Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                                A CEREMONAL RESOLUTION

                                               25-224

                      IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                            May 7, 2024

To recognize Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church’s 140th year anniversary.

       WHEREAS, Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (“Union Wesley AME

Zion Church”) began in Georgetown in 1844;

        WHEREAS, due to a climate of racial prejudice a small group of men and women desiring

religious freedom withdrew from the Mt. Zion Methodist Church to form the Union Wesley AME Zion

Church;

        WHEREAS, founding members of the Union Wesley AME Zion Church include Gassaway

Waters, Isaac Johnson, Charles Simmons, Carl Carusoe, Charity Wilson, and Eliza Wilson;

      WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church began holding church services in the home of

Gassaway Waters on the corner of Twenty-Eight and Olive Avenue, N.W.;

        WHEREAS, in 1846 Union Wesley AME Zion Church relocated to a larger space at Twenty-

Third Street between L and M, N.W. which was destroyed by fire due to racial prejudice;

        WHEREAS, young Black architect Calvin Brent designed and constructed a new church on the

same site that was completed in 1848, and dedicated it as the Second Colored Wesleyan Church;

        WHEREAS, the Second Colored Wesleyan Church operated independently until it was accepted

in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church on August 26, 1884, and the first pastor was Reverend

Wallace Brown;

       WHEREAS, during his pastorate Reverend Wallace Brown changed the name of the church to

Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church;

       WHEREAS, in 1967 Union Wesley AME Zion Church relocated to Ward 5 at 1860 Michigan

Avenue NE in the Queens Chapel community in Ward 5, and is currently pastored by Dr. Brian S. Relford

Sr.;

       WHEREAS, in the same year the Queens Chapel Civic Association began meeting at this location

which eventually became its headquarters;

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        WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church and the Queens Chapel Civic Association have

partnered with the church for a health fair and a toy drive donation to Children’s Hospital;

         WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church served as a station on the Underground Railroad

for slaves escaping to the North;

       WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church member North B.F. Grant along with Frederick

Douglas and Sojourner Truth helped spearhead the Underground movement;

         WHEREAS, the vision of Union Wesley AME Zion Church is ‘[T]o be a growing community of

faith that passionately models the life of Christ by equipping and training seekers and believers to do the

work of ministry in the church and community.”;

       WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church makes an annual donation to the Queens Chapel

Civic Association’s Reverend David Turner Memorial Scholarship to graduating seniors;

       WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 health pandemic, Union Wesley AME Zion Church assisted

the Queens Chapel Civic Association in transitioning to virtual meetings;

        WHEREAS, during the 2022 general election Union Wesley AME Zion Church invested in

additional cameras and television screens for the sanctuary to provide hybrid in person and virtual church

services and candidates forum;

        WHEREAS, the mission of the Union Wesley AME Zion Church is to “love God and one

another, impact and improve our community and the world; and to proclaim and witness to the life

changing message of Jesus Christ.”.

       RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution

may be cited as the “Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church’s 140th Anniversary

Recognition Resolution of 2024”.

        Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and celebrates the Union Wesley

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church on the occasion of its 140th anniversary for its outstanding

commitment, dedication, and service to its members and the community.

        Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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