--- title: HR 318. Smith, Reverend Dr. William J., Jr.; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr318 cite_as: HR 318, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr318 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr318.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr318/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70544 date: 2025-02-19 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/hr317.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr319.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr318.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 318 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-19 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Phil Olaleye - Tanya Miller - Inga Willis - Teddy Reese - Bryce Berry - Omari Crawford text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR318/2025 upstream_id: 1976345 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - Atlanta churches - community recognition - Georgia House of Representatives --- # HR 318. Smith, Reverend Dr. William J., Jr.; commend ## Text House Resolution 318 By: Representatives Olaleye of the 59th, Miller of the 62nd, Willis of the 55th, Reese of the 140th, Berry of the 56th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr.; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. has demonstrated his commitment to teaching the Gospel, witnessing Christ through word and deed, and addressing the physical, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual needs of others; and WHEREAS, on September 1, 2024, Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. began his leadership as the eighth pastor of the historic Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia; and WHEREAS, prior to his new role, he served as pastor at Second Missionary Baptist Church, Kokomo, Indiana, where he led the establishment of a Community Development Corporation, Embracing Hope of Howard County, and spearheaded the renovation of the historic Douglass School to serve as a community museum and cultural center; and WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. has been widely recognized for his dedication to intergenerational ministry, having been invited to speak nationally and internationally in England, Australia, and Japan, and he is the distinguished author of Under One Roof: Building an Intergenerational Church; and WHEREAS, he has further served on numerous denominational, ecumenical, and community boards, including the Indiana Missionary Baptist State Convention, the Mayor's Council for Substance Abuse, the Human Rights Commission, and the Christian Theological Seminary Board of Trustees; and WHEREAS, his divine and faithful leadership has been recognized by numerous institutions including Wesley Theological Seminary, Calvin College, Morehouse College's Martin Luther King Jr. International College of Pastoral Leadership, and the Wabash College Pastoral Leadership Program; and WHEREAS, whether the task is preparing a sermon, visiting the sick, counseling the troubled, baptizing a new believer, or acting as a theologian, educator, administrator, or humanitarian, Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. has shown the energy, devotion, and commitment truly reflective of divine guidance; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to recognize the outstanding accomplishments and dynamic Christian ministry of this devout and pious man. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. for his innumerable good works rendered upon those in need and extend best wishes for many more years of successful fellowship and leadership. 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 Dr. William J. Smith Jr. ## 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 formally recognizes and commends Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. for his ministry work, including his new role as pastor of Atlanta's Wheat Street Baptist Church. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. It does not change any law. Instead, it recounts his career and accomplishments, including becoming the eighth pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta in September 2024, his prior work in Kokomo, Indiana establishing a community development corporation and renovating the historic Douglass School, and his international speaking and writing on intergenerational ministry. The resolution formally commends him for his work helping people in need and wishes him continued success. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Reverend Smith as a keepsake of the honor. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. for his religious and community leadership work. - Documents his appointment as the eighth pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta on September 1, 2024. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Reverend Smith. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors Reverend Dr. William J. Smith Jr. It also involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who must prepare a copy for distribution, and indirectly reflects on Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta and communities he has served. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect and changes no Georgia law. Its significance is symbolic: it gives official state recognition to an individual's community and religious contributions, which can be a meaningful honor for the person and their congregation. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Reverend Smith's background, including his September 1, 2024 appointment as pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church and his prior work in Kokomo, Indiana. - The resolved clause formally commends him for his good works and wishes him continued success in ministry. - The final clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy available for distribution to Reverend Smith. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-19) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-19) - Sponsors: Phil Olaleye, Tanya Miller, Inga Willis, Teddy Reese, Bryce Berry, Omari Crawford - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70544 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr318.md?full=1