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Councilmember Christina Henderson Councilmember Zachary Parker 4
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Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie 8
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Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember Anita Bonds 12
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A CEREMONAL RESOLUTION 17
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 20
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To recognize Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church’s 60th year anniversary. 24
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WHEREAS, Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (“Union Wesley AME 26
Zion Church”) began in Georgetown in 1844; 27
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WHEREAS, due to a climate of racial prejudice a small group of men and women desiring 29
religious freedom withdrew from the Mt. Zion Methodist Church; 30
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WHEREAS, founding members of the Union Wesley AME Zion Church include Gassaway 32
Waters, Isaac Johnson, Charles Simmons, Carl Carusoe, Charity Wilson, and Eliza Wilson; 33
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WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church began holding church services in the home of 35
Gassaway Waters on the corner of Twenty-Eight and Olive Avenue, N.W.; 36
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WHEREAS, in 1846 Union Wesley AME Zion Church relocated to a larger space at Twenty-38
Third Street between L and M, N.W. which was destroyed by fire due to racial prejudice; 39
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WHEREAS, young Black architect Calvin Brent designed and constructed a new church on the 41
same site that was completed in 1848 and dedicated as the Second Colored Wesleyan Church; 42
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WHEREAS, the Second Colored Wesleyan Church operated independently until it was accepted 44
in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church on August 26, 1884, and the first pastor was Reverend 45
Wallace Brown; 46
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WHEREAS, during his pastorate Reverend Wallace Brown changed the name of the church to 48
Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; 49 2
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WHEREAS, in 1967 Union Wesley AME Zion Church relocated to Ward 5 at 1860 Michigan 51
Avenue NE in the Queens Chapel community , and is currently pas tored by Dr. Brian S. Relford Sr.; 52
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WHEREAS, in the same year the Queens Chapel Civic Association began meeting at this location 54
which eventually became it headquarters; 55
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WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church and the Queens Chapel Civic Association have 57
partnered with the church for a toy drive donation to Childrens Hospital and a health fair; 58
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WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church served as a station on the Underground Railroad 60
for slaves escaping to the North; 61
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WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church member North B.F. Grant along with Frederick 63
Douglass and Sojourner Truth helped spearhead the Underground movement; 64
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WHEREAS, Union Wesley AME Zion Church makes an annual donation to the Queens Chapel 66
Civic Association’s Reverend David Turner Memorial Scholarship to graduating seniors; 67
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 health pandemic, Union Wesley AME Zion Church assisted 68
the Queens Chapel Civic Association in transitioning to virtual meetings; 69
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WHEREAS, during the 2022 general election Union Wesley AME Zion Church invested in 71
additional cameras and television screens for the sanctuary to provide hybrid in person and virtual church 72
services and candidates forum; 73
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WHEREAS, the vision of Union Wesley AME Zion Church is “[T]o be a growing community of 75
faith that passionately models the life of Christ by equipping and training seekers and believers to do the 76
work of ministry in the church and community.”; and 77
WHEREAS the mission of the Union Wesley AME Zion Church is to “love God and one another, 78
impact and improve our community and the world; and to proclaim and witness to the life changing 79
message of Jesus Christ.”. 80
IT IS HEARBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that 81
this resolution may be cited as the “Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church’s 140th 82
Anniversary Recognition Resolution of 2024”. 83
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and celebrates the Union Wesley 85
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church on the occasion of its 140
th
anniversary for its outstanding 86
commitment, dedication, and service to its members and the community. 87
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the 89
District of Columbia Register. 90