LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the First
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Brooklyn, New York, on
September 25, 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
125th Anniversary of the First African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
of Brooklyn, New York, on September 25, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The first steps of the First AME Zion Church began when 15
souls made a decision to organize a church; the Fleet Street Church,
Brooklyn, New York, was organized in 1885 when its 15 members made
application to the New York Annual Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church for admission to the AME Zion Connection; and
WHEREAS, Prior to this, in 1872, a group of members decided to with-
draw from Bridge Street AME Church and organize another church; in 1885,
there was another schism under the pastorate of Reverend Peyton who took
the greater part of the congregation with him to a new location on
Atlantic Avenue, leaving behind 15 members; and
WHEREAS, In that same year, these stalwart souls made application to
the New York Annual Conference of the African Methodist Zion Church,
which was at that time in session in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in the
Union AME Zion Church (later the Ralph Avenue and now Varick Memorial
AME Zion Church) for admission to the AME Zion Connection; and
WHEREAS, Eight of the "glorious" 15 included: Simon G. Buchanan, Moses
Richards, Charles Taylor, Michael J. Ferguson, John R. Johnson, Annie C.
Randall, Fannie Richards, and Hannah Taylor; such was the beginning of
the Fleet Street African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; and
WHEREAS, The Church has been served by the following pastors: Reverend
J.W.L.H. Schivers, Reverend J. Harvey Anderson, Reverend William H.
Ferguson, Reverend John Wesley Brown, Reverend Richard Haywood Stitt,
Reverend W.H. Coffey, Reverend G.W. Offley, Reverend Fredrick Miller
Jacobs (Bishop), Reverend Aetus Albertus Crooke, Reverend Green W.
Johnson, Reverend William L. Lee (Bishop), Reverend Paris Arthur Wallace
(Bishop), Reverend William Cornelius Brown (Bishop), Reverend William
Orlando Carrington, Reverend Ruben Lee Speaks (Bishop), Reverend V. Loma
St. Clair, Reverend James Elbert McCoy (Bishop) and, since 2004, Rever-
end Daran H. Mitchell; and
WHEREAS, For approximately 10 years, Bishop J. W. Hood appointed seven
pastors to this charge, but the congregation fluctuated, ebbed and
flowed without the desirable substantial progress; he then appointed
Reverend Fredrick M. Jacobs in 1897, and the church took on phenomenal
growth and expansion of church facilities; led by Reverend Jacobs, a
larger property was purchased on Bridge Street; and
WHEREAS, In 1904, the balance of the mortgage on the Fleet Street
Building was paid in full and the mortgage burned; and
WHEREAS, In early 1905, the great catastrophe occurred which ended the
usefulness of the Fleet Street Building; this was caused by the over-
crowding of the church for a funeral; services were held at the Dutch
Reformed Church; the Bridge Street property was acquired, a down payment
was made and the congregation took occupancy in the fall of 1905; and

WHEREAS, In that same year, the Church was incorporated under the
religious corporation laws of New York State and officially became the
First African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Under Reverends Crooke, Johnson and Lee the debt was reduced;
and Dr. Wallace during his four years as pastor not only cancelled this
indebtedness and burned the mortgage, but purchased the four story
dwelling for a parsonage; and
WHEREAS, Under Dr. W.C. Brown, the church building was extended,
giving increased space for the Sunday School and providing for an
office, trustees room, ladies and men's comfort rooms and a kitchen to
name a few; steaming heating plants were also installed in the church
and parsonage; the mortgage on the parsonage was cancelled and a modern
financial system was introduced; and
WHEREAS, In 1936, Reverend William O. Carrington was appointed to
First Church and, in 1942, led the congregation in purchasing structure
on Tompkins and McDonough Streets; one of the largest churches in the
connection, major improvements were made on this vast property and the
congregation is reported to have grown to over 6,000 during his
constructive pastorage; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Reverend Reuben Speaks, the Church
acquired a beautiful parsonage on Brooklyn's prestigious President
Street; he also directed a renovation program which included the addi-
tion of two new offices, a modern ladies lounge, modern kitchen equip-
ment, a self service cafeteria in the dining hall and other physical
changes that led to the Church building being used in the Government
Head Start Program for young children; and
WHEREAS, Reverend V. Loma St. Clair followed Bishop Speaks into the
pulpit and served 10 years; during that time the church continued to
make progress; since Dr. St. Clair had no immediate family, the trustees
felt that maintaining the large parsonage on President Street was an
excessive burden and sold the building in order to purchase a new one;
and
WHEREAS, During the 22 years Dr. James E. McCoy served as pastor, he
demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities, spearheaded the spiritual
growth and development of the congregation, renovated the interior of
the sanctuary, gymnasium, etc., purchased a mini-bus through the senior
citizens of the church, purchased and refurbished a new parsonage and
worked on the exterior of the church, while servicing in numerous capac-
ities in the general church; and
WHEREAS, After the elevation of Bishop McCoy, Dr. Daran H. Mitchell
was appointed to First Church in 2004; at 32-years-old, he is the young-
est pastor appointed to this historical pulpit; already he has begun a
men's and women's ministry, led the congregation in repairs, renovations
and acquisitions for the church parsonage as well as established part-
nerships within and beyond the Borough of Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, The First African Methodist Episcopal Zion 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 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 125th Anniversary of the First African Methodist Episco-
pal Zion Church of Brooklyn, New York, to be observed on September 25,
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 the Reverend Dr. Daran H. Mitchell, Pastor, First African
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Brooklyn, New York.