HR699: HR699 Decatur Presbyterian Church; Decatur, Georgia; 200th anniversary; recognize

25 LC 112 3451 House Resolution 699 By: Representatives Oliver of the 84th, Crawford of the 89th, and Drenner of the 85th A RESOLUTION Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Decatur Presbyterian Churc h, Decatur, Georgia; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, on Sunday, October 30, 1825, Decatur Presbyterian Church conducted its first3 worship service as an officially chartered congregation, three years after the United States4 signed a treaty with the Creek Indians and two years after the establishment of DeKalb5 County; and6 WHEREAS, to educate the children in faith, Presbyterians organi zed the Union Sunday7 School in 1831, the oldest Sunday School in DeKalb County, inviting other congregations8 as teachers and learners; and9 WHEREAS, women and children continued holding Sunday School and services during the10 Civil War while most men were serving in the military, despite Union troops taking over the11 church building and emptying it of its pews, pulpit, and papers; and12 WHEREAS, the mission-minded Decatur Presbyterian Church organiz ed 17 new13 congregations in the area, including Smyrna in 1827, followed b y First Atlanta, Rock14 Springs, Salem, Midway, Kirkwood, Ingleside, Panthersville, Oak hurst, Alexander15 H. R. 699 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3451 Memorial, Glen Haven, Emory, Trinity Decatur, Columbia, Clairmont, Memorial Drive, and16 finally North Decatur in 1955; and17 WHEREAS, to meet the need for educating young women, Decatur Pr esbyterian Church18 organized Decatur Female Seminary in 1889, later known as Agnes Scott College, named19 for the mother of Decatur Presbyterian Church Elder Colonel Sco tt, a primary financial20 supporter; and21 WHEREAS, in 1927, Decatur Presbyterian Church made it possible for Columbia22 Theological Seminary to move from Columbia, South Carolina, to Decatur, enhancing a23 partnership with its sister institution, which trained 14 of its installed pastors and numerous24 associate pastors, encouraged over 50 seminary interns to be trained within the congregation,25 and benefitted from trustees, faculty, staff, and presidents wh o were among the26 congregation's participants; and27 WHEREAS, the first church kindergarten in DeKalb County was reg istered in 1950 as28 Decatur Presbyterian Children's Community, which currently serv es over 100 students a29 year, from nine months through kindergarten, with thousands of alumni throughout the30 world; and31 WHEREAS, since the late 1800s, Decatur Presbyterian Church has supported global mission32 partners, in more recent years in South Sudan, Madagascar, Niger, the United States-Mexico33 border, and Taiwan, and financed the 1968 creation of the Toppl e Hospital in Soonchun,34 South Korea, to treat leprosy, polio, and other crippling diseases; and35 H. R. 699 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3451 WHEREAS, the congregation has generously hosted the Global Vill age Project within its36 buildings since 2010, enabling the specialized education of hundreds of refugee teenage girls;37 and38 WHEREAS, to serve those on the margins of society, Decatur Presbyterian Church created39 its Threshold Ministry in 2013 to provide assistance through direct services such as MARTA40 cards, mail service, hygiene kits, warm coats, and other aid, as well as referrals to Legal Aid,41 the Furniture Bank, Veterans Administration Services, First Ste p Staffing, and numerous42 housing and shelter opportunities; and43 WHEREAS, the congregation intends to celebrate its 200th anniversary to the glory of God44 on October 26, 2025, continuing its love of God and neighbor in to its third century and45 fulfilling its stated mission: "Rooted in the heart of Decatur, we worship, love, and serve with46 hospitality, generosity, and compassion."47 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that48 the members of this body recognize the rich history of Decatur Presbyterian Church,49 commend its 200 years of dedicated service to the Lord and comm unity, and extend their50 warmest best wishes for its continued growth and success.51 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized52 and directed to make an appr opriate copy of t his resolution ava ilable for distribution to53 Decatur Presbyterian Church.54 H. R. 699 - 3 -