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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-65
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
June 18, 2013
To recognize Reverend James E. Coates for his 56 years as Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, and to declare June 16, 2013, as “Reverend James E. Coates Day” in the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, Bethlehem Baptist Church resides at 2458 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20020;
WHEREAS, Bethlehem Baptist Church was organized in 1872 as an outgrowth of the Macedonia Baptist Church;
WHEREAS, Bethlehem Baptist Church has served the Greater Washington area for well over 140 years;
WHEREAS, Reverend James E. Coates has been the Pastor and Spiritual Leader of this branch of Zion since December 5, 1957;
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Reverend Coates, Bethlehem Baptist Church was able to burn its 20 year mortgage in just 12 years;
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Reverend Coates, the church has become a center of community improvement and a catalyst for social action in Anacostia;
WHEREAS, Reverend Coates is hereby recognized as a Board Member of the Residing In Group Housing Together, Inc.;
WHEREAS, Reverend James E. Coates is recognized as a political trailblazer, as having the honor of being elected one of the original members of the Council of the District of Columbia in 1974 when the District of Columbia gained home rule.
WHEREAS, Revered Coates continues to be actively involved in issues and organizations that concern him, and has served the citizens of Washington, D.C. with great honor and distinction; and
WHEREAS, Revered James E. Coates is being honored on June 16, 2013, by the Council of the District of Columbia, family, friends, and most of all by his church family of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Revered James E. Coates Day Recognition Resolution of 2013”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the many years of spiritual and political leadership extended to the citizens of Washington, D.C., and declares June 16, 2013, as "Reverend James E. Coates Day" in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
