A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR BISHOP SAMUEL LAWRENCE GREEN, SR., PRESIDING BISHOP OF the SEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT FOR THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND TO EXPRESS DEEP GRATITUDE FOR HIS DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE FAITHFUL OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO HIS CHURCH.

Whereas, like the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament, the Right Reverend Samuel L. Green was very young when he first realized his calling into the ministry, only no supernatural acts of God were necessary to compel him to serve; and

Whereas, under Reverend Green's leadership from 1988 to 2004, St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Orlando, Florida, added a daycare facility and preparatory school. In honor of his dedication to furthering the kingdom of God among them, the members of the congregation renamed the Family Life Center to the Samuel L. Green, Sr., Family Life Center during his final month there. He has also held pastorates at two other Florida churches, Mt. Zion AME Church in Green Cove Springs and Greater Mt. Zion AME Church in St. Petersburg; and

Whereas, in July 2004, at the 47th Quadrennial Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference, Reverend Green was elected and consecrated the one hundred twenty-fifth bishop in the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He served faithfully for fifteen years as a bishop and the presiding prelate of the Fifteenth Episcopal District for Angola, Namibia, and western South Africa, and of the twelfth Episcopal District of Arkansas and Oklahoma; and

Whereas, Bishop Green currently presides over of the Seventh Episcopal District for South Carolina. Under his leadership, many ministries have been initiated to empower clergy and congregations to increase their effectiveness. He is the founder of the God First Holy Convocation, a rebranded conference to replace the annual AME district meeting and help pastors and lay leaders to address ministry in the 21st Century; and

Whereas, serving as the chair of the Board of Trustees of Allen University in Columbia, Bishop Green has led Allen University through its reaffirmation of accreditation until 2027. The university has also changed its status from a Level II to a Level III school, offering a fully accredited Master of Divinity Degree through Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary. In 2018, collegiate football returned to Allen University, and after a fifty-year hiatus, Allen established a marching band; and

Whereas, inspired to implement bold, new approaches, such as more open worship and a ministry specialized for individual needs, Bishop Green considers the church a proponent of change, able to meet the needs of the community as a priority, from economic development to housing to job training to educating the youth; and

Whereas, four decades after accepting his call to public ministry, the same passion for leading others to a closer relationship with Jesus still invigorates Bishop Green. He continues to focus on the Lord and keep His words in mind: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." 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 Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr., presiding bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District for the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and express deep gratitude for his decades of service to the faithful of South Carolina and to his church.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr.

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