--- title: HR 2127. Central United Methodist Church; occasion of its 160th anniversary; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr2127 cite_as: HR 2127, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2127 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2127.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2127/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74738 date: 2026-04-02 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/hr2126.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2128.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 134 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2127.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 2127 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-04-02 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Kim Schofield - Sandra Scott - Viola Davis - Rhonda Burnough text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR2127/2025 upstream_id: 2141005 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - church anniversary - Atlanta history - legislative recognition - civil rights history --- # HR 2127. Central United Methodist Church; occasion of its 160th anniversary; recognize ## Text House Resolution 2127 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, and Burnough of the 77th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Central United Methodist Church on the occasion of its 160th anniversary; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Central United Methodist Church was organized as a church mission in 1866 and recognized by the Annual Methodist Conference as Clark Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867; and WHEREAS, the church was named for Bishop Davis W. Clark, who became bishop in 1864 and was the first President of the Freedmen's Aid Society; and WHEREAS, the first location of the church was on Frasier Street in the Summerhill community of Atlanta, Georgia; and WHEREAS, in 1875, Clark Chapel moved and merged with Loyd Street Methodist Episcopal Church located at the corner of Loyd Street (now Central Avenue) and Hunter Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive); and WHEREAS, Clark Chapel served as the birthplace of Clark University (now Clark Atlanta University) and Gammon Theological Seminary when classes for the schools assembled in the church's basement; and WHEREAS, the church changed its name to Central Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in 1901 and moved in 1928 to its current location at 501 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW (formerly Mitchell Street); and WHEREAS, Central helped mold the civic and religious character of Atlanta as the city evolved into the leader of the Southeast educationally and industrially as well as a hub for civil rights activism; and WHEREAS, some of the most progressive and influential movements for racial equality were engendered by and through Central; and WHEREAS, Central has a storied history and continues its journey of religious, civic, moral, and educational leadership; and WHEREAS, Central, "The Church at the Heart of the City with the City at Heart," is considered the oldest Black Methodist church in the City of Atlanta. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize the rich history of Central United Methodist Church, commend its 160 years of dedicated service to the Lord and community, and extend their warmest best wishes for its continued growth and success. 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 Central United Methodist Church. ## 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 recognizes Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta on its 160th anniversary, honoring its long history and role in the city's civic and religious life. ### Plain-language summary This House resolution commends Central United Methodist Church, which traces its origins to a church mission organized in 1866 and recognized in 1867 as Clark Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. The resolution recounts the church's history, including its early move to Loyd Street, its role as the birthplace of Clark University (now Clark Atlanta University) and Gammon Theological Seminary, its 1901 name change, and its 1928 move to its current location on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Atlanta. The resolution states that the church helped shape Atlanta's civic and religious character and is considered the oldest Black Methodist church in the city. It formally resolves that House members recognize the church's history and commend its 160 years of service, and directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to the church. ### What it does - Formally recognizes Central United Methodist Church's 160th anniversary and commends its history of service. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the church. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a bill. ### Who it affects Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta and its congregation are the direct subject of this resolution. It has no legal effect on other individuals, businesses, or government agencies. ### Why it matters The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It gives official state recognition to a historic Atlanta church's anniversary and its documented role in the city's civil rights and educational history, without changing any Georgia law or creating obligations for anyone. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount the church's founding in 1866, its early names, locations, and its connection to the founding of Clark Atlanta University and Gammon Theological Seminary. - The resolving clause has the House of Representatives recognize the church's history and commend its 160 years of service. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to the church. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-04-02) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-04-02) - Sponsors: Kim Schofield, Sandra Scott, Viola Davis, Rhonda Burnough - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74738 > The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2127.md?full=1