UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 2428
Page 1 of 2
XXXX Jacketed
A RESOLUTION congratulating Reverend Dr. Joshua A. Harris, Sr. as the newly 1
installed Pastor of the First Gethsemane Baptist Church. 2
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Joshua Antoine Harris, Sr. proudly hails from the inner 3
city of Cincinnati, Ohio. As the son of a pastor and skilled social worker, he developed an 4
early awareness and sensitivity for the human condition; and 5
WHEREAS, Dr. Harris accepted his calling into the preaching ministry at 18 years 6
old and served as an associate minister of the Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist 7
Church in Cincinnati; youth pastor for Zion Hill Baptist Church in Blue Ash, Ohio; senior 8
pastor of the First Baptist Church of Mathews, Virginia; and the senior pastor of the St. 9
Timothy Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland before becoming the senior pastor at 10
First Gethsemane Baptist Church in the fall of 2020; and 11
WHEREAS, Dr. Harris earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations with 12
a minor in Marketing from Northern Kentucky University, a Master of Divinity from the 13
Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and a doctorate 14
degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio; and 15
WHEREAS, Dr. Harris believes the church is the cornerstone of the community and 16
the source of both spiritual and social change. He continues to focus on "Ministry that 17
Matters" and he's established ministries which address drug addiction, civic engagement, 18
community development, and economic empowerment; and 19
WHEREAS, one of Dr. Harris' proudest achievements was becoming one of the 20
first African American pastors in the country to develop a ministry that served individuals 21
in the special needs population along with their families; and 22
WHEREAS, Dr. Harris is a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 23
He married his best friend and his "amazing grace," Courtney Lynn, and they have one 24
son, Joshua Antoine Harris, Jr.; 25
NOW, THEREFORE, 26
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 2428
Page 2 of 2
XXXX Jacketed
Kentucky: 1
Section 1. The Senate does hereby recognize and commend Reverend Dr. 2
Joshua A. Harris, Sr. on his appointment as Pastor of the First Gethsemane Baptist 3
Church in Louisville, Kentucky. 4
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor of Reverend 5
Dr. Joshua A. Harris, Sr. 6
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 7
Resolution to Senator McGarvey for delivery. 8