Honor Bethany Church Anniversary

Senate Resolution No. 5806 BY: Senator HAMILTON COMMEMORATING the 129th Anniversary of Bethany United Methodist Church WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 129th Anniversary of Bethany United Methodist Church; and WHEREAS, In the fall of 1888, a ministry of the Immanuel Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church of Brooklyn, known as the Society of Christian Workers, had a vision to bring the community together with lifesaving and life transforming gospel; and WHEREAS, The ministry began as outreach and Sunday school class to the neighborhood in a carpenter's shop located at 1635 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn; by the spring of 1889, a building was purchased at the corner of Troy and Herkimer with a registered attendance of 15 adults and 25 children; and WHEREAS, What began as a ministry of the Immanuel Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church through its Society of Christian Workers, developed into a church, now with its own building and own pastor; and WHEREAS, The Pastor, Reverend Charles F. Thornblade, delivered his first sermon on September 1, 1889; and WHEREAS, The congregation became a legal organization on March 28,

1891, with 78 full members and 30 probationary members known as the Swedish Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church; and WHEREAS, As the church flourished and with the shifting of the Swedish population eastward to an area now known as Crown Heights, the decision was made to sell the church on Herkimer Street and to follow the suit of the trend to Crown Heights; and WHEREAS, Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on what is the current site of Bethany United Methodist Church on March 21, 1915, and the new building was formally dedicated on October 31, 1915; and WHEREAS, In 1968, the Methodist Churches merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church and became known as Bethany United Methodist Church; and WHEREAS, Today, Bethany United Methodist Church stands on the threshold of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 129th Anniversary of Bethany United Methodist Church; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Bethany United Methodist Church, Brooklyn, New York.