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H. 5062

STATUS INFORMATION

House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. R. Brown, Agnew, Allen, Altman, Anderson, Anthony, Bailey, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, Clark, Clemmons, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Emory, Frye, Funderburk, Govan, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Jennings, Kennedy, Kirsh, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, Rhoad, Rice, Rivers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, Skelton, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Townsend, Tripp, Umphlett, Vaughn, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Witherspoon and Young
Document Path: l:\council\bills\agm\18431mm06.doc

Introduced in the House on April 27, 2006
Adopted by the House on April 27, 2006

Summary: New Bethlehem AME Church of Charleston County

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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   4/27/2006  House   Introduced and adopted HJ-2

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/27/2006

TO RECOGNIZE THE RICH TRADITION OF RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE OF GREATER NEW BETHLEHEM AME CHURCH OF CHARLESTON COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF ITS ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY AND THE DEDICATION OF THE NEWLY RENOVATED FELLOWSHIP HALL.

Whereas, Greater New Bethlehem AME Church of Charleston County celebrates its one hundred and thirty-sixth anniversary this year and the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives rejoice with the church's members over this momentous occasion and join them in spirit as they dedicate the newly renovated Fellowship Hall; and

Whereas, Greater New Bethlehem AME Church was organized as Bethlehem AME Church in 1870 on Wiltown Bluff by workers who bought the land and worshipped in a bush tent at Cliffton Hill before the church was built; and

Whereas, in 1872, the church joined the Edisto District Conference with the Reverend Andrew Boston serving as Presiding Elder and the Reverend Lester Flood serving as the minister. Other ministers who have led the church throughout its storied history were the Reverends Adam Deas, Ladson, G.W. Laxter, D.S. Chisolm, Smalls, Turner, A.A. Washington, Freeman, Nero, and Wilson; and

Whereas, the Reverend Matthew Brown became Pastor in July of 1953 and led the church's building campaign, and on May 19, 1962, the ground breaking ceremony was held with the Reverend Herbert Blake delivering the inspirational message "I Will Do My Best - My Very Best". It took twenty-eight months to build the New Bethlehem AME Church and the Reverend Matthew Brown served this church for thirty-two years; and

Whereas, the Reverend Walter Jones came to the church in 1985 and sadly tragedy struck the community on January 10, 1986, when the New Bethlehem AME Church was completely destroyed by fire; and

Whereas, in large part due to the dedication and hard work of the Reverend Frederick C. James, Presiding Bishop, and the Reverend Z.L. Grady, and then Lieutenant Governor Mike Daniel in creating a love fund to receive donations, on Sunday, June 19, 1988, the members moved into Greater New Bethlehem AME Church. Reverend Jones' message was "The People Had a Mind to Work" and that they certainly did; and

Whereas, paying off the mortgage in full in October of 1996, the church celebrated the truly miraculous grace of our Lord and Savior with an old-fashioned mortgage burning on Sunday, February 23, 1997; and

Whereas, led by Reverend James Eric Nelson from October of 2004 to the present, the church continues today, after an incredible one hundred thirty-six years, to be "THE CHURCH THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE"; and

Whereas, it is with great pleasure and gratitude that the South Carolina House of Representatives pauses to acknowledge the spiritual contributions, both past and present, of the Greater New Bethlehem AME Church and wishes the church continued success as it shapes the lives of generations of South Carolinians for the Glory of God. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize the rich tradition of religious guidance of Greater New Bethlehem AME Church of Charleston County on the occasion of its One Hundred Thirty-sixth Anniversary.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Pastor James Eric Nelson on behalf of the congregation of believers at Greater New Bethlehem AME Church of Charleston County.

This web page was last updated on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 3:54 P.M.