LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Christian Education Week
Anniversary of Cornerstone Baptist Church to be celebrated September
27-October 1, 2010

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 takes pleasure in commemorating the
50th Christian Education Week Anniversary of Cornerstone Baptist Church
to be celebrated September 27-October 1, 2010; and
WHEREAS, In the fall of 1960, Cornerstone Baptist Church embarked on a
journey of fellowship and Bible Study; since the inception of Christian
Education Week, the congregation as well as many other community church-
es have set aside an annual week of intensive study of God's word; and
WHEREAS, Located on the corner of Dr. Sandy F. Ray Boulevard and Madi-
son Street in Brooklyn, New York, Cornerstone Baptist Church has magnif-
icent and impressive facilities and the sanctuary is famous for its
warm, rich and elegant structural design; and
WHEREAS, A place in which the motto "Welcome and Worship Are Warm" has
real meaning, Cornerstone Baptist Church has grown from a few people in
1917 to in excess of 1500 members today; and
WHEREAS, Cornerstone Baptist Church has some sixty-five Boards, clubs
and organizations that offer every member a mini-home where they can
expand their talents and indulge their special interests; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Cornerstone Baptist Church has a large and
active Sunday school program, including a month long Vacation Bible
School during the summer, which is free to the public; it also supports
five choirs for every age and musical ability; and
WHEREAS, In 1917, a small group held their first meeting at 933 DeKalb
Avenue, in Brooklyn, New York; this group continued to worship together
and on September 10, 1917, the Cornerstone Baptist Church was organized
and dedicated to the Service of God; and
WHEREAS, On May 3, 1920, a meeting was held to organize this body into
a permanent church and the six Baptist Churches which formed the Recog-
nition Council officially recognized Cornerstone Baptist Church on June
9, 1920, by holding a public service; and
WHEREAS, The founder and first Pastor, Reverend William H. Rodman was
called from labor to reward in February 1921; later that same year,
Reverend A. R. Artis became the Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church and
served until May 1922; and
WHEREAS, Later in 1922, the Reverend J. J. Jenkins became Pastor; he
was followed by the Reverend J. R. Williams who served from 1925 until
his death on June 16, 1929; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Thomas Willis Fentress was then called to
pastor; under his pastorate, the church moved to 688 DeKalb Avenue and
in 1932 Cornerstone Baptist Church moved to its first church edifice at
Gates Avenue and Irving Place; and
WHEREAS, On April 1, 1944, the Reverend Dr. Sandy Frederick Ray, who
had pastored three churches and was pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church
in Columbus, Ohio, was called to Cornerstone Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, At this time, the Cornerstone Baptist Church congregation had
grown so large that the church edifice at Gates Avenue and Irving Place
could no longer accommodate it; a contract was signed for the Lewis

Avenue Congregational Church Parish on December 28, 1944, and the march
from the old church to the new took place on June 10, 1945; and
WHEREAS, During the Reverend Dr. Sandy Frederick Ray's 35 year minis-
try at Cornerstone Baptist Church, new buildings were purchased and
erected to house the church office and the pastor's study; and
WHEREAS, After the Reverend Dr. Sandy Frederick Ray passed away on
April 11, 1979, his assistant, the Reverend Henry G. Scott served with
distinction as Minister-In-Charge of Cornerstone Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, On November 14, 1981, the Cornerstone Baptist Church Family
held an election and unanimously elected the Reverend Dr. Harry Starks
Wright, a Pastor, Dean and College President, to the Pastorate of
Cornerstone Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, The seventh pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, the Rever-
end Dr. Harry Starks Wright, began his ministry in March 1982; following
a Pre-Installation Luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria on July 24, 1982, he
was installed as Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church by the Reverend
Dr. Gardner C. Taylor, Senior Pastor, Concord Baptist Church of Christ,
on Sunday, July 25, 1982; and
WHEREAS, On August 3, 2003, Pastor Harry S. Wright retired and his
successor, the Reverend Lawrence Aker, who had served as Minister of
Discipleship and Evangelism, took the reins as Pastor of Cornerstone
Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Under the faithful leadership of Pastor Harry S. Wright,
Cornerstone Baptist Church stands on the threshold of tomorrow, prepared
to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining that spir-
itual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Christian Education Week Anniversary of Cornerstone
Baptist Church to be celebrated September 27-October 1, 2010, fully
confident 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 Cornerstone Baptist Church.