LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Unity Fellowship of Christ Church -
New York City upon the occasion of hosting the Unity Fellowship Church
Movement's 2010 National Mid Year Conference in New York City April
21-25, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that religious insti-
tutions and events which address issues of importance to the people of
the City and State of New York, and of our nation, merit the recognition
and commendation of this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commend Unity Fellowship of Christ Church - New York City upon the occa-
sion of hosting the Unity Fellowship Church Movement's 2010 National Mid
Year Conference in New York City April 21-25, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Hundreds of lay and clerical representatives from all 15
Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM) churches across the nation will
attend; and
WHEREAS, Those at Unity Fellowship of Christ Church - New York City
have been preparing for months to host Mid Year 2010 which will include
five days of social events, worship services and meetings to discuss,
review and create strategies to address the spiritual growth, health and
human service needs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
community, particularly the LGBT community of color; and
WHEREAS, The proud history of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement
began in 1982 when Unity Fellowship Church, Los Angeles (UFCLA) was
founded by Reverend Carl Bean for openly gay and lesbian African Ameri-
cans; its first meetings were held in his private residence on Cochran
Avenue; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, a reorganization took place at the last residence of
the late Archbishop William Morris O'Neill on South Burnside Avenue in
Los Angeles, also the site of the ordination of UFCM founder Reverend
Carl Bean; weekly Bible studies then moved to the home of Deacon Chris-
tine Tripp and, in 1985, UFCLA received its nonprofit status; and
WHEREAS, UFCLA public worship services were held variously at the
Cockatoo Inn on Hawthorne Boulevard in Inglewood, then at the more
central location of the Ebony Showcase Theatre on Washington Boulevard,
which was an integral part of the culture of the black community of Los
Angeles; this continued until 1988, when Unity Fellowship Church
purchased its first property and moved to West Jefferson Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, The Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM) was registered in
1990 as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, headquartered at the
Jefferson Boulevard site; the UFCM network is now far-reaching with
various national departments, urban outreach ministries, a national mass
choir, periodicals and constituency-based programs nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Unity Fellowship of Christ Church - New York City held its
first service on May 10, 1992 in the Charles Angel Room of the New York
City Lesbian and Gay Community Center; founder Reverend, now Bishop,
Zachary G. Jones ministered to around 15 waiting souls; and
WHEREAS, Since that first service, Unity Fellowship of Christ Church -
New York City has grown to serve several hundred worshipers at its home
at 2578-80 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, New York; it looks forward to
celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2012 and to hosting the UFCM's
important 2010 National Mid Year Conference; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Unity Fellowship of Christ Church - New York City upon the occa-
sion of hosting the Unity Fellowship Church Movement's 2010 National Mid
Year Conference in New York City April 21-25, 2010, to commend this

worthy endeavor, and to welcome the participants to New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Unity Fellowship of Christ Church - New York City with best
wishes for a successful and productive conference.