25 LC 112 3451
House Resolution 699
By: Representatives Oliver of the 84
th
, Crawford of the 89
th
, and Drenner of the 85
th
A RESOLUTION
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur, Georgia; and
1
for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, on Sunday, October 30, 1825, Decatur Presbyterian Church conducted its first3
worship service as an officially chartered congregation, three years after the United States4
signed a treaty with the Creek Indians and two years after the establishment of DeKalb5
County; and6
WHEREAS, to educate the children in faith, Presbyterians organized the Union Sunday7
School in 1831, the oldest Sunday School in DeKalb County, inviting other congregations8
as teachers and learners; and9
WHEREAS, women and children continued holding Sunday School and services during the10
Civil War while most men were serving in the military, despite Union troops taking over the11
church building and emptying it of its pews, pulpit, and papers; and12
WHEREAS, the mission-minded Decatur Presbyterian Church organized 17 new13
congregations in the area, including Smyrna in 1827, followed by First Atlanta, Rock14
Springs, Salem, Midway, Kirkwood, Ingleside, Panthersville, Oakhurst, Alexander15
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Memorial, Glen Haven, Emory, Trinity Decatur, Columbia, Clairmont, Memorial Drive, and
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finally North Decatur in 1955; and17
WHEREAS, to meet the need for educating young women, Decatur Presbyterian Church18
organized Decatur Female Seminary in 1889, later known as Agnes Scott College, named19
for the mother of Decatur Presbyterian Church Elder Colonel Scott, a primary financial20
supporter; and21
WHEREAS, in 1927, Decatur Presbyterian Church made it possible for Columbia22
Theological Seminary to move from Columbia, South Carolina, to Decatur, enhancing a23
partnership with its sister institution, which trained 14 of its installed pastors and numerous24
associate pastors, encouraged over 50 seminary interns to be trained within the congregation,25
and benefitted from trustees, faculty, staff, and presidents who were among the26
congregation's participants; and27
WHEREAS, the first church kindergarten in DeKalb County was registered in 1950 as28
Decatur Presbyterian Children's Community, which currently serves over 100 students a29
year, from nine months through kindergarten, with thousands of alumni throughout the30
world; and31
WHEREAS, since the late 1800s, Decatur Presbyterian Church has supported global mission32
partners, in more recent years in South Sudan, Madagascar, Niger, the United States-Mexico33
border, and Taiwan, and financed the 1968 creation of the Topple Hospital in Soonchun,34
South Korea, to treat leprosy, polio, and other crippling diseases; and35
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WHEREAS, the congregation has generously hosted the Global Village Project within its
36
buildings since 2010, enabling the specialized education of hundreds of refugee teenage girls;37
and38
WHEREAS, to serve those on the margins of society, Decatur Presbyterian Church created39
its Threshold Ministry in 2013 to provide assistance through direct services such as MARTA40
cards, mail service, hygiene kits, warm coats, and other aid, as well as referrals to Legal Aid,41
the Furniture Bank, Veterans Administration Services, First Step Staffing, and numerous42
housing and shelter opportunities; and43
WHEREAS, the congregation intends to celebrate its 200th anniversary to the glory of God44
on October 26, 2025, continuing its love of God and neighbor into its third century and45
fulfilling its stated mission: "Rooted in the heart of Decatur, we worship, love, and serve with46
hospitality, generosity, and compassion."47
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that48
the members of this body recognize the rich history of Decatur Presbyterian Church,49
commend its 200 years of dedicated service to the Lord and community, and extend their50
warmest best wishes for its continued growth and success.51
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized52
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to53
Decatur Presbyterian Church.54
H. R. 699
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