A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DR. Blakely N. Scott OF Columbia For HIS FORTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE as pastor of first nazareth baptist church and to wish him much blessing as HE continues to serve the lord.

Whereas, the son of Lillie Mae Neal Scott and Blakely Scott, Jr., Columbia native Dr. Blakely N. Scott is a graduate of Palmer College, the University of South Carolina, Morris College School of Religion, and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. In May 1993, he further received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Morris College; and

Whereas, Dr. Scott is pastor of First Nazareth Baptist Church in Columbia and serves as moderator of the Midlands Baptist Association, Inc. In December 2017, he retired as pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Hopkins, in the fortieth year of his tenure. In May 2017, he relinquished his responsibilities as an instructor in the Morris College School of Religion Extension Program, and in May 1998 he retired from Benedict College, where he began as assistant director of Auxiliary Services, later serving as college minister, then as instructor of religion and philosophy; and

Whereas, from 1981 to January 2000, he served as moderator of the Wateree Baptist Association-Upper Division, and from 1985 to 2001 he was dean of the Young People's Christian Assembly-Benedict College. He has also served as assistant secretary and secretary of the Gethsemane Baptist Association; and

Whereas, his service extends well beyond the doors of the church. Dr. Scott has served on the Morris College Board of Trustees, Baptist Medical Center Hospice Board, Community Care, Inc., Board, Connie Maxwell Children's Home Advisory Board, and Columbia Housing Development Corporation Board; and

Whereas, he also is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a Prince Hall Mason, and a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity; and

Whereas, he has a passion for preaching the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, to whom he owes everything. He embraces Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me"; and

Whereas, in recognition of his committed service, Dr. Scott has received numerous honors, among them induction into the Columbia (South Carolina) Housing Authority's Wall of Fame in April 2004. In addition, he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, in 2004. More recently, in 2013 he received the Distinguished Service Award (Non-Alumni) at the Excellence in Service Alumni Awards Luncheon at Benedict College. In 2017, he was selected by the South Carolina Baptist Fellowship of the PNBC as its South Carolina honoree at the 54th Annual Session of the Southern Region-PNBC. In 2018, he was the PNBC's commencement preacher; and

Whereas, Dr. Scott is firmly supported in all his labors by his family: his lovely wife, the former Mary Brooks; and his two daughters, Mina S. Barnes and the Reverend M'lilian L. Scott. The Scotts also have been blessed with a grandson, James Blakely Scott Barnes, and a great-granddaughter, Karcyn Lanette Robinson Barnes; and

Whereas, grateful for Dr. Blakely Scott's commitment to his community and beyond, the House takes great pleasure in honoring him for his forty-five years of pastoral service at First Nazareth. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Dr. Blakely N. Scott of Columbia for his forty-five years of dedicated service as pastor of First Nazareth Baptist Church and wish him much blessing as he continues to serve the Lord.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Blakely N. Scott.

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