Honor Israel AME Church

2019 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, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church upon the occasion of its designation for special recognition by the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, Inc. to be celebrated at its 1st Annual Gala on Friday,

September 27, 2019, at Treviso by Mallozzi's in Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, Israel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church is being honored for its tireless efforts to further the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region's mission of strengthening communities by fostering unity, self-determination, cooperative economics, collective work, and creativity; and WHEREAS, Organized in 1828, by Richard Allen, Israel AME Church has served the African-American community of New York's Capital Region for almost 200 years by promoting Christian beliefs through church and community service as well as educational projects and programs; and WHEREAS, In that same year, Reverend William Cornish was assigned to the City of Albany to organize African Americans under the motto of the founding fathers "God our Father, Christ our redeemer, man our brother"; in April of 1829, the Israel AME Church was incorporated; and WHEREAS, The present Church was designed and built between 1845 and

1854 by Reverend Thomas Jackson who served as Pastor for 11 years; since its inception, more than 70 pastors have served this historic AME Church; and WHEREAS, During the Civil War, the Israel AME Church served as a station on the Underground Railroad, assisting enslaved people in their struggle for freedom and freed men and women in their spiritual struggle; in fact, Harriet Tubman slept in the Church and Fredrick Douglass spoke in it; and WHEREAS, Later, the Albany, New York Chapter of the NAACP was founded at Israel AME Church, and is but one demonstration of the church's community involvement which continues today through its ministries which include the soup kitchen, food pantry, voter education, evangelism, missionary work, and various youth, young adult and senior citizen programs; and WHEREAS, The Israel AME Church is truly enriched by its historical background and core values which are based on the need for freedoms of expression, religion, treatment with dignity, and the right to own and operate a religious establishment; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those religious institutions which enhance the well-being and vitality of its community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church upon the occasion of its designation for special recognition by the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, Inc. on September 27, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church.