S*0960 Concurrent Resolution, By Ford
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE REVEREND DR. ALPHONSO R. BLAKE,
 PASTOR EMERITUS OF THE MORRIS STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, FOR HIS MANY
 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COMMUNITY, THIS STATE, AND THE NATION ON THE OCCASION OF
 HIS RETIREMENT AS MODERATOR OF THE CHARLESTON COUNTY MISSIONARY BAPTIST
 ASSOCIATION AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES TO HIM IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   02/11/04  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-31
   02/12/04  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-4

TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE REVEREND DR. ALPHONSO R. BLAKE, PASTOR EMERITUS OF THE MORRIS STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, FOR HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COMMUNITY, THIS STATE, AND THE NATION ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS MODERATOR OF THE CHARLESTON COUNTY MISSIONARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES TO HIM IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the Reverend Dr. Alphonso R. Blake retired as Moderator of the Charleston County Missionary Baptist Association at the close of the 2003 Annual Session; and

Whereas, Dr. Blake served for nine years as Vice Moderator of the Association, and during his term as Moderator, the Association grew from twenty-eight member congregations to thirty-one; and

Whereas, Moderator Blake reorganized the Associational Choir, restructured the Youth Department, and since 1995 oversaw the awarding of scholarships in the amount of two thousand dollars to sixteen high school graduates from member churches; and

Whereas, Dr. Blake has encouraged the Association's member churches to increase their financial support of both Benedict and Morris Colleges; and

Whereas, Dr. Blake is the Pastor Emeritus of the historic Morris Street Baptist Church where he served with distinction for forty-two years, and hosted many rallies with national leaders during the civil rights struggles during the 1960's and 1970's; and

Whereas, he has served as a member of the Charleston County Consolidated School Board, President of the Baptist Minister's Conference of Charleston County, President of the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress of Christian Education, President of the State Baptist Fellowship of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Morris College, Coordinator of the Charleston Extension of Morris College, and Superintendent of the historic Daniel Joseph Jenkins Institute for Children; and

Whereas, Dr. Blake has received numerous awards for his dynamic leadership in civic and religious affairs including an honorary doctorate degree from Morris College and has had a building on the campus of Morris College named in his honor; and

Whereas, he received his formal educational training at the Charles Evan Hughes High School in New York City, continued his education at the American Baptist Theological Seminary and Tennessee A and I University, and is the father of three children; and

Whereas, it is fitting and appropriate for the members of the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations to honor and recognize Reverend Dr. Alphonso R. Blake for his many contributions to the Christian faith, his community, this State, and this nation as he retires from his duties as Moderator of the Charleston County Missionary Baptist Association. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, honor and recognize Reverend Dr. Alphonso R. Blake, Pastor Emeritus of the Morris Street Baptist Church for his many contributions to his community, this State, and the nation on the occasion of his retirement as Moderator of the Charleston County Missionary Baptist Association and extend best wishes to him in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Reverend Dr. Alphonso R. Blake.