---
title: HR 1342. Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason Day; 03/03/26; Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason; investiture as the 12th President of the Interdenominational Theological Center; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1342
cite_as: HR 1342, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1342
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1342.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1342/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73156
date: 2026-02-11
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1341.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1343.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1342.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1342
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-11
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Bryce Berry
  - Inga Willis
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1342/2025
upstream_id: 2114685
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - ceremonial resolution
  - Atlanta community leaders
  - Interdenominational Theological Center
  - commemorative day
---

# HR 1342. Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason Day; 03/03/26; Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason; investiture as the 12th President of the Interdenominational Theological Center; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 1342
By: Representatives Berry of the 56th and Willis of the 55th
A RESOLUTION
Commending Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason on his investiture as the 12th President of the
Interdenominational Theological Center and recognizing March 3, 2026, as Reverend
Herman "Skip" Mason Day; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Herman "Skip" Mason, Jr., author and historian, is the senior
pastor of Historic West Mitchell Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia,
as well as the President of the Interdenominational Theological Center; and
WHEREAS, a proud native of Atlanta and an honors graduate of the Atlanta Public Schools,
Dr. Mason matriculated and graduated from Morris Brown College and continued his
education at Atlanta University, where he earned a master's degree in library and information
science with a concentration in African American Studies; and
WHEREAS, he is also a graduate of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta,
where he obtained the Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Ministry degrees, respectively,
in African American Church History, Social Justice, and Outreach; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mason has served as pastor of Greater Hopewell CME in Atlanta, St. James
CME Church in Washington/Wilkes County, St. Paul CME Church in Athens, and "Mother"
Trinity in Augusta, as well as serves as the Chair of the Joint Board of Finance and represents
on the Archives Commission in the Sixth Episcopal District; and
WHEREAS, a seasoned educator for over 30 years, he has served as professor of history,
college archivist, director and dean of students, and Vice President of Student Services at
both Morris Brown College and Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, he is the 33rd General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, member of the
Atlanta Beltline Partnership Board, and serves on the National Board of Directors of the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, formerly the Dean of Library and Museum Service and Assistant Professor of
African American History and Religion at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina,
he now dedicates his leadership to the Interdenominational Theological Center as its
President; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mason is the author of numerous books on the history of African
Americans' experience in Atlanta, Georgia, and the South, including Black Atlanta in the
Roaring Twenties; Black Entertainment in Atlanta; African American Life in DeKalb County,
Politics, Law, and Civil Rights in Atlanta; and Black American Series: East Point, Georgia;
and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this exceptional author, historian, and
community leader be appropriately honored.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body commend Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason on his investiture as
the 12th President of the Interdenominational Theological Center and recognize March 3,
2026, as Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason Day.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to
Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution honors Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason on becoming the 12th President of the Interdenominational Theological Center and designates March 3, 2026 as Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason Day.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It commends Reverend Dr. Herman "Skip" Mason, Jr., an Atlanta pastor, historian, and educator, for his investiture as the 12th President of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.
The resolution recounts his education, decades of teaching at Morris Brown College and Morehouse College, pastoral service at several churches, leadership roles including General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and his work as an author of books on African American history in Georgia. It formally recognizes March 3, 2026 as Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason Day and directs the Clerk of the House to give him a copy of the resolution.

### What it does

- Commends Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason for his investiture as the 12th President of the Interdenominational Theological Center.
- Officially designates March 3, 2026 as Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason Day in Georgia.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and deliver a copy of the resolution to Mason.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names and honors Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason, the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who must produce a copy for him. It has no broader legal effect on other Georgians.

### Why it matters

This resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It creates no new law, spending, or requirement affecting the public, but it gives official state recognition to Mason's career and his new role leading a prominent Atlanta theological institution.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses detail Mason's education, pastoral assignments, academic career, and leadership roles as background for the honor.
- The resolving clause formally commends Mason and designates March 3, 2026 as Reverend Herman "Skip" Mason Day.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Mason.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-11)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-11)
- Sponsors: Bryce Berry, Inga Willis
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73156

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1342.md?full=1