2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 51
BY SENATOR BOUIE
A RESOLUTION
To commend Dr. Torin T. Sanders upon twenty-five years of pastoral care and to
congratulate him for his exemplary service to the body of Christ.
WHEREAS, Torin T. Sanders was born in New York City and attended public
schools in the Bronx; and
WHEREAS, always the scholar, Dr. Sanders attended the prestigious historically
black college of Howard University on a four-year academic scholarship, was admitted to
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and graduated magna cum laude; and
WHEREAS, developing an appreciation and desire to be engaged in an academic
program that integrates both clinical and community-based practice that is purposed to help
individuals build upon personal, cultural, and community strengths to heal and grow,
Dr. Sanders went on to earn both a master's degree and doctor of philosophy from Tulane
University in the field of social work; and
WHEREAS, it is with his practice of both social work and the social sciences that
distinguished Dr. Sanders as a phenomenal practitioner based in the city of New Orleans and
as a result he was selected to serve as supervisor at the parent-child center at Kingsley House
and also as coordinator of the Louis Armstrong Manhood Development program at Milne
Boys Home; and
WHEREAS, living and serving in New Orleans during a time when the city was
plagued with violent crime, Dr. Sanders became aware of the many children who suffered
from post traumatic stress disorder and the need for resources to assist these children with
their emotional healing; because of his capacity for leadership and knowledge of the field,
he was tapped to be the first director of Project LAST, also known as Project Loss and
Survival Team, a program created to provide therapeutic services to children and families
impacted by a traumatic event, as well as those children and families who have lost a loved
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one, witnessed violence, or have been a victim of violence; and
WHEREAS, through his innate love for people and his keen insight for guiding
others to healing and wholeness, Dr. Sanders accepted his call to ministry, and in 1997, he
was elected as only the eighth pastor of Sixth Baptist Church which is known as a household
of faith, dating back to the mid-nineteenth century; and
WHEREAS, in the nineteenth century both free and enslaved Africans attended
Coliseum Square Baptist Church along with white parishioners, however, the enslaved and
free Africans were not treated as equal parishioners; not wishing to endure such indignity,
the Africans founded the Sixth Baptist Church in 1858; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Dr. Torin T. Sanders, Sixth Baptist Church has
a proven record of the move of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the history of
Sixth Baptist Church shares the story of the struggle of Africans in America who overcame
adversity and trials and their choice to walk by faith; and
WHEREAS, over twenty-five years as lead pastor, Dr. Sanders has ensured that the
church "reaches the lost and teaches the saved to serve" and he demonstrates this sentiment
by serving red beans and rice on Mondays to the homeless population, distributing college
scholarships annually to students, and participating in Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit,
Christian-based housing ministry that works in partnership with deserving, low-income
families and the community to eliminate poverty housing through building simple, decent
homes; and
WHEREAS, before Hurricane Katrina devastated south Louisiana, Sixth Baptist
Church sponsored "God's Vineyard", a community garden managed by local youth and the
fruit of that project was not only young people learning about and growing produce, but also
the creation of the well-known St. Thomas Seven Pepper Sauce that was sold at local
farmer's markets in and around New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, the members of the church that Dr. Sanders shepherds meet regularly
to encourage and edify each other in various auxiliaries; domestic and international mission
work has also been a priority for Sixth Baptist Church during Dr. Sanders' tenure; and the
church has raised and donated resources to survivors of the historic Baton Rouge flood of
2016, as well as to a school in Haiti and the Lott Carey Foreign Mission; and
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WHEREAS, throughout his pastoral career, Dr. Sanders has earned the respect and
admiration of his community and has become a well-known and respected civic leader; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, he was elected to the Orleans Parish School Board where he
twice served as president and has served as vice president of Volunteers of America; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Sanders wears many hats in his service to the city of New
Orleans and the state of Louisiana, including: chair to the New Orleans Council on Aging
and the New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board; co-chair of the Childhood Trauma
Task Force; appointed member of the board of St. Thomas Community Health Clinic, and
as Vice Chair of the New Orleans Ethics Review Board; has been a leader in the Jeremiah
Group, and currently with Together New Orleans, and now serves as Executive Secretary
of the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist General Association; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sanders is currently an Associate Professor at the Millie M. Charles
School of Social Work at Southern University at New Orleans; he has received numerous
awards for his administrative, educational, and teaching skills from organizations including
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Victims and Citizens against Crime, the National
Association of Black Social Workers, Gambit 40 under 40, Rainbow PUSH, and Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity, of which he is a proud member; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sanders is blessed to be married to the former Dana Williams and
the couple have two wonderful adult sons, Malik and Myles who are their pride and joy; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Torin T. Sanders exudes godliness, humility, dedication, and
tenacity as is evident in his life of service and many inspirational accomplishments.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Dr. Torin T. Sanders for twenty-five years of spiritual leadership and
to congratulate him on this milestone achievement that is exemplified through his service
to mankind in fulfillment of his God-given purpose.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Dr. Torin T. Sanders and the Sixth Baptist Church of New Orleans, Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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