LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Archbishop Phillip Lewis for his
outstanding pastoral service and unwavering commitment to the Brooklyn
community

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individ-
uals who devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citi-
zenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Archbishop Phillip Lewis for his outstanding pastoral service and unwav-
ering commitment to the Brooklyn community; and
WHEREAS, The Most Reverend Father Archbishop Phillip Lewis was born in
Guyana, South America; as a young boy, he was very quiet and he loved to
preach; and
WHEREAS, Baptized at the age of nine and ordained a Priest in 1967,
Archbishop Lewis left Guyana and migrated to England in 1968; his love
for preaching led him to be initiated as an elder at the age of 19,
which he then took his first Throne of Grace in 1974; and
WHEREAS, Archbishop Lewis spent 25 years living in England and during
that time, he was a representative of the Council of Churches of Britain
and Ireland Assembly (CCBI); he also joined the Ethiopian Orthodox Copic
of North and South America, both of which he is no longer a member; and
WHEREAS, In 1975, Archbishop Lewis was consecrated in the National
Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese as Bishop in Trinidad and
Tobago; a few years later in 1982, the then Bishop Lewis was elevated to
Metropolitan Archbishop in coordination with Apostolic Episcopal Church;
after leaving England, he traveled to Canada where he established a
branch of St. Jermaine Spiritual Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Since 1995, Archbishop Lewis has served as the Metropolitan
Primate of St. John's Apostolic Spiritual For All People Church; he is
the former 1st Vice President of the United Christian Spiritual Council
of Guyanese Churches Incorporated; and
WHEREAS, Archbishop Lewis is also the head of several other churches
including St. John's Sixth Church Of Melchizedek in New York, and the
Seventh Church of Melchizedek founded on March 25, 1968; he remains very
active in the Caribbean community today; and
WHEREAS, Archbishop Lewis has been called upon to contribute his time
and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always
given of himself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Archbishop Lewis has stood constant
in dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Archbishop Phillip Lewis for his outstanding pastoral service and
unwavering commitment to the Brooklyn community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Archbishop Phillip Lewis.