House Resolution 699
By: Representatives Oliver of the 84th, Crawford of the 89th, and Drenner of the 85th
A RESOLUTION
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur, Georgia; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, on Sunday, October 30, 1825, Decatur Presbyterian Church conducted its first
worship service as an officially chartered congregation, three years after the United States
signed a treaty with the Creek Indians and two years after the establishment of DeKalb
County; and
WHEREAS, to educate the children in faith, Presbyterians organized the Union Sunday
School in 1831, the oldest Sunday School in DeKalb County, inviting other congregations
as teachers and learners; and
WHEREAS, women and children continued holding Sunday School and services during the
Civil War while most men were serving in the military, despite Union troops taking over the
church building and emptying it of its pews, pulpit, and papers; and
WHEREAS, the mission-minded Decatur Presbyterian Church organized 17 new
congregations in the area, including Smyrna in 1827, followed by First Atlanta, Rock
Springs, Salem, Midway, Kirkwood, Ingleside, Panthersville, Oakhurst, Alexander
Memorial, Glen Haven, Emory, Trinity Decatur, Columbia, Clairmont, Memorial Drive, and
finally North Decatur in 1955; and
WHEREAS, to meet the need for educating young women, Decatur Presbyterian Church
organized Decatur Female Seminary in 1889, later known as Agnes Scott College, named
for the mother of Decatur Presbyterian Church Elder Colonel Scott, a primary financial
supporter; and
WHEREAS, in 1927, Decatur Presbyterian Church made it possible for Columbia
Theological Seminary to move from Columbia, South Carolina, to Decatur, enhancing a
partnership with its sister institution, which trained 14 of its installed pastors and numerous
associate pastors, encouraged over 50 seminary interns to be trained within the congregation,
and benefitted from trustees, faculty, staff, and presidents who were among the
congregation's participants; and
WHEREAS, the first church kindergarten in DeKalb County was registered in 1950 as
Decatur Presbyterian Children's Community, which currently serves over 100 students a
year, from nine months through kindergarten, with thousands of alumni throughout the
world; and
WHEREAS, since the late 1800s, Decatur Presbyterian Church has supported global mission
partners, in more recent years in South Sudan, Madagascar, Niger, the United States-Mexico
border, and Taiwan, and financed the 1968 creation of the Topple Hospital in Soonchun,
South Korea, to treat leprosy, polio, and other crippling diseases; and
WHEREAS, the congregation has generously hosted the Global Village Project within its
buildings since 2010, enabling the specialized education of hundreds of refugee teenage girls;
and
WHEREAS, to serve those on the margins of society, Decatur Presbyterian Church created
its Threshold Ministry in 2013 to provide assistance through direct services such as MARTA
cards, mail service, hygiene kits, warm coats, and other aid, as well as referrals to Legal Aid,
the Furniture Bank, Veterans Administration Services, First Step Staffing, and numerous
housing and shelter opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the congregation intends to celebrate its 200th anniversary to the glory of God
on October 26, 2025, continuing its love of God and neighbor into its third century and
fulfilling its stated mission: "Rooted in the heart of Decatur, we worship, love, and serve with
hospitality, generosity, and compassion."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize the rich history of Decatur Presbyterian Church,
commend its 200 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
Decatur Presbyterian Church.