Recognizing, Honoring, Celebrating, and Thanking The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia for its invaluable contributions to the City of Philadelphia on the occasion of its 200th Anniversary.

WHEREAS,

The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia

was established in June, 1809 with thirteen members, ten women and three men; and

WHEREAS,

The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia

is the oldest African American-founded Baptist congregation in the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and one of the oldest African American-founded Baptist congregation in the United States of America; and

WHEREAS,

Two freemen, John and Samuel Bivens, sold themselves into slavery so that James Burrows of Northampton County, Virginia could become the third pastor; and

WHEREAS

,

The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia

has been instrumental in the birth of many notable organizations including the Christian Street YMCA and the Downingtown Industrial School; and

WHEREAS,

The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia

has given birth to many other churches including Tasker Street Missionary Baptist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Germantown, Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church of Camden, New Jersey, Shiloh Baptist Church, and Miller Memorial Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS

, On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of

The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia

, the esteemed Dr. Booker T. Washington, the keynote speaker, stated “It is not enough for us to succeed as individuals; we must succeed as groups, organizations, as churches, in every aspect standing together and continue to go forward … in grand eloquent success”; and

WHEREAS

, On Friday, June 19th , 2009,

The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia

will celebrate its 200th Anniversary and two hundred years of African American Baptist works in the City of Philadelphia as well as throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

That it recognizes, honors, celebrates and thanks

The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia

for its invaluable contributions to the City of Philadelphia on the joyous occasion of its 200th Anniversary.

FURTHER RESOLVED,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to

The First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia

, further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

End