HR572: HR572 Steward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church; occasion of its 160th anniversary; recognize

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors Steward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Macon, founded in 1865, on the occasion of its 160th anniversary. It recounts the church's history, including the loss of its original building in 1869 and its rebuilding, and highlights its role during the Civil Rights Movement, including hosting Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered a sermon there in 1957. The resolution formally commends the church for its 160 years of service and wishes it continued success. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the church. It does not change any Georgia law or provide funding.

• Formally recognizes and commends Steward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church on its 160th anniversary of founding in 1865.
• Recounts the church's history, including rebuilding after its original building was destroyed in 1869.
• Documents the church's role in hosting Civil Rights Movement figures including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the church.

This resolution directly concerns Steward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Macon, its congregation, and members of the Georgia House of Representatives who sponsored and adopted it. It has no regulatory or financial effect on other Georgians.

The resolution carries symbolic and ceremonial weight rather than legal effect. It gives official state recognition to a historic Macon church's community service and its documented role in civil rights history, providing the congregation a formal record of that recognition from the legislature.

• The preamble ('whereas' clauses) recounts the church's founding in 1865 and rebuilding after an 1869 fire.
• The preamble describes the church's Civil Rights Movement role, including a 1957 sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attended by over 600 people.
• The resolving clause has the House of Representatives commend the church's 160 years of service and wish it continued success.
• A further resolution directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to the church.

1. 2025-03-11House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-03-11House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-11House Hopper (House)

• Anissa Jones (D, HD-143)Primary sponsor
• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)
• Floyd Griffin (D, HD-149)
• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)
• Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)

• ceremonial resolution
• Macon history
• civil rights history
• church anniversary