--- title: HR 678. Newman, Reverend Reginald B.; occasion of his retirement; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr678 cite_as: HR 678, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr678 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr678.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr678/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71531 date: 2025-03-20 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/hr677.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr679.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr678.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 678 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-20 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Rhonda Burnough - Eric Bell - Robert Flournoy - Dewey McClain - Mack Jackson text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR678/2025 upstream_id: 2012246 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - Riverdale Georgia - religious leaders - House of Representatives honors --- # HR 678. Newman, Reverend Reginald B.; occasion of his retirement; recognize ## Text 25 LC 129 0367 House Resolution 678 By: Representatives Burnough of the 77th, Bell of the 75th, Flournoy of the 74th, McClain of the 109th, and Jackson of the 128th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Reverend Reginald B. Newman on the o ccasion of his1 retirement; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Reverend Reginald B. Newman has demonstrated his 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, since 1992, he has served as the Senior Pastor of Fountain of Faith Missionary6 Baptist Church in Riverdale, Georgia; and7 WHEREAS, his vision and direction have helped Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist8 Church grow in size and influence, uplifting the community like the light of Bethlehem and9 serving as a spiritual leader and place for fellowship; and10 WHEREAS, he was instrumental in the development of the Patrina T. and Reginald B.11 Newman scholarship, that was established in 2009 to assist graduating high school seniors12 in pursing secondary education opportunities; and13 H. R. 678 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0367 WHEREAS, Reverend Reginald B. Newman was honored by the Atlanta Business Magazine14 with the Atlanta Gospel Choice Award and named as one of the top 100 Influential Pastors15 of Atlanta; and16 WHEREAS, whether the task is preparing a sermon, visiting the s ick, counseling the17 troubled, baptizing a new believer, or acting as a theologian, educator, administrator, or18 humanitarian, Reverend Reginald B. Newman has shown the energy, devotion, and19 commitment truly reflective of divine guidance; and20 WHEREAS, the unmatched spiritual assistance offered by Reverend Reginald B. Newman21 is a source of strength and direction for persons in all walks of life; and22 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to recognize the outstanding accomplishments23 of the dynamic Christian ministry of this devout and pious man.24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that25 the members of this body recognize and commend Reverend Reginal d B. Newman on the26 grand occasion of his retirement and extend best wishes for future health and happiness.27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized28 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to29 Reverend Reginald B. Newman.30 H. R. 678 - 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 formally recognizes Reverend Reginald B. Newman of Riverdale for his career as a pastor upon his retirement. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Reverend Reginald B. Newman on his retirement. It recounts his service since 1992 as Senior Pastor of Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Riverdale, Georgia, his role in growing the church, and his work establishing a scholarship for graduating high school seniors. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply states that the House recognizes and commends Newman for his ministry and wishes him well in retirement, and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for him. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Reverend Reginald B. Newman for his ministry upon his retirement as Senior Pastor. - States the House's best wishes for his future health and happiness. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Newman. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute; it has no regulatory or funding effect. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Reverend Reginald B. Newman and, by extension, his congregation at Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Riverdale, Georgia. It has no effect on the general public or other institutions. ### Why it matters This resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It gives official public recognition from the Georgia House of Representatives to an individual's decades of community and religious service, but it does not change any rights, duties, or funding for Georgians. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe Newman's tenure since 1992 as Senior Pastor of Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Riverdale. - It notes his role in creating the Patrina T. and Reginald B. Newman scholarship for graduating high school seniors, established in 2009. - It notes honors he received, including the Atlanta Gospel Choice Award and recognition as one of Atlanta's top 100 Influential Pastors. - The resolving clause commends Newman on his retirement and extends well wishes. - A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to Newman. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-20) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-20) - Sponsors: Rhonda Burnough, Eric Bell, Robert Flournoy, Dewey McClain, Mack Jackson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71531 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr678.md?full=1