LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 75th Anniversary of The New
Hope Baptist Church of Niagara Falls, New York, to be celebrated on June
1, 2012

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 The New Hope Baptist Church of Niagara Falls, New
York, to be celebrated on June 1, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The New Hope Baptist Church was an outgrowth of several
earlier African American Baptist congregations in Niagara Falls, New
York; they included Shiloh Baptist Church, Union Baptist Church, and a
former Trinity Baptist Church; at one point Trinity and Union Baptist
churches merged and became Second Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, In 1937, a group left Second Baptist Church and founded a new
church; members voted "New Hope Baptist Church," submitted by Carrie
Isom, as the church name which was symbolic of the feeling of the found-
ing; and
WHEREAS, Charter members of the New Hope Baptist Church were: Pearl
Ayers, Turner and Alberta Bryant, Eugene and Bessie Ellis, Willie Walter
and Aurelia Ellis, Jerry and Carrie Isom, Joseph and Shallona Williamson
and Laura Smith; and
WHEREAS, The New Hope Baptist Church was incorporated on April 2,
1937; and
WHEREAS, Harry C. Thomas and William M. Johnson were the interim lead-
ers of the newly incorporated group, and in October of 1939, Reverend
Millard F. Clay was called as the first permanent pastor; and
WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous leadership of its current pastor,
the Reverend Harvey L. Kelley, many new programs have been added,
enhancing the spiritual development of the membership including an All-
Church Leadership Workshop Institute and the institution of the Van
Ministry; and
WHEREAS, The New Hope Baptist Church has been active with Niagara
Organizing Alliance for Hope and the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, The New Hope Baptist Church has participated with
the Deacons Fellowship, the Niagara Ministerial Council, Church Women
United and a number of other community and mission organizations; and
WHEREAS, The New Hope Baptist Church stands on the threshold of tomor-
row, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retain-
ing 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 The New Hope Baptist Church of
Niagara Falls, New York, 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 New Hope Baptist Church, Niagara Falls, New York.