO BRING UNITY TO ALL PEOPLE.

Whereas, the Reverend Terrance G. Mackey, Sr., has had a very distinguished career in the ministry and has served as Pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church of Greeleyville, South Carolina, since 1991; and

Whereas, he was born in Fort Pierce, Florida on October 25, 1956, and was the ninth child out of ten to the proud parents of Zebulum and Margaret Mackey; and

Whereas, Terrance Mackey graduated from the Florida public school system; attended Saint Junior College in Lexington, Mississippi; graduated from Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee, with a degree in mathematics; and two years later, continued his studies at C.H. Mason Bible College in St. Paul, Minnesota for three years, graduating with a Master of Theology degree; and

Whereas, Reverend Mackey is the loving father of two children, Terrance G. Mackey, Jr., and Terrie E. Mackey; and

Whereas, immediately after Reverend Mackey was appointed the Pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in October of 1991, he began his dedicated efforts of kingdom building. Numerous members joined the congregation and as a result, the church finances increased with the growth of the new membership; and

Whereas, on June 20, 1995, Reverend Mackey received a phone call about 9:30 a.m. from Matthew McFadden, the church's sexton, that the church was on fire. Upon arriving at the church he was met by the Williamsburg Fire Department and some of the officers of the church and learned that it looked like the fire was set by someone. All he saw was a pile of ashes and smoke coming from the grounds. Reverend Mackey, with tears in his eyes and looking in the faces of the church's members, said we will rebuild the church with the Lord's help; and

Whereas, Reverend Terrance Mackey and the proud members of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church were devastated, but not destroyed. They were able to continue their worship services and other activities at the Pearl Whack Recreation Center in Greeleyville. A special gratitude was expressed to Mr. Phillip Green, Director of the Williamsburg County Recreation Department, for his quick response to their request concerning usage of the recreation building; and

Whereas, following the burning of the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, Pastor Mackey was invited to appear before the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on May 11, 1996, to testify at an oversight hearing in Washington on the scope, focus, and effectiveness of the federal investigations into the burning of churches; and

Whereas, on Wednesday, June 12, 1996, President Bill Clinton, accompanied by Representative Bob Inglis and other dignitaries, visited the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Greeleyville calling for the rebuilding of our churches and to restore hope and show the forces of hatred they cannot win. The President's call to action is reflected by developments on the federal, regional, and state levels. For example, the House Judiciary Committee earlier that week approved a bill that would enable easier federal prosecution of the crimes of church arson or defacement; and

Whereas, following this memorable visit, Pastor Mackey, officers, and members of Mt. Zion attended the dedication service for the newly-built Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church on Saturday, June 15, 1996; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Burned Church Restoration Coalition (SCBCRC) was founded in June of 1996 by the Reverend Patricia Lowman and Reverend Cynthia Morris, both affiliated with St. John's Baptist Church, Dixiana, South Carolina. The primary mission of SCBCRC is to support the members of the burned churches of South Carolina by promoting unity, rebuilding structures, and improving community relations; and

Whereas, Reverend Mackey was elected Executive Director of SCBCRC; Reverend Patricia Lowman, Associate Pastor of St. John's Baptist Church in Dixiana, which burned August 15, 1995, was elected President; Reverend Levern Harry, Pastor of Spring Hill AME Church in Dillon, which burned July 27, 1995, was elected Vice President; Reverend Cynthia Morris, Director of Media and Outreach Ministries of St. John's Baptist Church in Dixiana, was elected General Secretary; Reverend F. C. Haskell of St. Stephens Baptist Church in St. Stephens, which was victimized in 1993, was elected Treasurer; and Elder Ted Myers, Pastor of South Richland Bible Way Church in Gadsden, which burned February 24, 1996, was elected Chaplain; and

Whereas, Reverend Mackey is an outstanding individual in every way and a genuine role model for countless persons; and

Whereas, it is appropriate for the members of the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations so that they might recognize the accomplishments of so distinguished a son of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, extend sincere appreciation to The Reverend Terrance G. Mackey, Sr., Pastor of Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church of Greeleyville which burned June 20, 1995, and to reflect upon his tireless efforts to bring unity to all people.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to

The Reverend Terrance G. Mackey, Sr.