--- title: SR 145. Minister Berry Vernon Wren; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr145 cite_as: SR 145, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr145 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr145.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr145/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70076 date: 2025-02-10 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/sr144.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr146.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr145.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 145 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-10 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Ricky Williams - Chuck Payne - Lee Anderson - David Lucas text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR145/2025 upstream_id: 1961019 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Senate resolution - ceremonial recognition - Sparta Georgia - religious leaders --- # SR 145. Minister Berry Vernon Wren; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 145 By: Senators Williams of the 25th, Payne of the 54th, Anderson of the 24th and Lucas of the 26th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Minister Berry Vernon Wren upon his retirement; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Minister Berry Vernon Wren 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, Minister Berry Vernon Wren was called by the Lord in 1979 to lead the congregation of Culverton Baptist Church, where he served until September 1982; and WHEREAS, in 1982, he began his 43-year-long tenure of dedicated service to Fairmont Baptist Church in Sparta, Georgia; and WHEREAS, his vision and direction have helped Fairmont Baptist Church grow in size and influence, uplifting the community like the light of Bethlehem and serving as a spiritual leader and place for fellowship; and WHEREAS, Minister Berry Vernon Wren has spent a lifetime answering God's call to be His messenger and to do His will; 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, Minister Berry Vernon Wren has shown the energy, devotion, and commitment truly reflective of divine guidance; and WHEREAS, the unmatched spiritual assistance offered by Minister Berry Vernon Wren is a source of strength and direction for persons in all walks of life; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this enduring example of God's message of peace and love be recognized and congratulated for his innumerable good works rendered on behalf of persons in need. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Minister Berry Vernon Wren on the wonderful occasion of his retirement and extend best wishes for future health, happiness, and success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Minister Berry Vernon Wren. ## 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 Senate resolution honors Minister Berry Vernon Wren of Sparta for his 43 years leading Fairmont Baptist Church as he retires. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It recognizes Minister Berry Vernon Wren, who was called to ministry in 1979 and led Culverton Baptist Church before beginning a 43-year tenure at Fairmont Baptist Church in Sparta, Georgia in 1982. The resolution commends his service upon his retirement and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for him. It does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute; its only effect is the formal recognition and the paperwork needed to deliver a printed copy to Minister Wren. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Minister Berry Vernon Wren by the Georgia Senate on the occasion of his retirement. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Minister Wren. - Creates no new law, funding, or penalty; it is a symbolic statement of the Senate's position. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Minister Berry Vernon Wren, his congregation at Fairmont Baptist Church in Sparta, Georgia, and the Secretary of the Senate's office, which must produce and distribute the commemorative copy. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or financial effect on Georgians generally. Its practical significance is limited to publicly honoring one individual's decades of ministry and providing him a formal, official memento of that recognition from the state Senate. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Minister Wren's ministry history, including leading Culverton Baptist Church starting in 1979 and Fairmont Baptist Church in Sparta starting in 1982. - The resolving clause formally commends Minister Wren on his retirement and wishes him future health, happiness, and success. - A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make an appropriate copy available for distribution to him. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-10) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-10) - Sponsors: Ricky Williams, Chuck Payne, Lee Anderson, David Lucas - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70076 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr145.md?full=1