WHEREAS, The Reverend Michael A. Major, Sr., a native son of the Nicetown-Tioga community, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing his childhood neighborhood, working to restore hope, opportunity, and economic vitality; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Major will be formally installed as Senior Pastor on March 28, 2026, marking a historic milestone for Zion Baptist Church and the broader Philadelphia faith community; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Major is the founder and board president of Called to Serve Community Development Corporation (CTS), a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving as an anchor for community renewal and supporting initiatives that break intergenerational poverty in the Nicetown-Tioga section of North Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Major attended the historic Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia as a youth under the pastorate of the late Reverend Dr. Leon H. Sullivan, and currently serves as an Associate Minister, carrying forward Dr. Sullivan’s enduring belief that all children are capable of fulfilling God’s calling on their lives when given equitable opportunities to flourish; and
WHEREAS, On behalf of the Board of Deacons and the entire Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia family, and after a day of prayer and congregational voting, Reverend Michael A. Major, Sr. has been officially chosen to serve as Senior Pastor of Zion Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, For the past year, Rev. Major has served faithfully as Interim Pastor, demonstrating tireless commitment to the congregation and the surrounding community, and serving as a beloved vessel through which faith, grace, and visionary leadership have strengthened the church body; and
WHEREAS, From his roots as a youth in the church annex to his leadership today, Rev. Major has exemplified devotion to the legacy of Zion Baptist Church while boldly embracing its future; and
WHEREAS, Under his leadership, CTS has strengthened the Broad and Germantown commercial corridor through its Commercial Corridor Revitalization Division and expanded its Workforce Development Division, while cultivating partnerships with community organizations and other committed stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Major’s vision for reactivating the Zion Annex seeks to transform the facility into a beacon of hope and a catalyst for economic, educational, and social renewal in Nicetown-Tioga; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors and recognizes the Reverend Michael A. Major, Sr. during Black History Month for his extraordinary leadership, faith-driven service, and unwavering commitment to the renewal, restoration, and revitalization of the Nicetown-Tioga community.
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