LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 140th Anniversary of Lenox Road
Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York, to be celebrated on Sunday, Novem-
ber 25, 2012

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
140th Anniversary of Lenox Road Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York, to
be celebrated on Sunday, November 25, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The Lenox Road Baptist Church started as a prayer meeting in
February of 1871, and had some of its first meetings in the Schoenmakers
Hall, now 893 Flatbush Avenue; the church itself was formally organized
on March 12, 1872, and publicly recognized as a regularly constituted
Baptist Church on April 12, 1872; and
WHEREAS, The Lenox Road Baptist Church began as an all-white congre-
gation in 1871, and continued so up to the early 1970s; the racial tran-
sition started during the early 1960s when there was a tremendous amount
of social unrest; and
WHEREAS, The community and the church went through several demographic
and socio-economic changes; many migrated from the southern states as
well as from the Caribbean, Panama, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica,
Guyana, as well as other parts of the world; and
WHEREAS, During this period, housing and business ownership by the new
immigrants changed the racial and ethnic composition of the community
and the church; as more African Americans and Caribbean-Americans became
members of the Lenox Road Baptist Church, the direction and focus of the
church's ministries changed to a more socially oriented service; and
WHEREAS, On December 23, 1975, the 103-year-old landmark church was
totally destroyed by fire; this event appeared to have been the catalyst
that brought the "old" church and the emerging new membership to a new
direction in doing ministry, and the rebuilding of the old church was
the main thrust and motivation; and
WHEREAS, The community responded to the need of the church by provid-
ing a meeting place for Sunday services at the Grand Theatre; the
membership continued to grow despite the fire, and the church called on
its first African American minister in 1977; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, Lenox Road Baptist Church has had a
total of 18 pastors including its current one, The Reverend Dr. Kirkpa-
trick G. Cohall; and
WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of The Reverend Dr. Kirkpatrick
G. Cohall, the Lenox Road Baptist Church stands on the threshold of
tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while
retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when religious
institutions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 140th Anniversary of Lenox Road Baptist Church of Brook-
lyn, New York, to be observed on Sunday, November 25, 2012, fully confi-
dent that this commemoration reflects the belief in those values which
enhance the dignity and purpose of life; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Reverend Dr. Kirkpatrick G. Cohall.