HR 699: Decatur Presbyterian Church; Decatur, Georgia; 200th anniversary; recognize

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.