LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 75th Anniversary of St.
Leonard's Church, Inc., AAO of Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, November
11, 2011

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
75th Anniversary of St. Leonard's Church, Inc., AAO of Brooklyn, New
York on Friday, November 11, 2011, at Grand Prospect Hall; and
WHEREAS, Becoming legally certified as St. Leonard's Church, Inc. on
April 29, 1936, the institution's annual membership meetings were held
for reports and discussions of all matters conducive to its welfare; a
continuing Board of Trustees consisting of 11 financial members was
subsequently elected to perform the administrative duties relevant to
the peaceful operation of matters pertaining to the well-being of the
Church; and
WHEREAS, The spiritual and pastoral duties are vested in the hands of
the head cleric who is elected by a two-thirds majority of the votes
cast at a special membership meeting of members; it is essentially a
congregational form of government, with the Board of Trustees as the
official representatives; and
WHEREAS, After many years of seeking a suitable edifice, in October of
1944, an unoccupied Jewish Synagogue located at 765 Putnam Avenue was
purchased; the most memorable event in the life of St. Leonard's was the
dedication and consecration of the building on Sunday, October 9, 1955;
this rewarding experience was followed by a silent and increasing urge
by some parishioners for a centralized denominational union; and
WHEREAS, Under the dynamic leadership of a prominent layman, Mr.
Alexander B. Inniss, and with the approval, support and cooperation of
the head cleric, a special meeting was held for the selection of Incor-
porators; this was done and the new religious denomination was to become
Afro-American Orthodox; and
WHEREAS, The founder and first Primate of the Afro-American Orthodox
Church, Archbishop Donald M. Forster, S.T.D.,D.C.L., was consecrated on
Sunday, January 8, 1961, at St. Leonard's Church; and
WHEREAS, A list of the clergy who served St. Leonard's Church from its
inception to present is as follows: the late James Cornelius Van Loo
(1st Bishop 1936-1939); Charles Siebert Rhoden (1st Rector 1939-1945);
Hubert Augustus Rogers (2nd Bishop 1945-1949); The Reverend Julian Smith
(1945-1949); Donald Mitchinson Forster (2nd Rector and 3rd Bishop 1950-
1975); James H. Rogers (4th Bishop and 3rd Rector 1975-1991); Reverend
Canon Dennis Barrett (1977-1986); Reverend Roger Fawcett (1991-1993);
Deacon Clifton Yearwood (1991-1993); Reverend Hallum Denny (1991-1993);
Reverend Rudolf Griffith; Reverend Selwyn Gittens (1991-1992); Bishop
Trevor D. Bentley (4th Rector 1993-1996); Reverend Othaniel C. Waterman
(1996-2003); and Reverend John Ofori-Mensah (5th Rector (2003-2005); and
WHEREAS, Currently led by the Reverend Iverston Walrond, St. Leonard's
Church continues to prosper today and into the future; and
WHEREAS, St. Leonard's Church guilds are the Unum Society, Hospitality
Guild, Senior Choir, Youth Choir, Willing Workers, Men's Guild, Women's
Auxiliary, Youth Organization, Sunday School, Altar Guild, Ushers Board
and the Scholarship Committee; and

WHEREAS, St. Leonard's Church, Inc., AAO, 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 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 75th Anniversary of St. Leonard's Church, Inc., AAO of
Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, November 11, 2011, 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 Reverend Iverston Walrond, Pastor, St. Leonard's Church,
Inc., AAO, Brooklyn, New York.