--- title: HR 588. Thompson, Reverend Valerie A.; occasion of her 20th pastoral anniversary; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr588 cite_as: HR 588, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr588 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr588.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr588/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71334 date: 2025-03-11 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/hr587.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr589.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr588.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 588 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-11 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Teddy Reese - Carolyn Hugley text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR588/2025 upstream_id: 2000300 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - religious leadership - Columbus Georgia - House of Representatives honors --- # HR 588. Thompson, Reverend Valerie A.; occasion of her 20th pastoral anniversary; recognize ## Text 25 LC 129 0248 House Resolution 588 By: Representatives Reese of the 140th and Hugley of the 141st A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Reverend Valerie A. Thompson on the occasion of her 20th1 pastoral anniversary; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Reverend Valerie A. Thompson has demonstrated her commitment to teaching3 the Gospel, witnessing Christ through word and deed, and addres sing the physical,4 psychological, intellectual, and spiritual needs of others; and5 WHEREAS, in 2004, she answered the Lord's call and followed in the footsteps of her father,6 Reverend Rudolph C. Allen Sr., becoming the pastor of Revelatio n Missionary Baptist7 Church; and8 WHEREAS, by inheriting her father's pulpit, Reverend Valerie A. Thompson became the9 only female senior pastor in the denomination of Columbus among all local Baptist10 congregations; and11 WHEREAS, she has since blessed the body of Christ by preaching at many churches as well12 as speaking at women's conferences, workshops, and organization s across Georgia and13 Alabama; and14 H. R. 588 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0248 WHEREAS, she was the first woman in 150 years to be appointed to the Executive Board15 of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and was recently appointed as the16 first woman to the Executive Committee of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc.; and17 WHEREAS, her vision and direction have helped Revelation Missio nary Baptist Church18 grow in size and influence, uplifting the community like the light of Bethlehem and serving19 as a spiritual leader and place for fellowship; and20 WHEREAS, whether the task is preparing a sermon, visiting the s ick, counseling the21 troubled, baptizing a new believer, or acting as a theologian, educator, administrator, or22 humanitarian, Reverend Valerie A. Thompson has shown the energy , devotion, and23 commitment truly reflective of divine guidance; and24 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this enduring example of God's message25 of peace and love be recognized and congratulated for her innumerable good works rendered26 on behalf of persons in need.27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that28 the members of this body recognize and commend Reverend Valerie A. Thompson on the29 wonderful occasion of her 20th pastoral anniversary and extend best wishes for many more30 years of successful fellowship and leadership.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized32 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to33 Reverend Valerie A. Thompson.34 H. R. 588 - 2 - ## 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 Reverend Valerie A. Thompson of Columbus for her 20th anniversary as pastor of Revelation Missionary Baptist Church. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Reverend Valerie A. Thompson on her 20th anniversary as a pastor. The resolution recounts her background, including becoming pastor of Revelation Missionary Baptist Church in 2004 after her father, and her roles as the first woman on the Executive Board of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and the Executive Committee of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally commends Thompson for her pastoral work and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for her. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Reverend Valerie A. Thompson on the occasion of her 20th pastoral anniversary. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Thompson. - Creates no new law, funding, or penalty; it is a ceremonial statement by the House of Representatives. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Reverend Valerie A. Thompson, pastor of Revelation Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, and references her congregation and various Baptist convention bodies in Georgia and nationally. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal effect on Georgians generally; it serves as a formal, public honor from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Thompson's two decades of pastoral service and leadership roles within Baptist convention organizations. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Thompson's history, including becoming pastor in 2004 and her firsts as a woman in Baptist convention leadership. - The resolved clause formally commends her on her 20th pastoral anniversary and wishes her continued success. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy available for distribution to Thompson. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-11) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-11) - Sponsors: Teddy Reese, Carolyn Hugley - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71334 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr588.md?full=1