SR243: SR243 Franklin, Reverend Lee C.; recognize

25 LC 129 0127 Senate Resolution 243 By: Senator Harbison of the 15th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Reverend Lee C. Franklin; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the Reverend Lee C. Franklin is Senior Pastor of the M ount Ephraim Baptist2 Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as the second pastor in the church's history following3 the founding Pastor, the Late Dr. R. L. White Jr., who pastored for 53 years; and 4 WHEREAS, Pastor Franklin was licensed to preach in 1996 and ord ained in 1999, and he5 has since served in various spiritual capacities including Mini ster for Bereaved Families,6 Associate Minister, Musician, Young Adult Pastor, Director of t he Psalms 150 Choir (the7 church's young adult choir), Youth Minister, Bible Study Leader, and Vacation Bible School8 Teacher; and9 WHEREAS, Pastor Franklin's Kingdom-building efforts extend beyond the four walls of the10 church, and as a Carver Bible graduate, he has served as a civic leader in key social action11 dimensions such as the National NAACP Religious Affairs Liaison and as the Fulton County12 Government Chaplain; and13 S. R. 243 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0127 WHEREAS, he has further ministered for over 30 years at the gra ssroots level to the14 homeless community, individuals serviced through the Atlanta Drug Courts, and to ranking15 governmental officials; and16 WHEREAS, seeing a need to address the social ills of the commun ity, he launched a17 self-help network, the Greater Atlanta Congress of Black Men, which brings Black men in18 the Atlanta metro area together to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to create19 a better tomorrow for Atlanta; and20 WHEREAS, in 2024, the first annual conference of the network wa s held, successfully21 engaging local and state elected officials, civil rights leader s, law enforcement, financial22 empowerment, social justice, and issues of military veterans to forge a path towards23 strategizing for sustainable community upliftment.24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body25 recognize and commend the Reverend Lee C. Franklin for his ecumenical leadership, civic26 affairs, and social action excellence in the State of Georgia.27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed28 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Reverend Lee29 C. Franklin.30 S. R. 243 - 2 -