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File #: 0258X-2022    Version: 1
Type: Ceremonial Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 12/7/2022 In control: Bankston
On agenda: 12/12/2022 Final action: 12/14/2022
Title: To Recognize Pastor Dr. Joseph Freeman Jr. on Being Columbus, Ohio’s, Longest Serving Pastor
Sponsors: Nicholas Bankston, Lourdes Barroso De Padilla, Elizabeth Brown, Rob Dorans, Shayla Favor, Emmanuel V. Remy, Shannon G. Hardin

Title

To Recognize Pastor Dr. Joseph Freeman Jr. on Being Columbus, Ohio’s, Longest Serving Pastor

 

Body

WHEREAS, Pastor Freeman was born on November 27th, 1932 in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to Columbus in 1948; and

 

WHEREAS, he was ordained at the age of 25 and at the time was the youngest serving pastor in the City of Columbus; and

 

WHEREAS, Pastor Freeman is currently the pastor of East Mount Olivet Baptist Church and has been pastoring there for the entirety of his 65 year pastoral career; and

 

WHEREAS, Pastor Freeman has served multiple roles for the greater Baptist community such as being a Moderator for the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Association for 30 years, and serving as Executive Secretary of the United Missionary Baptist State Convention for 8 years; and

 

WHEREAS, Pastor Freeman won Pastor of the year at the National Baptist Convention when he reached his 50th year of pastoring and is a bedrock figure for the east side of Columbus; and

 

WHEREAS, Pastor Freeman, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, is currently the oldest serving Pastor in the City of Columbus and is known in the community and amongst his peers as the Godfather of Gospel; now, therefore

 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council recognizes Pastor Dr. Joseph Freeman Jr. on being Columbus, Ohio’s, Longest Serving Pastor