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TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE ZION HILL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (AME) CHURCH OF PINEWOOD ON THE OCCASION OF ITS HISTORIC ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY AND TO COMMEND THE CHURCH FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO GOD AND THE COMMUNITY.
Whereas, having been founded in 1916, Zion Hill AME Church of Pinewood is celebrating its historic one hundredth anniversary in 2016; and
Whereas, Zion Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a Reformed Union Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of Bishop Ellis. The original name of the church was Old Zion Reformed Union Methodist Church. Then, as the 1920s yielded the Great Depression, farm laborers and their families were forced to migrate to other states in search of work; and
Whereas, on December 13, 1944, the members of Zion Hill Reformed Union Methodist Episcopal Church voted and unanimously agreed to become members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded by Richard Allen in 1793; and
Whereas, since the conversion to the African Methodist Episcopal Church Conference, Zion Hill has weathered the storms of time and flourished with a large membership on roll; and
Whereas, on January 27, 1945, the official transfer of the property, which also included the church, was completed; and
Whereas, the first officials of the new Zion Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church were the late Reverend Parker, who served as presiding elder, and the late Reverend J.W. Seal, who served as pastor. The first trustees were the late Mr. Sanders Pleasant, the late Mr. Herbert Lee, and the late Mr. Henry Canty; and
Whereas, some members who have moved away still support the church with their tithes and offerings. These friends also support the church when it sponsors annual events, and they visit as often as possible; and
Whereas, Zion Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church was also a part of the 1991 drama Separate but Equal, a film that featured actor Sidney Poitier, who portrayed the NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall; and
Whereas, throughout the years, God has blessed Zion Hill with enough members to stay strong and keep the Holy Ghost fires burning at the church so the community will have a sanctuary to carry on God's work; and
Whereas, Zion Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church is currently blessed with the highly efficient leadership of the Right Reverend Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr., as presiding bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District, the Reverend Dr. Phillip C. Anderson as presiding elder of the Wateree District of the Central Conference, the Reverend Malcolm Orson Simpson, M.Div., as pastor, and Sister Deirdra H. Pleasant as licentiate; and
Whereas, to mark its milestone one hundredth anniversary, the church set apart a special celebratory time on Sunday, September 18, 2016, with the theme "Still Yet Holding On to God's Big Hands"; and
Whereas, Zion Hill AME Church has been a beacon of light and a community worship center in the Pinewood area for one hundred years, and, God willing, will continue its godly heritage for many more years of worship and service. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate Zion Hill African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Pinewood on the occasion of its historic one hundredth anniversary and commend the church for its many years of service to God and the community.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Zion Hill AME Church.
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