LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Reverend Dr. Coleman Briggs upon the
occasion of his retirement after 52 years of distinguished service as
Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church to be celebrated on April 7, 2012

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life in
this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the faithful
concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their energies
and purpose to the ministry of others; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to bring full
recognition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish them-
selves and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and preemi-
nence of service; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Reverend Dr. Coleman Briggs upon the occasion of his retirement after 52
years of distinguished service as Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church to
be celebrated at a dinner on Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Anthony's Pier,
New Windsor, New York; and
WHEREAS, Born March 29, 1930, the eldest of 10 siblings, Rev. Dr.
Coleman Briggs was licensed as a minister in 1957 and ordained in 1958;
he then served as pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church in Kingston,
New York, followed by pastoring the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Pough-
keepsie, New York, before coming to the New Hope Baptist Church at its
founding home on 24 Colden Street, Newburgh, New York, in 1960; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs proved to be an amazing pastor with a
great vision, and as a result, the membership of the New Hope Baptist
Church increased; he moved the church to South Water Street in 1964, and
four years later, led them to its current home at 20 Mill Street; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs received his Bachelor of Arts in
Theology at the Manhattan Bible Institute, a Master's in Theology from
the American Divinity School and finally a Doctorate in 1970, from
Christ Theological Seminary, and a second Doctorate from American Divin-
ity School in 1972; and
WHEREAS, During the course of his 12 year pursuit of his doctoral
degrees, Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs was employed full-time at the Empire
National Bank; in 1970, after losing his wife, Dorothy, he raised his
six children, Will, Ed, Bruce, Margie, Paul and Pam; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable man holds the distinction of being the first
African-American elected to the Newburgh School Board; he is a past
Moderator of the Central Hudson Baptist Association and formerly chaired
the Foreign Mission Drive for the Central Hudson Baptist Association; he
later became the assistant for the New York State Foreign Mission; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs went on to become
Recording Secretary for the Empire State Baptist Convention; other
achievements include serving as Chairman of the Newburgh Housing Author-
ity, and becoming a founder of and serving as a board member of Project
Life for the City of Newburgh; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, he was very active in the prison ministry,
conducting Bible classes at Wallkill Correctional Facility and later at
the Orange County Jail in Goshen, New York; he was past President of the
Black Ministerial Fellowship of Newburgh and Vicinity and presently
serves as the Public Relations Chairman representing 25 area churches;
and
WHEREAS, Realizing that there were no adequate schools for aspiring
Bible students desiring deeper Bible knowledge resulted in Rev. Dr.
Coleman Briggs founding the Newburgh Bible Institute in 1968; today, he
continues to act as Dean and 1st Year General Bible One Instructor; and

WHEREAS, Prior to the founding of the Newburgh Bible Institute, Rev.
Dr. Coleman Briggs taught the Master's Class at the Manhattan Bible
Institute in New York City for eight years; the Newburgh Bible Institute
has contributed to the spiritual and academic success of many pastors in
the area; and
WHEREAS, In 2004, he established a satellite school in Ellenville, New
York, under the auspices of the Newburgh Bible Institute; he also
substituted frequently at Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, New York;
and
WHEREAS, The New Hope Missionary Baptist Church continues to house one
of the largest area food pantries and soup kitchens, helping to feed the
homeless, desolate and less fortunate citizens in the City of Newburgh
and vicinity; Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs writes the grants to procure funds
and food from the United Way and Regional Food Bank of New York; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, under the direction of Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs, New
Hope Baptist Church completed a major renovation and expansion of the
church building, adding 200 additional seats, a new dining room and a
new pastor's study; this was the first major renovation of the New Hope
Baptist Church since the late 1960s; and
WHEREAS, Visiting the sick at St. Luke's Cornwall Campus twice weekly,
has endeared Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs to the hearts of all patients,
nurses and staff; the staff at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital know they
can rely on him in any crisis when anyone in the hospital is in need of
a clergyperson; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs is a household name in the City of
Newburgh because of the many boards he has served on, because of his
constant involvement to end segregation, and his desire to provide a
decent environment for all that live in the City; and
WHEREAS, On July 22, 2000, hundreds gathered at the New Hope Mission-
ary Baptist Church to witness the ceremony featured as front page news
in the local paper known as the "wedding of the new millennium" when he
married Miss Dollyann Newkirk; and
WHEREAS, The City of Newburgh also honored Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs in
2002, by renaming Mill Street to Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs Way; moreover,
in that same year, he was named one of Newburgh's "most influential
persons"; and
WHEREAS, Many accolades can be used to describe his long illustrious
career, but Pastor is the best title to describe Rev. Dr. Coleman
Briggs; he has initiated projects at New Hope Baptist Church which keep
his parishioners in the spirit of Christian love and giving; he is a
pastor, preacher, teacher, brother, husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather, and a friend; he maintains an open-door policy to all
that seek his time, counsel and attention; Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs is a
man held in the highest esteem by the church, the community, his family
and his peers; and
WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given enlightenment,
guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and has adminis-
tered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of
all; and
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the wellbeing and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Reverend Dr. Coleman Briggs upon the occasion of his retirement
after 52 years of distinguished service as Pastor of New Hope Baptist
Church to be celebrated on April 7, 2012; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend Dr. Coleman Briggs.