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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REVEREND DR. JAMES BLASSINGAME FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE BAPTIST EDUCATIONAL AND MISSIONARY CONVENTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR HIS SERVICE AS THE CONVENTION'S PRESIDENT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
Whereas, a native of Seneca and a graduate of Seneca High School, James Blassingame attended Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton and earned a bachelor's degree from Morris College and a bachelor of divinity degree from Morris School of Religion, both in Sumter. He continued his education at Princeton Theological Seminary and completed thirty hours of doctoral studies at Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West; and
Whereas, in the proud tradition of the Palmetto State, James Blassingame served with distinction in the United States Armed Services. A life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he serves as its South Carolina district chaplain and national associate chaplain, and he is a subscribing life member of the NAACP; and
Whereas, Reverend Blassingame completed a nine month internship in Clinical Pastoral Education with the South Carolina Department of Corrections where he provided pastoral care to inmates in a maximum security prison including those on death row; and
Whereas, licensed by Richland Baptist Church in Seneca and ordained by Seneca River Missionary Baptist Association, he is the former pastor of Thomas Heights Baptist Church in Seneca and New Olive Grove Baptist Church in Central. Since 1984, he has pastored Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter, and under his leadership, a new half-million-dollar sanctuary was dedicated in 1991, the twenty-year mortgage was liquidated in nine years, and a seventeen thousand square-foot enrichment center costing over one million dollars was dedicated in 2011; and
Whereas, committed to education, Reverend Blassingame serves on the boards of Morris College in Sumter, Benedict College in Columbia, and Friendship College in Rock Hill; and
Whereas, he expresses devotion to his community by serving on the boards of the Bank of Clarendon Sumter Advisory Board; Wisteria Way in Manning; the Sumter Police Chief's Community Liaison Council; Covenant Place of Sumter, Inc.; Festival on the Avenue, Inc.; Youth Link-SC, Inc.; South Carolina School Improvement Council; and the South Carolina Christian Action Council. He serves on the Pee Dee Citizens Committee on Judicial Qualifications by an appointment from the South Carolina Senate; and
Whereas, Reverend Blassingame also serves on the executive committee of the National Baptist Convention, USA., Inc., and on the board of the Conference of National Black Churches, Inc.; and
Whereas, he has served as the president of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina since 2013; assistant secretary of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.; and chaplain of Morris College National Alumni Association; and
Whereas, among Reverend Blassingame's many honors and awards for service to humanity, an honorary doctor of divinity degree was conferred on him by his alma mater in 2000 for his contributions to the church, to the community, and to Morris College; and
Whereas, together with his beloved wife, the former Shirley L. McFadden, he has reared three fine children, who have blessed their parents with six adoring grandchildren; and
Whereas, the House appreciates the outstanding dedication of Reverend Blassingame to the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina, and the members wish him many years of continued service as he leaves his tenure as its president. 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 honor Reverend Dr. James Blassingame for his years of service to the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina and express appreciation for his service as the convention's president for the last five years.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Dr. James Blassingame.
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