S*0874 Concurrent Resolution, By Ford
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF SERVICE TO THE AFRICAN
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HIS COMMUNITY, AND NATION OF BISHOP JOHN HURST
 ADAMS, SENIOR BISHOP OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ON THE
 OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AND JOINING HIS FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, AND MANY
 FRIENDS IN WISHING HIM YEARS OF GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS TO ENJOY THE FRUITS
 OF HIS LABORS AND HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

   01/29/04  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-3
   02/03/04  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-6

EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF SERVICE TO THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HIS COMMUNITY, AND NATION OF BISHOP JOHN HURST ADAMS, SENIOR BISHOP OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AND JOINING HIS FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, AND MANY FRIENDS IN WISHING HIM YEARS OF GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF HIS LABORS AND HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly note that Bishop John Hurst Adams, Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is retiring his post after a long and distinguished career of service to the church; and

Whereas, Bishop Adams, the son of Reverend and Mrs. E. A. Adams of Columbia, pursued his education with an A.B. degree from Johnson C. Smith University and earned S.T.B. and S.T.M. degrees at Boston University with further study at Harvard University and Union Theological Seminary; and

Whereas, before his ordination as Bishop in 1976, the Reverend Adams served pastorates in Lynn, Massachusetts, Seattle, Washington, and Los Angeles, California, and served as Chairman of the Department of New Testament Studies at Payne Theological Seminary in Ohio, and also served as President of Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas; and

Whereas, elected 87th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1972, Bishop Adams has served in turn the 10th, 2nd, 6th, 7th (comprised of South Carolina), and now the 11th Episcopal District; and

Whereas, Bishop Adams has further contributed to the church as the founder of the Congress of National Black Churches, and originator of the Institute on Church Administration and Management; and

Whereas, the service to his church community and nation have brought many honors to Bishop Adams, some of which include numerous honorary degrees from distinguished institutions of higher learning, his being named Man of the Year by B'nai B'rith in 1964, Man of the Year by the Urban League, 1965, his receipt of the Leadership Award from the National Association for Equal Opportunity, his receipt of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Boston University, and his recognition by Ebony Magazine in 1984 and 1994 as one of America's 15 Great Black Preachers; and

Whereas, Bishop Adams has been an activist and pioneer in church growth and expansion, in ecumenicism, in theological and ministerial development, political, civil rights and black economic development, and African development and liberation projects; and

Whereas, Bishop Adams is the devoted husband of Dr. Dolly D. Adams, of New Orleans, a distinguished AME church official in her own right, who has served as Episcopal Supervisor of the Women's Missionary Society in the 10th, 2nd, 6th, and 7th Episcopal Districts and currently serves in that post in the 11th District and has used her leadership and organizational skills as past president of The Links and past president of The Black Women's Agenda; and

Whereas, Bishop Adams and his wife, Dr. Dolly Adams, are the proud parents of three daughters and grandparents of five; and

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

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

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, express their appreciation for the distinguished career of service to the African Methodist Episcopal Church, his community, and nation of Bishop John Hurst Adams, Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, on the occasion of his retirement and join his family, colleagues, and many friends in wishing him years of good health and happiness to enjoy the fruits of his labors and his many accomplishments.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Bishop John Hurst Adams.