Title
To Recognize and Celebrate the Bicentennial of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church
Body
WHEREAS, Organized in 1823 by Moses Freeman as Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Paul A.M.E. Church is the oldest congregation of African descent in Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, initially located on the east side of Lazelle Street, several new buildings were erected to meet the needs of the growing congregation, with the current church building having been constructed in 1906; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul A.M.E. Church has demonstrated its dedication to local communities through its many outreach ministries, including the Prison Ministry, Alzheimer Ministry, and the St. Paul Tutorial and Enrichment Program; and
WHEREAS, since his appointment in 2019, the current pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Reverend Morné E. Meyer, has helped the church adapt to the modern world by growing the church’s online presence; and
WHEREAS, 2023 marks two-hundred years of St. Paul A.M.E. Church providing Columbus residents a dedicated community of faith and worship; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council recognizes the bicentennial of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church and celebrates the 200th anniversary of this historic institution.