SENATE RESOLUTION
8666
By Senators Nobles, Hansen, Stanford, Hasegawa, Lovick, Keiser, Dhingra, Billig,
and Lovelett
1 WHEREAS, Reverend Gregory Christopher, Doctor of Ministry and
2 Senior Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church of Tacoma, Washington, for 24
3 years will retire in 2024 with his wife, Evelyn Christopher. Under
4 Reverend Christopher's guidance, Shiloh Baptist Church has been a
5 beacon of hope and service to the community, touching the lives of
6 thousands; and
7 WHEREAS, Reverend Christopher was born in Chicago, Illinois, but
8 grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. Reverend Christopher announced his
9 calling to the Ministry under the Pastoral leadership of Pastor
10 Lonnie Brown, at The Body of Christ Christian Church in Tacoma,
11 Washington, in 1989; and
12 WHEREAS, Reverend Christopher is a graduate of A.L. Hardy Academy
13 of Theology, where he pursued and received a Doctor of Ministry, as
14 well as a Master of Theology. He was licensed by the Body of Christ
15 Christian Church in 1989, ordained by the Body of Christ Christian
16 Church in 1990, and ordained by Shiloh Baptist Church in 1993; and
17 WHEREAS, Reverend Christopher's leadership has reached beyond the
18 walls of Shiloh Baptist Church. His service has extended to where the
19 city and state need it most, providing a space for community
20 convening and healing. He is currently working on building 60 low-
21 income apartments on the church property while, in the meantime,
22 housing houseless men in the church; and
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 1 WHEREAS, Reverend Christopher is an At-Large Board Member of
2 the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., and a member of the
3 Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective. Previous posts he has
4 held include being President of the Tacoma Ministerial Alliance,
5 President of the North Pacific Baptist Convention, Dean of the
6 Ebenezer Baptist District Association, President of the Tacoma
7 Branch of the NAACP, Board Member of the Tacoma Urban League,
8 and many more; and
9 WHEREAS, On February 18, 1989, Gregory and Evelyn
10 Christopher were united in holy matrimony. They are the proud
11 parents of five children, grandchildren, and great-
12 grandchildren;
13 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State
14 Senate recognize and congratulate Reverend Gregory Christopher
15 and Mrs. Evelyn Christopher for their steadfast commitment to
16 Shiloh Baptist Church, the surrounding community, and the state.
17 I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate,
18 do hereby certify that this is a true and
19 correct copy of Senate Resolution 8666,
20 adopted by the Senate
21 February 2, 2024
22 SARAH BANNISTER
23 Secretary of the Senate
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